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FEBRUARY 2010
 INTERNATIONAL
36
36 The 2010
70th year of publication. Estd. 1940 as CARAVAN Consumer Electronic
Show at Las Vegas
FEBRUARY 2010 No. 328
NATIONAL ECONOMY ● ENTERPRISE
8 Terrorism Threats India’s Nuclear Installations 24 Flipping Job Market
10 New Journalism Bucks Accepted Here 54 Wealth from Weeds
16 Top Brass NRIs Shun Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas
MIND OVER MATTER

C O N T E N T S
64 Crucial Higher 112
Defence Management 56 42 The Austierity Express
68 Detection of Water 52 The Romance of Books
on the Moon 56 Ungrateful
78 Bypassing Internet 73 The Pink Slip
Censorship 86 Blunder
80 Twitter Tweeting all Around
90 Boost to Indian Manned Flight FEATURES
92 Rebuilding Nalanda 4 Letters 82 My Most
109 Is Suicide a Crime? 6 Editorial Embarrassing
112 The Olive Ridley Turtles of Rishikulya 14 The World in Moment
115 Body Builders’ Day Out Pictures 84 From Waste
128 Samacheer Equitable Standard Education 20 Photo Competition to Wealth
30 Around the World 95 Gadgets & Gizmos
LIVING 43 My Pet Peeve 99 Medical Log
45 Worldlywise and 104 Net Scene
32 Hangover: Shit! Now What to... Otherwise 110 Women all the Way
40 Smarter and Versatile Robots 62 Interesting Facts 116 New Arrival
44 A Good Conservation Effort About English 118 Automobiles
46 Tutorials Just a Pain in the Neck 66 Shackles of Round the Globe
48 Outshining Competitors in an Interview Superstition 130 Human Grace
60 Festival to Promote Classical Dance 77 My First Job 20
63 Is Cooking a Female Domain? Experience
70 Cosmetic Surgery for Men
76 Kailash’s Kailasa
PHOTO COMPETITION
88 Modern, Yet Traditional is Today’s Indian Girl
100 Artist of Pictorial Thinking
NO. 160
102 Depicting Feminine Emotions on Canvas SHOOT A PICTURE,
106 Marriage with a Workaholic WIN A PRIZE
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Saving tigers
Refer to Save the tiger (January 2010).
There are a few tigers that remain in
the wild today. This is certainly a cause
of concern not only for environmental
activists but also for the government.
In the earlier days, the kings used to
hunt animals as a sport. They were fol-
lowed by the British, who loved blood-
sport as well. After independence,
things began to look up for a while.
The government passed a law banning
C O N S E R VAT
Save The Tiger
Tigers are vanishing
level seem lacking, at a rapid pace. While efforts
people-oriented
the South shows
T
he news item,
Stripes’ in The
World of 24 March
that, over a short 2009, says forward to protect
months since November
spate of tiger deaths
both in Kazirangahas taken place,
National parks.
A total of 17 deaths
had taken place,
pointing to the
patrolling of core
areas and conse-
quential free-run
for poachers.
The Ministry of
Environment and
Forest has directed
the Wildlife
Crime and Control
Bureau (WCCB)
to probe into
the
organised gangs possible role of web of his
in the killings.
While the Governments
and Madhya Pradesh
could not do
much with the
given state-of-the-art
44
the killing of some species that were
threatened with extinction. But the sit-
uation has taken a turn for the worse
once again.
Trading in skin and body parts is a
lucrative business in India as well as
in other countries such as China. This
has resulted in poachers killing ani-
mals for money. As a result, many
species, including the tiger, are dying
out. In order to save the tiger, the
authorities need to raise awareness
levels by holding campaigns in the
media. Stricter enforcement of laws
related to poaching can also help save
the Indian tiger from certain death.
— Mahesh Kapasi
Government mockery
Those who talk about austerity fail
to look at the ways and means curtail-
ing unnecessary expenditure incurred
by government departments.
When the British administration
introduced railway system in India, it
was meant to connect major cities
with the hill stations so that the
British officers posted in India could
avoid the scorching heat in summer
4 ALIVE
LETTERS
and spend the hot weather in cold cli- nels (not a wrong thing) but there are not for solving the problems of the would not get anything free.
P OLITICS
practically no brassiere advertise-
BJP: On the brink
of breaking up?
mate prevailing in the hill stations. country or its common people. Everything costs and we need money,
For maintaining and running the ments on TV (very few do appear) and If they are real politicians, they The battle within
Party (BJP) has
never before,
the Bharatiya
now intensified
with almost every
Janata
like
therefore, we should earn money, we
T
leader worth his/
her salt going
nil on radio - and due to last years ban
he bugles have
have to do the following things,
for
trains they had to recruit workers should spend money and we should be
and the war cry
been sounded
the 700-page tome the jugular even
given.
mother of all battles It is the
is a different issue. as L. K. Advani
Anyway, Jaswant came as a shock struggles to keep
as the Party becomes in the BJP, ing as the controversyis not complain- cynical even for the the Party ideologies
a free-for- his political analysts. most
all zone has catapulted
book to the bestseller-list removal has His which he has reportedly afloat. ■ by Smita
When Mao Zedong made him an unlikely and avalanche kick-started
an criticised his Shenoy
said, “Politics of sorts, with removal played down
is war without
bloodshed,” could bourhood Pakistan. hero in neigh- senior Ministers a series of even before
a proper his com- the
other hand, claims
have foreseen he hailed for He is being alienated ments, for fear
analysis of the
that India’s largest the ‘fair’ portrayal being the BJP, either through from results, ing the wrath
of invit- report
has never been
that such a
Opposition party long-deceased of the through resignation or Raje is putting up of RSS. It tabled.
on FTV for lingerie shows hardly any
would prove The need
which truly represent the common
Muslim a show
from various remote corners of the able to save money for the rainy days.
eviction. Thus, says that Shourie
words correct,
one day? The
his The former Minister League leader. of Vajpayee former aide of strength in Jaipur.
been asked to has to conduct of the hour for the BJP is
within the Bharatiya battle news is busy giving and speech-writer In the midst of clarify his its a genuine introspection
Janata Party bites to almost Advani, Sudheendra of all this comments. failures — not of
(BJP) has now all the prominent brouhaha, on
intensified like channels and newspapers, resigned, citing Kulkarni another ‘Chintan Baithak’ the lines of the
before, with never ing how emphasis- ences’. ‘ideological differ- bombshell in in Simla, which
almost every he had stood beside And Uttarakhand the guise seemed to focus
worth his/her
salt going for the
leader when
the latter was caught Advani, Minister B.C.Khanduri ex-Chief of former Disinvestment Seeking a salver on
poll debacle. Blaminganything but the
lar even as L. K. jugu- lar ‘JInnah’ in a simi- after was removed Minister Arun all and sundry
Advani struggles controversy. The the Lok Sabha Shourie’s The BJP’s cup will not help the
keep the Party electoral debacle. BJP in bouncing
ideologies afloat. to tion is that Advani has insinua-
Earlier, following ‘rebellion’ has
further Jaswant Singh woes, which of as a force back
Ever since its poll the favour. Jaswant not returned performance the BJP’s dismal deepened the ongoing brimmed within to reckon with. It has to look
debacle, the BJP over with the itself and rectify
lingerie shows are telecast by FTV. Our
in the 2009 crisis. The erst-
people who voted for them.
Singh is, of
country. Those who hailed from dis- The people who hate money are left
has been in the course, not new tions in Rajasthan, general elec- while editor of Gandhi controversy, Varun its faults.
news for all to controversy. The Indian Express shows no Experts feel that
wrong reasons. the Minister Vasundhara former Chief The Times of India and of abating. the Party needs
ouster (via a
The unceremonious Time and again,
he has been the Raje was asked attacked the BJP’s Even as Sushma signs complete revamp a
centre of many high command and Arun Jaitley Swaraj process in its
President Rajnath
telephone call
by BJP big, a scandal, small to quit as leader
of Opposition the RSS should
and suggested
that game of are involved in and needs to clearly thinking
Singh) but the biggest or State Assembly. in the take command musical chairs, a its common spell out
of Party veteran of them came Party leaders Party. In his articulate of the Advani’s to ideologies. It
Jaswant during his tenure believed that
it was due way, Shourie successor, the veteranbecome build a foolproof think-tank, needs to
Singh, over as Vasundhara’s borrowed liberally seems to be in no leader ing of
posed criticism
his sup- External alleged misgovernance to from literary clas- hurry to quit so a mix of Party veteranscompris-
Affairs during sics and Hindi ily. He went on eas- younger
Sardar of Minister in the
Vajpayee Party her rule in the State that the a scathing attack
films, while launching record recently, ministers, to find and the
Vallabhbhai Government. His lost its grounds would continue that he solutions practical
on
He called him ‘HumptyRajnath Singh. Opposition as the Leader to the present
Information & Broadcasting Minister
Patel in his Office among masses.
Since most politicians have their
Many feel that predicament.
tant areas had to visit their families poor and they are obliged to beg
book on drew flak for of the
for another 5
Jinnah, has
further
its han- ‘Alice in Blunderland’ Dumpty’ and years. former Prime
dented the
dling of the Kandahar Bold stance BJP a ‘kati patang’ and named the
Even as the
Minister and
the BJP”s
Party’s episode. — a kite gone adrift. dust most experienced
image. Whether Shourie seems starts leader,
any- However, his sudden Perhaps, following Jaswant’s to settling
body in the party mula that for- solution is to bombard think that the scandal, on one Atal Bihari
Vajpayee,
has and acrimonious another one
actually had expul- defence, attack is the best form of ters, that is, the headquar-
remove all ministers crops up to
needs to take on
a more
the sion, after
patience to sit
through having Ministers none of the expelled from New Delhi place. Now,
take its active role in the
Party’s
L. K. Advani
served the Party is taking things and bring in compe- media is goings-on, at least
faith- While lying tent ministers
fully for 30-odd Khanduri is understood down. from talking about
the Apte such time as thingsuntil
years, written cleanse and rebuild the States to report,
a letter to Rajnath to have
once in a year or two and to enable felt proud on such an illogical ban and own earnings in their profession of money form others. We have seen so
12
Singh, in according to him, the Party. This, which, they right. His expertise get
will claim, contains may
ALIVE ■ OCTOBER 2009 Party’s lost credibility.bring back the reasons detailed well provide the
The BJP has of the Party’s answers to the
election loss. The questions
BJP, on currently haunting
Varun Gandhi the
Party.
■
ALIVE ■ OCTOBER 2009
13
them the Indian Railways thought of acting in Taliban way. agriculture, industry etc, they do not many people who had left this life and
providing the railway employees Brassiere is like any other piece if require salary to maintain their family. It seems, all the top leaders are are living in jungles are often coming
with free passes for travelling to their cloth necessary for any female to wear Hence they must voluntarily refuse rather egoistical, putting themselves to the people and begging something
native places and come back. it to keep her figure intact –and the salary and perks. This is applicable in before the good of the party they from them. It is because the body of
Now each of the 40 lakh odd necessary support breasts require for the case of retired or resigned govern- belong to. BJP has failed to figure out the man needs food, clothes and many
employees in all grades and posts are a healthy life. So what is wrong with ment employees also who get pension. what the real trouble with the party other things to live on and even those,
given six LTCs and three free asses brassiere advertisements or fashion Since the progress of the country is. It seems, despite Advani’s hardlin- who run away from the mundane life,
ION
feelings against
the carnivore.
There is an unwritten place on 31
between Krishna covenant Minchikuli December 2008,
valley. He agreed in of mountain
farmers, that the Kumar and the us there,
shows on brassiere. Every man
with rocky mounds
every year. Even if every family has six and its people depends on elimina- er instincts, he lacked firm convic- also need these things. Therefore,
animal will not the following day, to take jecting up in the pro-
poisoned at any be keen on foreground as
cost. So far, he enjoying the scenic as I was as in the distanceds. well
he has disbursed says, the area. beauty of ered They were cov-
Rs We would with a thick mat
funds, in the course 77,000 out of his the Governor’s also be able to see it of dry grass, as
of 8 months, cov- shooting-lodge was winter. On
ering 29 cases. British days, of road was the right side of
He gets the
port from his friends financial sup- tions used when hunting expedi- vegetation.rocky highland with sparse
and some soci- to be arranged
eties, such as the the ‘White Sahibs’. to please
Coimbatore Round Bedaguli lies at
Table ACME, to In the afternoon, a distance of 5
meet these expenses. from Jodikare km
ing around the instead of hang- Bedaguli, check-post. Enroute
members the total number of passes knows that every woman-sister, tion of corruption, the politicians tions. Top BJP leaders are shunning every one of us must try to earn
lodge, a trip a thin water-fall to
Granting compensation Jodikare and Bedaguli
by jeep was
to ed amidst was sight-
green vegetation.
arranged. It forms Forester told The
Soon after arriving part of Karnataka us that
on his premis-
State and lies
at an elevation named after Srinivasa, it had been
es, on the morning metres above sea-level, of 863 cer who the forest offi-
of 2 January 2009, had been slain
we were taken Dimbam - Chamarajanagar to the east of by Veerappan.
to Kali Dimbam, Bedaguli has beautiful
tribal hamlet at a straight run road. A and landscape
a distance of is encircled by
from Asanur, to 5 km the Karnatakaon this road leads on to mountain ranges
see the condition forest check-post, on the east,
milch buffalo, that of a where a from abruptly west and north. The road
and LTCs could be 64,00,000X9 passes mother, niece, grandmother, daughter must give free hand to Lokayukta him and now his importance has money in a just way so that he could
had been attacked diversion to the ends in the southern
by a tiger while es the road to Jodikare. right touch- direc-
grazing. tion and, from
animal had suffered Though the For a good distance, thick sholas on
its brink, one can
see
injures on its left only minor the road was the down-side.
hind leg, while tarred but then
bat- full of pot-holes.it became rugged and
Movement of
tling with the tiger
and
ing to its farm-stead, before gallop- road were On either side The Minchikuli
Krishna Kumar ered from the shock it had not recov- evergreen
of
The wounds had attack.
fairly thick sholas of the
forest) Mini-buses
(stunted
The Minchikuli
ply on south-eastern
valley
valley lies in the
this road up to
with mud and been plastered
Kumar told the Jodikare road
Jodikare.
and can be reached
direction from Bedgaluli
in a year! In addition, the railway etc wear a brassiere so why there is so and CBI to do their duty. shrunk down. The problem is that be able to run his life. The parents, the
at government proceeds up
he would arrange
for
owner Athikan
Estate. On reaching to foot. At Bedaguli, from there only by
approach adopted to treat the animal. veterinary help check-post the of
we saw a small
herd
gaur
Kumar had his of Jodikare, we
a ray of hope. by a man in apprehensions help of a Forester sought the mounds grazing on the fringes of the
if the at a far-off distance.
■ by R. Krishnamurthy survive. It survived animal would He came to go to Bedaguli.
‘Vanishing for nearly 3 along with a rifle We clicked some
facilities, a lone months and died to open the road and the key pictures of
Hindu Young individual, endowed on 25th March. barrier on the way. Bedaguli landscape
with zeal and tle due to Later that day, The hilly range Asanur late in and returned to
gumption, has
come adequate tiger attack, for making information that Kumar got the tion presented with lush vegeta-
verse to Jodikare
the evening. The
tra-
span of 3 Talaimalai-Satyamangalam tigers in the compensation. 3 cows had suc- itself to the left and Bedaguli made
up a good network He has built cumbed to tiger road for some of the me feel
attack that had distance and, that the prey-base
much fuss over it- i.e., brassiere adver-
last, a Tamil with
We have completed 62 years of there are a number of angry old men
friends, the relatives, the state and the
range of in taken after,
employees get bonus also. Thanks to
Nadu. the course of about the villagers the terrain was there- in these for big cats
He is Krishna a year. broken by folds tracts has been
considerably
and Kanha Kumar of Asanur, As soon as a kill reduced.
an industrialist-turned-farmer of cattle is report-
ed to Krishna The 3rd morning
wildlife-enthusiast. cum site to Kumar, he visits dawned with
Shuffling himself make sure the hopes of seeing
poor between
his DPF farm killed by a tiger, the bovine was which has been
Minchikuli valley,
lodge cum restaurant, and jungle- bites on by examining
the
earmarked to become
a wildlife sanctuary
the neck and the
tiger-conservation he is tied up in vertebral break in the plan of North in the working
work with full column. Leopards Coimbatore by
steam. He has dogs cannot cause and wild Joseph, IFS. At S. John
rightly
in Satyamangalam chosen Asanur, such injuries. 7 a.m., we left
these passes, the railway system is tisements etc. on TV and Radio etc. Independence. Is it not a shame to con- in the BJP spewing hatred and envy society must see to it that every one in
forest division, Once the kill is Karanaikarai, a for
that borders on confirmed as that tribal hamlet, at
made by a tiger, tance of 23 kms a dis-
Karnataka, as
the pensation he releases the
com- from Asanur, on
activity. amount, ranging Kollegal road. the
He from Rs
of Assam lages, works in tandem with 9 vil- 2,000 to 6,000,
depending upon The drive in
the misty morning
spread over a radius type of animal the was exhilarating.
metres, and has of 40 kilo- the killed. His aim At Karanaikarai,
asked the villagers farmer may not is that Krishna Kumar
report to him, feel distraught enquired about
any death of their to the loss of the milch or at exact location,
where the 3 tiger
the
cat- and he draft animal had taken place. kills
may not harbour Then he picked
vindictive
Just because of illogical ban, most
of his helpers up
from this hamlet, 2
overcrowded and the paying public is tinue to divide the country all the time. BJP can come the country has the power to earn and
ALIVE ■ JANUARY 2010 A natural act directions to Minchikuli for
in natural way
in nature: A valley.
tiger preying for his After a run for
food. about 2 kms back
on Kollegal road,
we touched the
spot
ALIVE ■ JANUARY 2010
45
denied berths and seats. women are ignorant- not aware of lat- by caste, sub caste, majority, back to power provided he must be settled properly.
EDITORIAL
est and best lingerie in the market-
SELFISH REPRESENTATIVES
There is no need or justification for minority etc that only creates The Members of
Local Area
Scheme (MPLADS),
OF PEOPLE
Parliament
Development
in 1994, is meant launched
fund for the MPs
to have a
to spend at
caught 4 MPs on
out contracts under
MLAs in State
MPLADS.
Not to be left behind
they position themselves as
camera discussing
commissions to
their counterparts
Legislatures, too,
hand
in Parliament,
The people not in a position to
The Condom advertisements with
their discretion grants for local
conflicts and conspiracies
have got themselves
issuing such a large number of passes a responsible centrist party. earn money are often seen commit-
on welfare area development
and development goes against the schemes. The scheme
schemes, in division of duties
their respective and the executive between legislature
constituen- envisaged in the
cies. The amount Another factor Constitution.
is Rs 2 crore. that causes the
made a plea to Recently, financial drain Central Government's
increase the amount several MPs have their personal
is the mania of
our
a Parliamentary
committee, in
to Rs 5 crore. In
fact, security. Recently, political leaders on
mended the enhancement its report, had Parliament disrupted BSP Members
of the MPLADS recom- to protest the the functioning of
10 crore. The increase amount to Rs proposal to withdraw of the two Houses
or allowing leave travel concessions. instead of ensuring national They should try to recon- ting crimes and create troubles for
from Rs 2 crore leader UP Chief
cost a difference
in the budgetary to 5 crore itself
will Minister Mayawati. NSG cover to their
from the present outlay of Rs 4000 was paralysed Similarly, Lok
Rs 1600 crore. crore on the basis of Sabha
of security of hearsay
The one issue
on which members MPs such as Murali about the reduction
while fighting of all parties agree, Mulayam Singh Manohar Joshi
most bitterly on Yadav (SP), and (BJP),
increase in their every other issue, Cannot Mayawati, Lalu Prasad (RJD).
if the MPLADS
emoluments. It
would have been is the rupees on installing who wastes hundreds of crores
es they are meant
funds are utilised
for the
justified after her personal her own statues in public places, of
S OFT COR for, say constructing genuine purpos- way can the life
safety from her
own
look
lages, repairing roads in the vil- of Joshi, Mulayam resources? In what
The employees of the Indian Railways integration? These divisions cile the differences among its others. So if we want peace, we shall
NER schools, etc. The danger than the
another means
of earning money
MPLADS has
become life of the common or Lalu be more in
they have some
WOMEN
the people. A 2003 in the name of MPs man? Just because
sting operation
by a television
serving they are blackmailingin the House to paralyse Parliament,
channel to their unjustified the Central Government to
demands. concede
ASSETS OF
JUDGES
It is good that
Court judges have Supreme
should be entitled only for the 2-year are only helping politicians members. Further, the party have to make sure that everyone is
initiatives were
at last decid- taken in the past.
ed to reveal the However, of the
details three pillars of
assets on the court’s of their executive and the State – legislature,
All the way There was reluctance website.
part of some of on the
people have to
even to get things
judiciary – the
last is
depend on it not the least corrupt and
only
the members of done. From repairingto get justice but
higher judiciary supply of rations, roads to proper
to publicise people have to
the property they through PILs. In depend upon
had. such a situation, courts
son they put forward The rea- ciary is vital for transparency of
or 4-year LTC available to the employ- to cheat people and amass should project itself as being earning money in order to lead a
was that installing the judi-
litigants or harassed judges could be
blackmailed by Though the judges confidence amongst the people.
to explain how revealing their in general were
wealth. However, they acquired assets, initially against
the reluctance on the pleaded for transparencyseveral in their ranks
make public the the part of judiciary publicly
details to regarding
they have something of their wealth gave a feeling of them began
placing the details their property. Some
Britainʼs Queen in that
Elizabeth II (L) aspersions on judges’ to hide. Recent happenings, website. Sensing
the
of their assets
on the
Welsh singer
meets
Katherine A former Chief
integrity, strengthened that cast the Supreme Court mood of the people and these
these doubts. judges,
Jenkins (R) following
across the board
Justice of India
had said 20% of reveal the details Judges decided that they, too,
the Royal Variety were corrupt. A judges of their assets would
Court judges are to the public. The
ees of other government departments, wealth and properties and seriously concerned about the respectable life. The states, which fail
Performance dare to say so common man would expected High
in for
court. Even if the fear of prosecution for contempt
Blackpool, England.
not However, the exercise to follow suit.
charge of of going public
as daylight, punishing against a senior judge is not in any way
going to help eradicate with their assets is
him is almost as clear can demand how
remove a High
Court judge, it impossible. To the judge has acquiredcorruption. No one
Dancers perform him by Parliament. is necessary to past. For better this wealth in the
during the World And, never in the impeach accountability,
International Cup 2010 draw lature, was a judge history of the legis- assets should be declaring the candidates’
Convention at the Cape Town made mandatory
Centre (CTICC) impeached, though ments. Then only for all further appoint-
in Cape Town. several still-born it could be known
Two Belarussian
girls locked proportionate to whether their assets
bout at nightclub during a female their known source are
chocolate wrestling
which would work out to a staggering not benefiting the masses. current problems of drought, to establish the people on work and
in Minsk late of income.
in a winter night. ■
Performers from ALIVE ■ OCTOBER 2009
the Tun Huang
Art Research
Institute in
7
Chinaʼs Ganshu
province dance
during a
rehearsal show
amount of money and reduce the rush Actually common people recession, education, environ- earning money fail on all fronts and
in Taipei.
U.S. Carol Greider
of Johns Hopkins US Driver Danica
University School became the Patrick has
of Medicine first woman
smiles a major open-wheel to win
after receiving Japan. She signed race in
the
Nobel Prize
in IndyCar contract a three-year
Medicine at with Michael
the Andrettiʼs team
Stockholm to serve as a
part-time driver
Concert Hall Motorsports for JR
on the railways to some extent. This consider caste and religion only in their ment, terrorism and so on. when people turn poor, that country
in in the National
Stockholm. Sonia Lipski Association
models for Stock Car
Harlette lingerie
and Racing (NASCAR). Auto
gown on board
historic ʻJames the
Craigʼ
barque in Sydney.
Managing director
Tisenkopfa become of Madara Cosmetics
the double digit Ltd Lotte
two years after economic boom
Latvia joined
110 the European Models showcase
Union. designs by lingerie
Triumph during
should be examined and the system of house and places of worship and not Otherwise the people will lose all always remains backward and not
a line
ALIVE ■ JANUARY 2010 Indian Bollywood presentation choreographed
Director Farah by
Khan in Mumbai.
ALIVE ■ JANUARY 2010
111
passes should be abolished forthwith. bothered about it outside while dining faith in it not before long. Time has able to compete with the advanced
Paying bonus to government suggestive message and photographs in a hotel and doing work in office, fac- come when they need to work with countries. Hence, in a democracy it is
employees is also not justified. Bonus are not considered as cheap and vul- tory etc. inclusiveness, irrespective of caste, the supreme duty of the state to
is linked to production and the white gar or even sexy but strangely lingerie — Ganesh Srikantiah religion or state. The party will have ensure that its citizens are an earning
collared employees who are doing advertisements are so considered. to factor in the prevailing mood lot and have proper employment.
only unproductive jobs do not — M. Kumar BJP needs to develop among the people to come up with a — Daly Singh Wasan
deserve any bonus. convincing argument. If the BJP
fresh outlook wants a future, it has to work out its Alive welcomes readers’ letters
— K. Ponnu
Shame on system Your thought provoking report BJP: game plan for 2014 right now.
containing constructive criticism of
the stories, articles and features
This refers to the editorial Selfish on the brink of breaking up? (October — Vinod C. Dixit
Still a tabboo representatives of people (October, 2009) 2009) clearly reveals that the BJP in the
published in each issue. Also, give
suggestions for new subjects and
features. The best letter will get a prize
Refer to Women All the way photo- which is not only thought provoking present circumstances needs to devel- Possessing money is of Rs 200. Address your letters to:
graph with the caption ‘Models show- but makes a man to rebel against rep- op a fresh outlook and refurbish its
leadership with a set of dynamic lead-
your right
case designs by lingerie line Triumph resentatives who are only criminals
during a presentation choreographed and traitors in political uniform. In ers and should not be weird by the Every one must have money with Delhi Press
by Indian Bollywood Director Farah fact, these MPs, MLAs, MLCs etc rep- Hindutva ideology. In spite of the him because without it he would not be E-3, Jhandewala Estate,
Khan in Mumbai’ (January 2010). resent the people only to get votes warnings issued by the RSS on a num- able to run his family and day-to-day New Delhi - 110 055.
It is strange that this kind of fashion and enjoy fat salaries, perks, foreign ber of occasions to keep the BJP intact, business. Man has established money Prize is awarded to:
Daly Singh Wasan
shows are freely telecast on TV chan- luxury cars, foreign trips only and it had no effect on the party. for transaction in this world and he
■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 5
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

CRIME AND NO PUNISHMENT DERECOGNISE COMMUNAL PARTIES

Justice delayed is justice
denied. And in India, justice is
invariably delayed if the
accused are rich and power-
ful, especially if they are
politicians and senior bureau-
crats. The case of Ruchika,
who was molested by
S.P.S.Rathore, and driven to
commit suicide, is an exam-
ple. The crime was committed 19 years ago. Rathore, then
the IG, molested the 13-year-old schoolgirl and the police,
bureaucracy and politicians in power tried to suppress
the case. They harassed and tortured her family and
friends, demanding they withdraw the case or change
their statements. Somehow, her parents and near ones
resisted the threats and Rathore is now convicted and
punished with 6 months RI and a fine of Rs 1,000.
Day after day, newspapers and TV channels highlight-
ed the incidents that followed the crime. From the then
Chief Minister of Haryana to the lowest of police officials,
all were found trying to help Rathore. What is more, he
was recommended and given awards and honours dur-
ing the long trial. He retired as the DG of Police.
The question now is how someone, who is accused of
such a heinous crime, is to be prevented from getting pro-
motions and State honours. In the case of Rathore, he rose
to the highest rank and was also honoured with
President’s Police Medal, the highest honour for excel-
lence in service. Now, hectic efforts are being made to
enhance his punishment and withdraw his medal.
However, will these efforts be of any use, even if they
become successful? He will be pampered with all privi-
leges and comforts in jail, by the officials who were his
subordinates when he was the head of the police. And
even to prove, that he abetted the girl to commit suicide,
will be almost impossible.
The real problem is not the inadequacy of punishment
but how soon it is meted out. If 6 months RI had been
handed out to Rathore within 6 months of committing the
crime, instead of after long 19 years, it would have been
sufficient. He would have lost his job and not got promo-
tions and honours. Also, the victim would not have com-
mitted suicide and her near ones harassed. Hence, delay
is the most important factor that subverts justice. There
should be a fixed time by which cases are disposed off. If
a girl is molested, she should not have to wait till she
becomes grandmother to get her tormenter punished.
Most of the Muslim coun-
tries have a religious
Constitution, in which religion
and politics are intertwined.
However, it is not so for all.
For example, Turkey under
Kamal Pasha kept religion out
of politics; so much so, the
State banned purdah for
women and Muslim-specific
dress for men. Other Muslim countries, though calling
themselves Islamic States, have different types of adminis-
tration and law, varying from modern to fundamentalist.
When East Bengal was liberated from the military-mul-
lah regime of Pakistan, in 1971, the newly-emerged State of
Bangladesh, under Mujibur Rehman, opted for a secular
Constitution. But after his assassination, the military took
over with the help of religious fundamentalists, following a
coup in 1975, and the Fifth Amendment changed the
Constitution into an Islamic one.
Recently, under the prime-ministership of Mujib’s
daughter, Sheikh Hasina, the Amendment was nullified
by the Bangladesh Supreme Court, to make the State sec-
ular. The Bench, headed by Justice Huq, restored the
unique feature of the original Constitution – secularism
and freedom of religion. The judge said, “Secularism
means both religious tolerance and religious freedom. The
State must not be seen favouring any particular religion;
rather, ensure protection to the followers of all faiths.”
The Bangla Supreme Court’s order should be a guide
even to India, that has always been a secular country, with
a Constitution directing the Government to enact a uni-
form civil code to all the people, irrespective of religion,
and foster a scientific temper among the masses. In fact,
the Indian Government has been always submitting to
the coercion of religious leaders, to dilute the civil code
and helping to promote religious obscurantism in the
name of religious freedom.
As for keeping religion out of politics, several parties
violate the principle and even tag religion to the name of
their parties, to woo voters of a particular community.
The Hindu Mahasabha and the Muslim League thrive on
divisive politics, by misusing the name of religion. And
there are several political parties that claim to protect peo-
ple of a particular religion even when they claim to be sec-
ular. It was time the Election Commission, with the back-
ing of the Indian Supreme Court, derecognised political
parties indulging in communal and divisive politics.

PATRIOTS’ DAY? SCIENCE STIFLED BY OFFICIALDOM

“Patriotism is the last
refuge of a scoundrel,” said
Samuel Johnson, the great
English satirist of the 18th cen-
tury. One is reminded of this
saying on reading the report
that the Communist parties
have written to Prime Minister,
demanding that 23 January,
the birth anniversary of Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose, should be celebrated as ‘Desh Prem
Diwas’ (Patriots’ Day). “Netaji is hailed by the people as a
leader with unparalleled patriotism,” says the letter. The
signatories of the letter include Prakash Karat of the
CPI(M) and A.B.Bardhan of the CPI, with other left leaders.
Nor doubt, the people, the Forward Bloc and the RSP
consider Netaji as a leader with unparallel patriotism. But
what about the Indian Communist Party that split later into
the CPI and CPM? During World War II (1939-45), when
Bose went out of India to organise the Indian National
Army, the Communist Party called him “the running dog of
facism” at the order of the Russian Communist Party. This
was because Bose had sought the help of Germany and
Japan, that were fighting against Russia and Britain.
Communists spied on Congressmen and other freedom-
fighters, who had gone underground to carry on their agi-
tation. This is the record of the patriotism of Communists,
to whom Soviet Union and its megalomaniac Joseph Stalin
came first and India was second, if not last, after all the
Communist countries of the world, including China.
Talking about China, when that country attacked India
in 1962, the Indian Communist Party supported the
enemy. Later, the party split into CPM and CPI. Even after
the Soviet Union disintegrated and the Communist coun-
tries turned to democracy and capitalism, Indian commu-
nists continued with their nostalgia for Stalinist Russia.
The letter of the leaders of the Leftist parties to the
Prime Minister says, “In these days, when the spirit of
patriotism seems lacking among our countrymen, owing to
frustration because of the poor economic conditions of the
common man, it is necessary to give a call to the people on
the historic birthday of Netaji, to revive such a spirit.”
Well said! But before that, the writers of the letter should
confess their sin of calling Netaji names and undo the his-
toric wrong they committed against him. Otherwise, their
words will sound like Satan quoting the scriptures.
Addressing the 97th
Indian Science Congress, at
Thiruvananthapuram, in
which more than 5,000 dele-
gates from India and abroad
participated, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh called upon
scientists to liberate science
from bureaucratism. He
asked them “to engage with
the Government to liberate Indian science from the shack-
les and deadweight of bureaucratism and in-house
favouritism.”
No doubt, as the Prime Minister mentioned, red tape,
political interference and lack of proper recognition of
good work, had set back India from making any great con-
tribution towards new discoveries and progress.
What is the condition of DRDO, ICAR, National
Chemical Laboratory, National Physical Laboratory and
many other fast-breeding institutions? They are all headed
by senior scientists. But the Government’s mode of selec-
tion, seniority and promotion makes them bureaucrats
dealing with files in offices, rather than with the instru-
ments in the laboratory. They do turn out PhDs, but most
of them are mediocre. The degree they get is more because
of serving their guides and seniors than because of service
to science.
The problem is bureaucratisation of the sarkari scientif-
ic community. But his calling on scientists to set things
right, cannot work. It is the system devised by politicians
and bureaucrats that stifles science. A genius or innovator
is repressed, as no senior would like his junior to outshine
him. No wonder, our national laboratories explore and
experiment to produce nothing. The DRDO failed to make
a light combat aircraft or a main battle tank for decades,
compelling the Government to buy them from abroad.
Also, in a country where money is what matters, young-
sters are made to choose careers that bring fat salaries. Few
take to research in fundamental science and, those who do,
get frustrated and go abroad where facilities and funds for
research exist. Referring to Nobel laureate V.Ramakrishnan’s
recent comments, that Indian scientists needed greater
autonomy, the PM said that the shackles of bureaucratism
and favouritism should be removed. But who will do it? Not
the very politicians and bureaucrats, who have a vested
interest in maintaining the status quo. ■

6 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 7

 D EFENCE
Terrorism Threats India’s
Nuclear Installations
Recently caught two terror masterminds David Headley and
T. H. Rana who also plotted 26/11 had stayed close to N-installations
of India. How lethal an N-centre go-off is taken from catastrophes
from Chernobyl explosion. ■ by M. Shamsur Rabb Khan
T
he recent radiation leak, at the
Kaiga Nuclear Plant in
Kannada district, Karnataka,
has left 55 employees in the
maintenance unit falling sick
due to suspected radiation poison-
ing. While nuclear experts have not
ruled out the possibility of sabotage,
came the report that nuclear installa-
tions of the country are on the target
of the terrorists.
This was disclosed by Minister of
State for Home Affairs M.
Ramachandran in the Lok Sabha, in
response to a written question. In view
of India being a constant target of
severe terror attacks, in recent years,
the nuclear installations in various
parts of the country are in great danger.
The report of possible attack on
India’s N-installations and other
Defence establishments located
along, or in close proximity to its
7,516-km-long coastline, is not a new
security threat. In November 2008,
N-installations in the country were
put on high alert after Intelligence
input revealed a sinister plan by the
terrorists from across the border.
In March 2007, Defence Minister
A.K. Antony, while addressing the
Parliament, pointed out that there
were reports about terrorists of vari-
ous tanzeems (groups) being trained
and there was likelihood of their
infiltration through sea routes.
In May 2007, the then Minister of
State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal,
stated that Pakistan-based terrorist
8 ALIVE
groups, particularly LeT, were
exploring possibilities of infiltrating
their agents, arms and ammunition
into India through the sea route.
In November 2006, Home
Minister Shivraj Patil had alerted the
security establishments that the
Indian nuclear-power plants were
Chernobyl nuclear reactor after accident on 26 April 1986.
■ FEBRUARY 2010
highly vulnerable to terrorists. The
latter were making attempts to occu-
py some uninhabited islands in the
Indian Ocean and use them as bases
for terror attacks along the coasts.
Global intelligence agencies have
also been warning of terrorist attacks
on India through the sea route. The
Mumbai terror attack of 26/11 the terrorists have exploited,
is a grim reminder. or may exploit. In case of an
Instability in Pakistan, in inroad into N-installations,
close association with Pakistani the damage could be unimag-
militants groups, aided and inable. Death and destruction
abetted by the ISI, could target could be on such a large scale,
N-installations across the coun- that the country would be
try. And if the instability in rather confused as to how to
Pakistan multiplies into chaos, respond. The cry of “enough
the danger to the N-installation is enough" after every terror
could be greater. attack will not work if our N-
In the circumstances, installations are vulnerable
besides issuing high-alert due to inefficiency of the
orders, how is the Government administration, laced with
preparing to meet the threat? It corrupt officials and tardy
is a fact, that every time the David Headley: Mastermind behind Mumbai attack. processes.
Central Government receives Although the Indian Navy,
such intelligence inputs, it asks the Headley and a Pakistani-Canadian, Coast Guard and the CISF have been
State Governments to beef up security, Tahawwur Hussain Rana – who visit- mandated to undertake security
in addition to giving assurance that ed places in India and stayed close to arrangements for all strategically-
nuke facilities are absolutely secure. N-installations, the threat-perception sensitive N-installations, besides the
Recently, Prime Minister Dr has surely aggravated. In the given Defence Forces that are deployed for
Manmohan Singh allayed fears about scenario, a comprehensive action is providing air defence cover, the steps
the same. mandatory if India has to secure its N- are precautionary in nature. Even
installations. though the States have been asked to
If India has taken any lesson from increase the vigil and patrolling, to
Needing national strategy
the 26/11 catastrophe, it must come thwart any sabotage attempt aimed
However, given the vulnerability up with a formidable national strate- at these vital facilities, a new sense of
of the security system in the country gy to combat terrorism and provide urgency has come up to create a
and the clear lack of coordination fool-proof security to the sensitive nodal coordination agency at the
among various agencies, which led to institutions and establishments. Centre.
the devastating catastrophe in Though it has announced a series of A thorough scrutiny at entrances
Mumbai in 2008, mere assurances policy measures, intended to mod- of airports, stations, ports, hotels, cin-
may not be enough. India needs to ernise and improve the internal secu- emas etc, can help, along with strict
look beyond the conventional rity apparatus – both men and measures to detect determined and
approach and age-old methods machines – most of these measures intelligent attackers, who could pen-
wrapped in bureaucratic sluggish- are still to be implemented. etrate almost any defence. The task
ness and complacent responses. Past experiences have shown that can be made easier by a central com-
India's strategic and economic implementation remains tardy and mand and control system.
advancement of India has helped it to inefficient, leaving many gaps which What the country needs is some-
enter into nuclear deals with several thing very formidable and concrete –
countries, including the USA and both from the safety point of view of
Canada. However, the threat to the the N-installations, as well as a policy
country's N-installations may jeopar- towards ending the militant groups
dise such agreements or it may act as a that are out to destroy the country. A
setback, giving the Western countries a National Strategy for Combating
reason to back-track from their deals. Terrorism, much like the 4D Strategy
For example, Australia continues – Defeat, Deny, Diminish and Defend
to refuse to provide India with urani- – that the USA has followed since
um and other nuclear material and 9/11, can be the ideal option to safe-
technology, for fear that it will be used guard India’s N-installations.
for military purposes or could fall into Defence Minister: Pointed out
Will the Government come up
the hands of terrorists. And since the possibility of terror attack through with a serious policy approach for a
revelation by 2 terror suspects – David coastal region prior to 26/11. safer India? ■
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 9
 T H E F O U R T H E S T AT E
New Journalism
Bucks accepted here
Demands of professional journalists are tilted by the
interests of owners and stakeholders of media
companies. And money wielding men have no problem
in buying morals of greedy scribes. ■ by K. V. Venugopal
T
he role of the Election
Commission of India (ECI), in
curbing booth-capturing, intim-
idation of voters, and other
kinds of electoral fraud, has
won accolades from the public. India’s
elections, which in mid-2009 brought
415 million voters to the 1.18 million
ballot units in 834.944 polling sta-
tions and were mostly peace-
ful, may be one of the won-
ders of the world.
However, it is widely
understood that, last
year, the free, fair and
democratic attributes
of these elections have
been compromised as
never before. There
was large-scale, illegal
and scandalous use of
money-power – which,
to a considerable
extent, involved recy-
cled, dirty money, gar-
nered through corruption in
executive and legislative offices.
Recently, an article appeared in a
leading daily, which claimed that there
was extensive and brazen participa-
tion of a section of the media in
Andhra Pradesh. Allegedly, journalists
earned about Rs 350 crore through edi-
torial coverage sold to candidates dur-
ing the recent Lok Sabha and
Assembly elections. It is said that some
political candidates even recorded the
expenditure, incurred in purchasing
editorial coverage, in their official doc-
10
uments submitted to the ECI.
No wonder, a speaker at a media
seminar in Hyderabad recently char-
acterised the trend as a “Cash Transfer
Scheme” – from politicians to journal-
ists. Earlier, this trend allegedly pre-
vailed between the politicians only.
Thus, we had the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) accusing the Samajwadi
Party (SP) of indulging in bribe to pro-
tect the Central Government, when
the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
faced a no-confidence motion from
the Communist Party of India
(Marxist) and the BJP.
It is a welcome sign that some
newspersons drew the attention of
the ECI on this new-fangled cash
transfer scheme in Andhra Pradesh.
The Press Council of India has consti-
tuted a 2-member committee to
inquire into the matter.
The grapevine in media concurred
with the writer of the above article. It
was further alleged that the Assembly
elections saw the culture of ‘cover
packages’ explode across the State. In
many cases, a candidate had to pay for
almost any coverage at all; issues
did not pose a problem.
If any candidate was not
inclined to dole out to some
scribes, the candidate’s name
was blacklisted in their
columns. This made the small-
er parties pale into insignificance
and there was no or very little
coverage of candidates with inade-
quate assets and resources.
Apparently, during the Lok Sabha
elections, a section of the media were
offering "low-end" coverage pack-
ages for Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
“High-end” ones cost a lot more. And
the rates for Assembly elections are
even higher. “It is not new,” say a few
scribes. However, the brazenness of it
is quite alarming.
The deals were many and varied. A
political candidate had to pay different
rates for ‘profiles’, ‘features’,
'interviews', ‘analysis’, ‘commentaries’,
‘events’, ‘achievements’ and what not.
With the channels, it was ‘live cover-
age’, a ‘special focus,’ or even a team
tracking you for hours in a day.
Let alone bad-mouthing your
rival, this ‘pay-per’ culture also
ensures that the newspaper, maga-
zine or channel will not tell its audi-
ences that you have a criminal record.
The sources in the political corridor
said that, as many as 50% of the
MLAs just elected in Maharashtra,
have criminal charges pending
against them. Interestingly enough,
some of them featured in adulatory
‘news items’, which made no mention
of this while tracking their record.
Media-politics nexus
The writer, who traced the nexus
between the politicians and media,
said one rebel candidate in western
Maharashtra calculates that an editor
from that region earned Rs 1 crore.
The concerned editor, according to
him, gleefully pointed out that the
rebel candidate has won by defeating
the official candidate of his party.
It is indeed disgusting and disturb-
ing to note that the money game has
moved from the petty personal cor-
ruption of a handful of scribes to the
structured extraction of huge sums of
money by some media outfits. Some
small publications rely solely on
‘Supplements’ to whet their appetite.
It becomes easy for them to
release supplements in this media-
savvy world, to pamper the politi-
cians, industrialists, tinsel world and
cricketers. Even if a supplement costs
more than a crore, people with
enough resources are happy to gain
mileage from publicity. Visual media
During the Lok Sabha elections, many
celebrities were seen canvassing for
candidates. However, during the
Maharashtra Assembly polls, several
of them appear to have been hired by
campaign managers to exert undue
influence on the voters.
Conducting an interview: But will it carry enough credibility?
sensed it and, in the name of ‘bonus’,
‘prime-time’ and a few other spots,
they mint money by projecting the
big shots in a fine-tuned manner.
Of late, ‘news items of your choice’
is gaining more prominence. For
instance, if any entrepreneur or film
actor or sportsman is willing to spend
extra money on his publicity, the
writer from the daily or the magazine
will help you draft your material. In
some cases, it is the other way round,
as many, including some lawyers and
police officials, are ready to draft the
material concerning them, instead of
relying on their versions.
Some of them even insist on going
through the report before it appears in
print. Readers could find several
‘news items’ of exactly the same size, in
the same newspaper, on the same day,
mentioning very different things, as
they were paid-for propaganda or dis-
guised advertisements. It is a regret-
table fact that some publications are
compromising their ideology to gener-
ate revenues from advertisements.
At times, during page make-ups,
news becomes a casualty at the
expense of advertisements. Such
publications are ready to sacrifice
their editorial coverage or lead page
for the sake of advertisements that
bring in cash.
There are a few significant excep-
tions, of course. Some editors tried
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
their level best to balance their cover-
age and even ran a ‘news audit’ to
ensure that. Often, some journalists
with access to politicians were
expected not only to feather their
nests, but also to generate profit for
the media houses.
Deceptive terms
Some newspapers sent out an
email, detailing ‘targets’ for each
branch and edition, during the polls.
Yet, the huge sums pulled in by some
dailies did not stop them from sacking
their staffers; they have standard argu-
ments in defence of the entire process.
For instance, when a channel
invited some journalists and politi-
cians for a programme, BJP leader
L.K.Advani said that, after the emer-
gence of visual media, maximum
share of advertisements had been
cornered by the channels, leaving lit-
tle for the print media.
Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, N.
Ram said, albeit in a lighter vein,
“For a change, I agree with the views
of Mr Advani.” The channel promot-
er, Rajdeep Sardesai, however, was
firm and said that CNN-IBN also has
to emphasise the commercial point of
view.
During the Lok Sabha elections,
many celebrities were seen canvass-
ing for their candidates. However,
11
during the Maharashtra Assembly
polls, several of them appear to have
been hired by campaign managers to
rope in crowds for their candidates.
Thus, exerting undue influence on
the voters goes hand-in-hand with
the alarming rise of money-power
among candidates.
According to Chaman Lal,
Chairperson, Centre of Indian
Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru
University, New Delhi, in all fair-
ness,, the credit for boldly raising the
issue of “journalism for sale”should
go to the veteran journalist,
Prabhash Joshi. The late Joshi started
writing, says Lal, about this malaise
in the Hindi daily, Jansatta, of which
he was founder-editor.
The renowned journalist, much to
his chagrin and discomfiture, watched
journalism in Hindi newspapers being
sold openly to candidates in Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, during
the last Lok Sabha elections. Joshi
started a spirited public cam-
paign on this issue and
addressed many pubic
meetings in Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar.
Poignantly, he returned
to New Delhi just 2 days
before his death, after
addressing many such meet-
ings in Benaras, Mirzapur etc.
Being a cricket enthusiast, Joshi was
also sore about the betting associated
with the great game.
Expressing concern
Vice President and Rajya Sabha
Chairman M. Hamid Ansari was
greatly disturbed after hearing about
the journalistic package. While
addressing a 3-day workshop on
‘Parliament and the Media’ organised
by the Rajya Sabha, he regretted that
the demands of professional journal-
ists are tilted by the interests of owners
and stakeholders of media companies
and their cross-media interests.
Ansari also pointed out that Press
Council of India’s guidelines to the
12
media call “for not accepting or pub-
lishing any advertisement at the cost of
the public exchequer regarding
achievements of a party or government
in power.” He also noted that paid
news could cause double jeopardy to
Indian democracy through a damaging
influence on press functioning as well
as on the free and fair election process.
The Vice President was also
apprehensive that huge investments,
the emergence of media conglomer-
ates and their explosive growth, have
brought into focus new considera-
tions that guide professional media
decisions. It was being felt that the
amazing media growth had high-
lighted that the Fourth Estate was the
only one among the pillars of democ-
racy that had an identifiable commer-
cial and explicitly-for-profit persona.
He is, perhaps, right. Recently, a
news editor of a renowned Tamil
daily was arrested when the paper
published an article about the flesh
trade allegedly indulged in by some
film actresses. Some of them vehe-
mently criticised the daily and
ensured that action was taken against
it for publishing defamatory articles.
A BSP MP from Tamil Nadu
lodged a complaint that some ver-
nacular media houses in the State
had assured him, before the Lok
Sabha elections, that prominent cov-
erage would be allotted to him, pro-
vided he was inclined to shell out
about Rs 5 crore. The candidate
declined the offer. As a result, “I was
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
blacklisted from publicity lists,”
bemoans the concerned MP.
Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, N.
Ram said that the Parliament was
pre-eminent and the Constitution
was supreme, in India. Referring to
the declaration of a former Speaker of
the Tamil Nadu Assembly that he
had “sky-high powers” and the
arrest of a Tamil journalist for pub-
lishing a cartoon criticising the legis-
lators, Ram suggested there was seri-
ous need for codification of “legisla-
tive privileges and contempt.”
Unnecessary highlighting
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K.
Rahman Khan has rightly pointed
that no privileges committee or pre-
siding officer could say that they had
unbound powers, while suggesting
the media to continue the debate on
the codification of parliamentary
privileges. The former Editor of
the Hindi daily Hindustan,
Mrinal Pandey, sought a
code of ethics for both print
and visual media, as well
as some kind of monitor-
ing body.
A Public Relations
Officer, attached to the
Southern Railway, regretted
that loads of unnecessary news are
telecast round the clock. There is a rat-
race, he says, among different televi-
sion news channels, bringing tremen-
dous pressure on journalists to deliv-
er. A corporate analyst opine that
newspersons should be aware of their
responsibility and inform and educate
the common man.
The problem, according to insid-
ers in the media, lies with bureau-
crats, politicians, the corporate sector,
tinsel world and sports personalities,
too. Most of them prefer to pamper
renowned newspapers and periodi-
cals at the expense of small dailies
and lesser-known weeklies and fort-
nightlies. Once, a journalist from a
renowned daily proudly proclaimed,
“A Collector himself came out to
receive me, the moment he heard the
daily I represent.”
A similar problem confronts some
vernacular dailies. It is being alleged
that authorities concerned with air-
ports, railway and other important sec-
tors, accord top priority to journalists
attached to established publications.
In press conferences, television
channels grab the attention of the
organisers, followed by the print
media. It is alleged that the organis-
ers dish out press releases, with a vol-
ley of attractive gifts, to the favoured
reporters. The toiling journalists are
expected to spend money from their
pockets to cover the assignment and
catch the deadline.
A veteran observer of politics and
media observed that, during the era of
Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru, journalists were held in rever-
ence. An honest and law-abiding jour-
nalist according to him, sacrificed
everything – children, parents, cher-
ished relatives, even his priceless life –
to place the full facts before the masses.
Not for nothing did Netaji Subhash
Chandra Bose and other famous lead-
ers aver that “the pen is mightier than
the sword.” The scribes did their best
to expose the emerging malpractices
in society – bribing voters, imperson-
ation, booth-capturing – and did not
bother to serve his self-interests.
It is a matter of concern, says the
observer regretfully, that a handful of
people have shamelessly tarnished
the image of journalism. As the Vice
President has rightly pointed out, it is
time to inculcate ethical values in
journalists. A section of academicians
are of the view that the malady of
newspapers indulging in “paid
news” is not a matter of ethics to be
enquired into by the Press Council; it
is a deliberate act of corruption, to be
dealt with according to law.
Since both the givers and takers of
bribe are guilty, the Election
Commission should seek the assis-
tance of the judiciary, conduct an
inquiry and institute criminal pro-
ceedings against both. Also, the EC
Neglected areas
Noted agriculture expert
M.S.Swaminathan has also indirectly
implied that the journalists, instead of
indulging in coverage-for-cash, should
analyse the burning issues confronting
our agriculture sector. He regretted that
the extensive prevalence of child and
adult malnutrition and India’s anticipated
failure to halve the number of the hungry
by 2015, as per the first of the United
Nations Millennium Development Goals,
receives only a passing mention in the
media. The social and economic conse-
quences of pervasive hunger and destitu-
tion are hardly highlighted in dailies and
periodicals, he avers.
Dr Swaminathan said that it is time for
the scribes to note that nearly 66% of
India’s population live in villages and that
agriculture constitutes the backbone of
their livelihood and survival. This fact is
put under the carpet since it constitutes an
“inconvenient truth”. Indeed, as many as
40% of the farmers interviewed by the
National Sample Survey Organisation
have expressed a desire to quit farming, if
there is another option available.
Dr Swaminathan, albeit indirectly, want-
ed the media to realise the gravity of the sit-
uation and wanted the media to serve as a
should debar the guilty candidates
from contesting elections for 6 years
and ensure legal validity for the code
of conduct, they added.
New era journalism
A doyen in the journalist profession
rued that the coverage packages are
the result of thoughtless restructuring
by some newspaper organisations in
the name of cost-control. As a result,
the axe has fallen on several loyal jour-
nalists, particularly desk persons, who
accepted modest sums as salary or
retainership, for the love of labour.
According to him, the patient and
pointed scrutiny that the desk under-
took all these years, for any bias, slant,
inaccuracies or exaggerations, is
absent today. Instead, he bemoaned
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
bright, affirming light, in the midst of a sea
of despair and help generate a new confi-
dence in our agricultural capability.
A disgusted scientific researcher
averred that, with the advent of 24x7 tele-
vision news channels, the role of the media
has undergone a tremendous change.
According to him, instead of being respon-
sible news-providers, the channels sensa-
tionalise news to make it spicy. This kills
genuineness and credibility.
He also felt that the problem that
research faces today is due to lack of jour-
nalists who specialise in the field. They
focus mostly on politics, sports and films.
“How many of them bothered to come out
with an analysis or a feature on socio-econ-
omy and environment-related subjects?”
asked the researcher, sporting a sullen look.
that we find PR-savvy correspondents
establishing strong ties with those
wielding power. They do not hesitate
to accept gratification. If pulled up by
a straightforward management, they
switch over to another establishment.
Indeed, in the last 2 decades, jour-
nalism has become another business
for the vested interests to exploit. And
the print media is slowly losing out to
the electronic media with prime-time,
bonus spots and attractive ratings.
Many of these sections are man-
aged by politicians, who have scant
regard for principles, propriety and
commitment. In the process, journal-
ism has lost its standards. Some new-
generation journalists make a fast
buck by giving coverage to individu-
als, whose only interest is to wield
political power. ■
13
 THE

W RLD
PICTURES
IN
Cycling mission: South African photographer Geoff
Brink on the road to unicycle a distance of 1,700
kilometres from Durban to Cape Town to raise
awareness of the scourge of landmines.

Shooting high: Dubai’s

Burj Khalifa tower, the
world’s tallest skyscraper,
is lit by laser lights during
its opening ceremony
when. Sheikh Mohammad
bin Rashed al-Maktoum,
the ruler of Dubai,
officially opened the
building, which stands at
828 metres high.

Speed thrills: Workers put the final touches on the interior of the new railway station in Wuhan, in
central China as the country unveiled what it billed as the fastest rail link in the world.

Dancing elves:
The Mancini
family of Elvis
and Priscilla
Presley
impersonators
dance their way
Row over name: The to catch the
Angel Falls (Salto Angel), ‘Elvis Express’ at
the world’s highest Central Station in
waterfall, with a height of Sydney for the
Simply breathtaking: Ice sculptures are displayed at
979 m, near the village of 18th annual Elvis
the annual Ice and Snow festival in Harbin,
Canaima, Southeastern Festival in
northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. Fairy tale
Venezuela. Will soon got Parkes.
palaces, towering pagodas, and even an Egyptian
its indigenous name. Sphynx — all carved from ice — were among the
sights at this year’s Snow Sculpture Festival. War legacy: South Korean special
warfare forces run in the snow during a
winter field drill in Pyeonchang. The
Korean peninsula is the world’s last
Cold War frontier as Stalinst North
Korea and pro-Western South Korea
have been technically at war since the
1950-53 conflict.
Flowing inferno: Lava
cascades on the slopes of
Mayon volcano in Legazpi City,
Albay province, southeast of
Manila. People displaced by if
prepared for a “White
Christmas” and politicians Naked protest: Activists of the
bearing gifts trooped to “Pirate Party” stage a protest in
evacuation centres. their underwear at Tegal airport in
Berlin against the introduction of
Snowy pleasure: People enjoy playing in the snow, body scanners, in the wake of the
in Schoorl in northwestern Netherlands. Detroit plane attack.

14 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 15

 E X T R AVA G A N Z A

Top brass NRIs shun At the end, there was a strong feeling that the
Government has to plan this annual event

Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas more carefully and look after the interests of
the huge Indian diaspora. ■ by Vivek Shukla

I
n the biting cold weather of the cap-
ital, another annual ritual, Pravasi
Bharatiya Diwas (PBD), came to a
tame end, recently. Like the weath-
er, the event was extremely cold
and drab, by any stretch of imagina-
tion. The most well-known overseas The President, felicitating Tholisiah
Perumal Naidoo from South Africa.
Indians, like steel baron Laxmi Mittal,
top-notch politician of America Bobby
Jindal, golfer Vijay Singh, Vikas
Dhoorooso, member of the 2006
French football team, cricketers like
Monty Paneshar, Ram Naresh Sarwan,
and Shiv Narain Chanderpaul were
missing this time too.
Not only that, the likes of Salman
Rushdie, Lord Swaraj Paul, City
Bank boss Vikram Pandit and Pepsi
co-head Indira Nooyi, did not con-
sider it worth attending. Frankly
speaking, but for the presence of
Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu, the
longest-serving President of the
Malaysian Indian Congress and for- The President, felicitating Dr. Ruby
mer Minister in Malaysia, Mahendra Umesh Pawankar from Japan.
Choudhray, former Prime Minister of
Fiji and Ruby Dhall, the glamourous Government only interested in the
MP of the Canadian Parliament, NRIs' dollars ? And it looks the other
hardly any big-time overseas Indian way when overseas Indians feel and
was there at the PBD. face the heat in their adopted coun-
While Indians have a huge pres- tries. They were referring to the
shameless incidents in Australia,
Malaysia and some African coun-
tries, where Indians are at the receiv-
The President, Pratibha Patil with the awardees of Pravasi Bharatiya
Samman in New Delhi. Also present is the Union Minister of Overseas
ing end from the locals for some time.
Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi. Also, like a ritual, Indian leaders,
including the PM, assured them that
ence in the USA, Malaysia and South Indians hardly care for this event. were either working-class people or Further, it was felt that overseas that the Government was working on
Africa, with over 10 lakh people of It is the duty of the Government to small-time businessmen. Indians should be encouraged to join giving 'Persons of Indian Origin' the
Indian origin each in these countries, ensure that known faces among over- Of course, India today is one of public life and politics upon their right to exercise their franchise, by the
their delegations were not big seas Indians attend the summit. the top investment destinations. return to India, just as they are join- next general elections. The response
enough. The only saving grace was While addressing the 8th edition of Economic opportunities are expand- ing business and academia. to the PM's assurance that, overseas
the presence of affable and amiable PBD, the Prime Minister, Dr ing everywhere. But, it would be However, the more pertinent Indians would be given right to fran-
Sant Singh Chatwal, a NRI hotelier Manmohan Singh urged those pre- most appropriate if he made such an question, that remained unanswered chise, was quite lukewarm.
Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh
from America. A close friend of Bill sent to invest in India in a big way. appeal to real big-ticket overseas and which many overseas Indians, A third-generation Indian from
lighting the lamp to inaugurate the 8th and Hillary Clinton, he candidly Perhaps, he was not aware of the pro- Indians. Unfortunately, like in the especially from Malaysia, were ask- Thailand, Paul Pornthep SriNaurla,
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. admitted that big-time overseas file of most of the participants. They past, they were missing this time, too. ing was: Why is the Indian was rather blunt when he said that he

16 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 17


Dr. Manmohan Singh releasing the Investment Tool Kit for Global Indians.
is only emotionally attached to India.
"We want to see it growing in leaps
and bound in every field," he
averred. But, he was not keen to get
voting rights in India.
Dr Singh also discussed the impor-
tant subject of the welfare and securi-
ty of overseas Indian workers and stu-
dents. He said that many of them had
been adversely affected by the global
downturn and his Government is
working on proving a social security
safety net for returning workers.
Concern for security
He said that the Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs has estab-
lished a ‘Indian Community Welfare
Fund’ in 18 countries but there was
also a need to structure an appropriate
‘Return and Resettlement Fund’. The
Government is also negotiating with
the Governments of Malaysia, Bahrain
and Qatar, that had a large number of
Indian emigrants, to improve the wel-
fare and protection provided to them.
An NRI from Dubai said that
Indians working in the Gulf have to
work under most trying conditions in
far-flung countries. They hardly get
any social security. It is high time
that, like the Chinese Government,
Indian Government takes a pro-
active role in the welfare of Indians
18
working or settled abroad. Delegates
from the Gulf were particularly peev-
ed and disappointed with speeches
of Prime Minister and Vayalar Ravi,
the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister,
for not giving them concrete assur-
ances in terms of their social security
in the Gulf.
Inward remittances into the coun-
try, from non-resident Indians, wit-
nessed a dip during the calendar year
2009 due to the global economic con-
ditions, which resulted in job-losses
across various countries, particularly
the Gulf. There has been a 13% decline
in remittances at $22.8 billion in the
first half (January-June) of the calen-
dar year 2009, against $26.2 billion in
the same period last year, according to
figures on private transfers available
on the Reserve Bank of India site.
India was among the largest recip-
ients of remittances in the world, in
2008. The country witnessed a sub-
stantial surge in inward remittances,
with the NRIs considering the Indian
banking system a safe haven for
parking their surplus funds. Total
remittances across various countries
in 2008 were close to $300 billion.
Almost a dozen banks, including
Punjab National Bank, Bank of
Baroda and Indian Overseas Bank,
had put up stalls in the PBD, with
great hope that NRIs would throng
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
them in order to invest their surplus
money. However, the PBD proved to
be huge disaster on this front, as very
few of them were seen making
enquiries at these stalls.
An official of PNB blamed the
organisers for failing to invite afflu-
ent and important overseas Indians.
But, Harmohan S Walia, an NRI from
Australia, was of the view that, as
Indian banks have branches in practi-
cally all parts of the world, they park
their money in those branches.
Property disputes
And as if it is not enough, a real-
life version of the film Khosla ka
ghosla is being played out with an
increasing number of non-resident
Indians (NRIs). Complaints of real-
estate deals going sour, illegal
encroachment and unauthorised
occupation of properties flooded the
officials of Ministry of Overseas
Indian Affairs (MOIA) during PBD.
"Property dispute is one of the
most frequent complaints by NRIs.
They are unable to protect their prop-
erty due to long absences or lack of
awareness of laws," says Vayalar
Ravi. The largest number of com-
plaints is from major real-estate mar-
kets like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,
Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Punjab.
The complaints are mainly about
protection of property that has been
forcibly occupied or encroached, dis-
pute relating to division of property
or inheritance and cases where
investors have been cheated by real-
estate developers. Though there was
a session on property disputes at the
PBD, only assurances were given to
the harassed, overseas Indians.
At the end of the 3-day jamboree
called PBD, there was a strong feeling
that the Government has to plan this
annual event more carefully and look
after the interests of the huge Indian
diaspora. The purpose of PBD would
be defeated if the Government looks
only at the dollars of overseas
Indians. ■
1
st
Prize Rs 1000
PHOTO COMPETITION: 160

In steps with hierarchy. Om Mishra, Bikaner.

2 nd
Prize Rs 600

Mind your business. Banwari R. Rajput, Ahmedabad.

 3 rd
Prize Rs 350
Consolation Prize Rs 150

Flowing to serenity. Smitha James, Bangalore. Wading across for fodder. Arun TP, Thalassery.

SUGGEST A CAPTION FOR THIS CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNER Winning Caption

● December 2009 CONTEST

Suggest a Photo Caption

250
Win Rs

Rules:
1. Contest open to all. Send one entry per contestant. No entry fee.
2. Suggest a caption in not more than 10 words.
3. Winners will be announced in successive issues of ALIVE.
4. Prize money Rs 250. In case of prize-winning entries, complete copyright
in terms and rules will rest with the publishers of ALIVE.
5. In case of any dispute, only Delhi Courts will have the
jurisdiction in the matter.
“The merry merry-go-around.”
Durbadal Ghibela, Balangir.
Name____________________________________________
Some other good entries:
Address__________________________________________
◆ “Revolving joviality.”

✂
— Jyotiranjan Biswal, Angul. ________________________________________________
◆ “Rhythmic revelry — A cultural scenery.”
— Saswata Kumar Jena, Sundargarh.
State/City ________________________________________
◆ Dangling damsels displaying inner delight.
— Diwakar Bhate, Indore.
Pin _____________________________

Send to: Caption for Photo _________________________________

ALIVE, PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST
________________________________________________
Delhi Press, E-3 Jhandewala Estate,

Mayur B. Pat, Kalol.

New Delhi-110055.
✂
 E NTREPRENEURSHIP C OV E R S T O RY

plunge, 5 years ago, with her friend also. While away from home, the one

Flipping Job Market

Subramaniam, and floated the
‘Ascent Consulting Services,’ in Jay
Nagar, Bangalore. A computer and
their knowledge of the field were
their only assets. Their office com-
These people had the freedom and ability to choose, prised of a desk and 2 chairs because
they could afford only this much.
plan and execute their dreams into reality. They were lucky because They ran from pillar to post to get
orders for their firm. The first 8
the job market in India, today, offers numerous opportunities to months were very tough. The temp-
thing they realised was that, after
putting in a hard day’s labour, the
only thing a person desires is less oily,
less spicy, simple, home-like food.
His conviction paved the way for
him to be a restaurateur. After being
in the IT industry for 5 years, he
decided to start food retailing. In the
year 2005, he opened his first restau-
rant at Bannerghatta Road, in
Gaurav Jain and Pallavi

young people to do what they like. ■ by Vineeta Sehgal tation of leaving everything and Bangalore, called ‘Mast Kalandar’. customers and their advice and sug-

S
ince time immemorial, green
pastures have lured many a
people to go for new ventures,
leaving the beaten tracks. The
success stories of iconic
achievers have opened the gate for
many youngsters to follow their
dreams. Today, there is a lot of move-
ment in the job-market. Earlier, people
never thought about it. Maybe, the
job-market gives them so much
choice, besides more money. The other
factors that contribute to it are ambi-
ence, infrastructure, place of posting,
work-culture and salary-hike. Every
change offers a bigger pay-packet.
Sometimes, there comes a satura-
tion point in their life, when they
know that they have to stop. At that
point, sometimes, they change their
field of work and enter into an alto-
gether new profession.
Many dared to take a plunge;
some succeeded, some failed. Here
are the real-life stories of some of
them. To go in for making big money
was not always their top-most priori-
going back to her job was very Today, he has a chain of 6 restaurants gestions are always welcome. A com-
ty. The desire for self-gratification, to professions, she chose accountancy. strong. Her father was a great source and wants to have many more. plaint register is ready at the counter
showcase their talent and to feel She did her ICA and ICWA from of strength for her; he encouraged He was not a foodie, but he for customers to register their com-
proud of their achievements, was Abids and Articleship at the reputed her to give more time to her venture. realised the need of a good restaurant plaints and suggestions.
also there. P.Murali & Co. and landed a job as They moved step by step; cement- serving authentic North Indian cui- At the young age of 35, he is
Company Secretary. Her father sup- ed their company brick by brick, sine. He banked on his own savings, excelling in his business. His staff is
L. Geeta: She is a Chartered ported her in all her ventures and putting in a lot of hard work. It was so he was his own master and chan- mainly from the North-Eastern States
Accountant by profession and her encouraged her to do something dif- hands-on experience for them. The nelised all his energies to enter the and the chefs are from Delhi, Bihar
achievements outnumber her age. ferent in life, whereas her mother, a first order that they executed, fetched market more aggressively and keep- and Orissa. He looks up to Mahatma
She is a visionary and knows how to traditional home-maker, wanted her them 1,000 rupees and gave her ing the rates competitive. Gandhi and Richard Branson (of the
fulfil her dreams. to get married and settle down. immense pleasure and confidence. Virgin Group of Companies) as his
She aspired for ownership and this She was married to Anil Rao and She counted the notes again and They moved step by step; cemented ideals. Like the latter, he is inclined to
drive forced her to leave her lucrative moved to Bangalore with him. again. It was not just money; it was their company brick by brick, find the latest techniques, to serve
job. She invited the disapproval of Basking in marital bliss, a good job her prized possession, and it signi- putting in a lot of hard work. It was healthier and tastier food.
some of her near and and social service, fied her victory. After that, she never hands-on experience for them. The For him, every customer is valu-
dear ones but she con- everything was cool looked back. One company led to first order that they executed, fetched able. He enjoys providing good cus-
tinued zealously. Today, but she wanted to add another and, today, she is the proud them 1,000 rupees and gave her tomer-service and it gives him
she is an achiever. more feathers to her owner of 3 companies. immense pleasure and confidence. immense pleasure to watch his cus-
Born and brought up cap. She joined Inner tomers enjoy their food.
in Hyderabad, she Wheel Circle at Rotary Gaurav Jain and Pallavi: Instead According to him, in this trade, the
always aspired to do Club. Still, she felt that of taking up his ancestral cloth busi- best strategy is to satisfy the taste buds Prabhakar: He did B.E. in
something different. She her talent was getting ness of Urvashi Sarees, in Saharanpur, and pocket of the customer because Mechanical Engineering from
worked hard for good rusted; she was capa- he went out to study Mechanical they keep the cash-registers ringing. B.M.S.College of Engineering in
academic records and ble of handling more Engineering at MNR in Uttar Pradesh. Customers are the biggest goodwill Bangalore. He took up his first assign-
scored 90% marks in her challenging situations. He came over to Bangalore and joined ambassadors and help in spreading ment as a mechanical engineer in
12th standard. Instead Social service was Wipro’s sales section. the business through word of mouth. Protocol Systems, and worked there
of following the also proving a damp Both he and his wife Pallavi (a The food in his restaurants is for 6 months. His friends insisted
Engineering or Medical L. Geeta squib. So, she took a software engineer) travelled abroad served according to the taste of the upon him to change his domain, as

24 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 25

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
the IT sector was rising, and offered
better scope of overall development.
He joined Kingfotech Private Ltd
and then moved to Trident
Technology, a Mumbai-based firm,
where he was appointed as Regional
Manager for Southern India. Then, he
shifted base to I Wire Networks and
worked there as General Manager.
One fine day, he realised that, in
order to tap his potential, he needed to
start his own business. His friends
and family, though initially apprehen-
sive of this change, supported him.
So he took the plunge. Narayan
Murthy of Infosys Technologies was
his ideal. His energy level was very
high and he was full of fantastic ideas
but money was a great constraint.
Chidambram, CEO, Cyber
Technology, and Venkatesh, his
deputy, who were very close to him,
and had seen his style of working as
well as his sincerity, gave Prabhakar
his first break — an order along with
financial assistance.
He is a great devotee of lord
Ganesha and prayed to Him to lend
him support in his new venture. On
Ganesh Chaturthi, in the year 2006,
he started his new venture, though he
did not have a business background.
He got his flat registered as his
office and started working from there.
Since then, there has been no looking
back for him. Such is his level of com-
mitment, professionalism, and his
personal relations with the companies
he works for, that once they hire his
Prabhakar
26
services, he is their only consultant;
they do not go to any other vendor.
Highly specialised, technical staff
has been employed, along with spe-
cialists in the field on the Board. His
prestigious clientele includes big
names like Prsi Syber Technology,
Sasken Communications, Consero
Global, Analogue Devices, a
Hyderabad-based company, and
Global Take-off. In the Government
segment, LRD and Postal Training
Centre, Mysore, are his clients.
Of course, every customer is equal-
ly valuable to him. He is ready to pro-
vide services in the field of Information
Technology to all. He is also associated
with loading Mcaffy anti-virus for
Madalion, Sonic Wall and IBM.
In the last one year, after taking
into account all the expenditure, he is
fortunate enough not to have any lia-
bilities. The surplus funds have been
One fine day, he realised that, in
order to tap his potential, he needed
to start his own business. His
friends and family, though initially
apprehensive of this change, sup-
ported him.
utilised to buy and set up an office in
Jay Nagar. His hard work has paid off
and he is satisfied with his success.
Deepak Srinivas: The only son of
Srinivas and Padma, this entrepre-
neur is the owner of Pneucon Brakes
at Kanakpura Road. He belongs to an
upper-middle-class family from Jay
Nagar, Bangalore. He was brought
up in a joint family. As both his par-
ents were working, his grandparents
devoted quality time to him, and he
is very close to them.
He had put in 11 years’ service in
2 companies. Being an expert in his
field, he was paid handsomely.
Though the companies he worked for
were small, it never bothered him.
When the company, D Two Forging,
was acquired by some bigger compa-
ny, it was a turning-point in his life.
He decided to start manufacturing
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Deepak Srinivas
and took up the most challenging
project. He owns a company that
manufactures automotive, electrical
and electronic parts used in the auto-
mobile industry.
He knew that the road ahead, in
the already established automobile
industry, will not be easy for him to
tread. But, at the young age of 35 he
had the courage to take the plunge.
The TVS group of companies is his
ideal. He has modelled his enterprise
on their ethics, their team spirit, their
aggressiveness.
At present, his turnover is quite
satisfying but his dream is to make it
the best multi-crore, manufacturing
company in Bangalore and India. He
believes that a good entrepreneur
should have good, sound ethics and
must abide by them.
He did his graduation from R. V.
college of Engineering and his post-
graduation in Industrial Engineering
from IOWA State University, USA. As
a student there, he joined a literacy
focus group called SANKALP.
Many Indian students there would
collect funds and channelise them
towards the education of women and
orphans back home. They successful-
ly completed 6 projects. One was for a
small village on the outskirts of
Bangalore, and others for Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.
He has formed his own charitable
trust and supports 2 orphanages —
Belaku and Shishu Nivasa. He man-
ages to take out time for them from
his busy schedule. He gives credit to
his grandparents, his parents and his
teachers at Aurobindo Memorial
School in South Bangalore for incul-
cating these values in him.
He believes that there is a
Supreme Power, who wants us to
lead a pious life and do something
worthwhile for the poor and down-
trodden in our society. According to
him, education is not only about
imparting the 3 R’s but inculcating
right values in a child.
No child is bad or criminal from
birth. Sometimes, there is no one to
give them proper direction or teach
them moral values. If the parents are
educated, especially the mother, they
can guide them to be enlightened cit-
izens.
B. Senthil Kumar: He is one of the
partners of First Choice, a Mahindra,
HDFC and Sah & Sanhgi venture. He
was born to Subbalakshmi and
Bhaskaran, a Mechanical Engineer,
who had retired from TVS Suzuki as
General Manager. He was born and
brought up in Chennai and has 2 sis-
ters.
He idolised his father to the extent
that he joined the same Thyagrajan
College of Engineering at Madurai
and did his B.E. in Mechanical
Engineering. He had joined the sales
department at Mahindra & Mahindra
group of companies and took retire-
ment at an early age, in the year 2003,
as Deputy General Manager, Tractors.
B. Senthil Kumar
A devoted worker and satisfied
with his professional life, he left his
lucrative career to follow his heart’s
desire. Right from his college days, he
had great passion for automobiles and
wanted to set up his own business.
Since his father was also in the same
field, he had sufficient industrial expo-
sure. It did not take him long to estab-
lish Automat India, with his friends.
He thinks it is a very challenging
experience. He has to deal daily with
a different set of customers, who
belong to the middle and upper-mid-
dle class. It needs a lot of patience,
great knowledge, friendly attitude
and oratorical skills.
He opines, “They are educated,
and are intelligent enough to interact
articulately. Only when they have
faith in you, they will go ahead.”
Their total staff strength of 12 com-
prises sales executives, technical exec-
He has formed his own
charitable trust and supports
2 orphanages — Belaku and Shishu
Nivasa. He manages to
take out time for them from his
busy schedule.
utives and drivers for test-drives.
Their relationship with the staff is
thoroughly professional and they pay
good salaries to keep them satisfied.
He has to put in a little more time
and effort but he feels happy about it
because it is his own business. He can
monitor its growth; he is the master
and is not answerable to anyone. It
gives him a sense of liberation as well
as achievement.
Back to a job
There are others, who ventured out
to taste the turbulent waters but had to
retreat. Many, who set up their own
business or entered into an alliance
with brothers or friends, soon realised
it was not their cup of tea. Before the
water got muddier, they opted for an
about-turn and took up a job.
The retreat has made them a bit
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
C OV E R S T O RY
conservative in their approach. After
tasting the rough waters, they are not
ready to take another plunge. Barring
a few, they were not ready to come
out of their shell; they were more
reserved; they did not want to bare
all, like the earlier group of bubbly,
chirpy entrepreneurs.
They did not want to be pho-
tographed, did not want to give per-
sonal details or preferred to change
their names and identities. They were
not open and forthcoming. Maybe,
the idiom ‘Once bitten, twice shy’
applies to them.
Subhash Kapoor: He did his
B.Tech from IIT, and got a good
Government job, after clearing I.E.S,
the competitive exam held by the
UPSC. He was doing very well and
was happy with the job. In the mean-
time, he completed his Master of
Business Administration course also.
Equipped with these 2 degrees, he
jumped on to the bandwagon of job-
hop, the favourite trend with young-
sters these days. Soon, he got married
to a girl from the business communi-
ty. The family was raking in money,
though its members were not half as
educated or talented as him.
It made him ponder. The lure of
money was great. He decided to
resign from his job and take a plunge
in the business world. He, along with
a friend and colleague, started a con-
sultancy agency in Pune. Initially,
they got very good response from the
market. It was giving them good
business and they were happy.
Both of them had talent and a
desire to work hard but they lacked
business acumen. They were waylaid
by some unscrupulous people and
drawn into litigation. It seemed the
end of road for him. There was a lot of
turmoil and mental agony. He cursed
the day he had opted for this venture.
After a lot of tussle, ultimately,
everything was settled amicably, in
his favour. But the experience was so
horrifying that he did not dare to
continue with the business. After this
27
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

interested in the study of water- ment of funds etc. Then came the arrangement of site, fur-
tables, as to how potable water can be niture, the market survey to get the fresh and cheap but
provided to a larger section of peo- best vegetables, provisions, spices, crockery , cutlery, uten-
ple. sils etc. The big, special-size refrigerator and big oven
His father had a flourishing busi- (earthern tendoor), had to be brought from Delhi.
ness in Mumbai and his elder brother After a lot of running around, he realised nothing
had joined father’s business, after com- comes easy in life. Finally, last year, the restaurant was
pleting the studies. Shravan was sure opened. He has brought in cooks from Delhi, who are
of convincing his father, to allow him versed in the culinary skills. He is paying them hefty
to pursue his interest. But fate gave salaries, along with livery, free meals, and accommoda-
him a blow with the death of his father. tion, to keep attrition in check. Initially, it was very diffi-
Creating new opportunities: Business leaders discussing at CII global meet.
At his mother and brother’s behest, cult for him because it was an entirely new field of work.
unsuccessful venture, he again joined forts at his feet — but then came the he had to enter the family business. In The first few months were really gruelling. There was
a reputed company. slump in the market. 2 years, his brother was married and work pressure in the office, to achieve the targets, and
Luckily, he has been able to bury America’s biggest banks fell like a took full control, helped by his wife. At then this new venture. He had to forego his gym even.
his past, and regain his lost ground. pack of cards, giving a hard blow to last, his mother was convinced that the Then, his father exhorted him to take everything easy; let
He is working with full zeal and ded- the world economy. The business business was in safe hands. things shape up for themselves or, maybe, say goodbye to
ication for his new company. Today, orders were curtailed. As an employ- Now, he is in his favourite job, it. But things started to fall in their place.
he seems happy with the job and his er, now, he was feeling the heat. The pursuing his interest. Basically, he is He is managing both his job as well as the restaurant
present salary. His 2 children are profit margins were shrinking; he very shy and does not want to talk business. Now, he owns a big car and, instead of going
studying in reputed schools of was finding it extremely difficult to about it. His good work has been for a flat on loan, he has purchased a plot in the heart of
Bangalore. He has been able to pur- keep himself and his company afloat. appreciated by some of the leading the city, to get a house constructed.
chase a good flat on Whitefield Road. It is the rule of nature that big papers but he refused to give an inter-
view or to be photographed or to be Anirudh: His father was an Army officer and strict
Sudanshu: He did his B.E. from He offered to help and succeeded. in the limelight. He gives the credit of discipline and punctuality were in his blood. He studied
B.I.T. Mesra, Ranchi, and joined It so happened, that the owner of his success to his entire team. in Bal Bharati Public School and then in Delhi Public
Satyam Computers. With his knowl- the company was present there. He indeed is very devoted to his School, Delhi. After completing his studies, he entered
edge-base, good contacts, friendly He called for him, thanked him project and leads an austere life. his brother’s business of making and supplying machin-
nature and command over his field of profusely and offered him a job. Money is not the only driving force ery parts to BHEL. As many new entrants had joined ranks
work, he was in the good books of his On the spur of the moment, he behind his job-change. with them, there was cut-throat competition. So, he shifted
seniors. Soon, he had a meteoric rise to supplying parts for coolers. However, that was also sea-
politely declined the offer.
in the company. Rakesh Singh: He belongs to sonal work. He could not make a decent living by it. He felt
In a short span of 3 years, he enjoyed sharks can survive the turbulences, Amritsar, a heaven for food-lovers. he was wasting his talent, time and energy.
the most coveted position in the com- while the small fish perish in storms. He completed his engineering from He started contemplating a change and joined some
pany. He could deal with the clients The owners realised that it would be there and took up a job in Delhi. After short-term computer course, in the meanwhile. He was still
directly to fetch business. He would of no avail to save the company and year or so, he got a good offer one undecided whether to change the business or to find a job.
often fly abroad in search of business. allowed it to be acquired. from a reputed firm in Bangalore. Once, he happened to go to a big IT company, where he
During one such business visit, he His earlier company, Satyam Besides a better pay-package, the had supplied coolers, to collect his dues. Suddenly, there
was able to net in a big fish and was Computers, was also in the news for all ambience, the food, work-culture, was a lot of commotion in the office. He learnt that some
rewarded with business partnership the wrong reasons but then he was everything was to his liking. The best computer program had crashed and they were not able to
on a platter. What else could he ask lucky to get reinstated there. The thing was that it had a nice gym. He retrieve the important data that had not been saved else-
for! Now, he was a favourable winds may loves to spend a good part of his day where. The company could face huge losses on account of it.
business partner in a once again blow to take in the gym. But one thing that he He offered to help and succeeded. It so happened, that
small IT company, his career chart to the missed about his home-town was his the owner of the company was present there. He called for
after bidding adieu to zenith. Till then, he is parents and the flavour of hot, siz- him, thanked him profusely and offered him a job. On the
his previous company. keeping a low profile. zling curries and Punjabi cuisine. spur of the moment, he politely declined the offer.
Everything was (Some details have So, he and his wife Mona decided However, that gentleman could discern the spark in
going on well with been changed) to start a restaurant in Bangalore, to him and was intent on hiring him. He asked him to quote
him. Industry was in cater to the taste buds of food-lovers. his salary. Just to squeeze out of the situation, Anirudh
full bloom and every- Shravan Kumar: As both of them are working and love demanded an exorbitant amount. To his surprise, that
body was making After completing his their jobs, they decided to rope in was granted to him.
great moolah. The B.E., he went on to their family members in the venture. He is still with the company, serving at a senior man-
small-town boy had all Encouraging results, Texas for further stud- He had to undertake a lot of agerial position. Most of the time, he is globe-trotting to
the luxuries and com- soaring zeal. ies. He was more research, travel, planning, arrange- help in expanding the company’s business. ■

28 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 29

 S NIPPET
Santa Robs a bank
These are tough times, economi-
cally speaking. Even Santa has not
been spared the vagaries of economic
recession.
In Nashville, Santa was forced to
rob a bank at gun-point because he
has to pay his elves. He arrived at
Sun Trust Bank in Nashville,
Tennessee, dressed in his traditional
costume of a red suit, hat and beard,
along with a slightly less traditional
pair of sunglasses, and demanded
money from the teller at gun-point.
He told the bank employees not to
put dye-packs in the money, or he
would come back and kill everyone.
After the teller complied and handed
over the cash, Santa fled in his car,
saying, “Santa needs money to pay
his elves.”
Gun at a snowball fight
The call went out on a website and
over Twitter, and hundreds of people
in their 20s and 30s, tired of being
30
cooped up, gathered in Washington
D.C. for a little restless indulgence.
They squealed as they hurled balls of
snow across the largely deserted road.
Then, a couple of snowballs
slammed into a parked Hummer. The
driver, a plainclothes detective,
whom D.C. police refused to identify,
got out, drew his gun and exchanged
angry words with the revellers.
So why did this guy freak out so
badly over a bunch of youngsters
throwing snowballs? Maybe, he was
having a bad day.
A soap-box race
Racing across the street is the last
thing you would expect: The humble
My world is pink
There is no doubt that pink is a
lovely colour. It evokes a feeling of
brightness, of gaiety and youth.
But does that mean we should turn
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
soap-box! The Hoar Cross Downhill
Soap Box Race is an event held annu-
ally in a Staffordshire village. So, if
you have missed it this time, then you
can catch up with the festivities in the
new year. People from around the
world can compete with their home-
made soap-box carts. The proceeds
from the race always go to charity.
Cat superglued to the
highway
A cat is known to have 9 lives.
And this cat called Timothy, a resi-
dent of the USA, has escaped with all
9 of its lives intact.
Motorists passing by the stricken
Timothy did not bother to stop,
thinking it had been injured. But one
couple, driving along the busy road
in Minnesota, decided to investigate
our entire world pink?
That is exactly what 46-year-
old Kitten Kay Sera has done. She
has had her obsession for 25 years
— and has not worn anything but
pink for much of that time. She
even wears pink to funerals, has
decorated her home in California
entirely with pink, and has gone
to the length of having her dog,
Kisses, dyed pink.
She says that she has a natural
affinity for this colour, which makes
her feel lovely and luxurious.
and pulled over. It was only then that
they realised its paws had been cruel-
ly glued to the tarmac.
They alerted the rescue service and
the cat was rescued. No one knows
who superglued Timothy to the road,
and Timothy is not speaking. In any
case, it is safe now and has been put
up for adoption to a foster home.
So many naked
conference-calls
A conference-call is easily organ-
ised and it also turns out to be much
cheaper than a face-to-face meeting.
A recent report from BT estimates
that the corporation managed to cut
out more than 7,00,000 face-to-face
meetings during the year, thanks to
conferencing, and it saved 1.4 million
journeys. And the same report also
found that the most popular place to
call into a conference was from the
bedroom, followed by the bathroom.
People dressed as
condoms to deliver
serious message
On 1 December 2009, which was
the World’s AIDS Day, people were
seen dressed as condoms in Lima,
Peru, and in La Paz, Bolivia, to warn
others of the dangers of AIDS.
Drive naked but wear a helmet
How would you feel if you saw a
stark-naked man cycling down the
road? Would it make you feel better
if this naked man had a helmet on
his head?
In New Zealand, Senior
World’s cleanest monkey
The cleanliness bug is really on
the overdrive. Even monkeys have
been infected by it!
A monkey in Japan flosses its teeth
with its hair, demonstrating that
humans are not the only animals that
clean their teeth and invent tools to
help with the task. The flosser, a free-
ranging, middle-aged, female,
Japanese macaque named Chonpe,
may have come up with the tool and
the idea all by himself.
Escaped convict is on
Facebook
Craig Lazie Lynch, a 28-year-old,
escaped, British prisoner, is taunting
the police and attracting a growing
Internet fan base from his Facebook
profile. He is mocking the authorities
for failing to find him and openly mus-
ing about moving across the Atlantic.
The police say the convicted bur-
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Constable Cathy Duder stopped a
pair of cyclists at 10 p.m., in the
beach resort town of Whangamata.
The 2 dudes were stark naked. She
told them, “You may experience
total confinement. You should head
home and get helmets.”
The duo turned tail and headed
directly back in the direction they
came from. Later, speaking to the
press, Duder said that she did not
see them again during her shift, and
it was not known if they donned
helmets and resumed their ride.
glar's antics on the popular social
networking site have not gone unno-
ticed. They have appealed to his
more than 3,800 Facebook friends to
help track him down.
Pigs cause traffic-jam
On the southbound M11 towards
London, a lorry carrying a consignment
of 82 pigs crashed. Essex Fire and
Rescue Service attended the scene of
the collision at Junction 8, near Stansted
Airport, to discover that 12 animals had
escaped from the lorry and were run-
ning free on the road. The road had to
be closed while the emergency crew
tried to round up the animals and
secure them in a makeshift pen. ■
31
 B INGING
Shit! Now what to ...
It is a heavy-headed, swollen feeling, the day after
a bout of too much alcohol. You wake up only to wish
you hadn’t! ■ by Maharaaj K. Koul
T
he world’s first cocktail party
might have taken place in
Mesopotamia, some 5,000
years ago, if researchers are to
be believed. American scien-
tists have found some earthenware
along the Tigris river that show traces
of tartaric acid (an element which is
characteristic of the grape fermenta-
tion), honey, apple juice, and brew
barley (a sort of beer ante litteram).
Thus, the “hangover” has also
been our companion since that time.
It is commonly accompanied by a
headache, nausea, a depressed mood,
a smarting sensitivity to light and
noise, and other nasty “morning
after” symptoms, like feeling wobbly
and feeble.
You can sense something circling
above! If you have really overdone it,
you might even be able to see them:
Vultures, ready to pick at your poor,
wretched body, as it lies sodden with
yuletide alcohol!
Or, you might be wrecked with
self-inflicted, hangover pains —
throbbing head, raging thirst, mind-
numbing nausea and a body that has
turned to jelly. You long for a potion
that turns carrion back into living
flesh, before the vultures tuck in!
After a night of carousing, you are
woken up in the morning by a pound-
ing headache and an excruciating pain
in the joints. You feel exhausted, anx-
ious, irritable, depressed.
Some people believe that an alco-
holic hangover is discomfort from
which the sufferer does not deserve
32
Hangover:
any relief; that these symptoms are
good punishment for having over-
indulged in alcohol the previous
night. There is no real cure for a
hangover except enough time for the
toxic effects to wear off.
What really happens during a
hangover? During a drinking binge,
alcohol drugs the brain cells. When
levels of the drug start falling, the
brain protests and needs time to get
used to its absence. That is why, the
bar-tender’s remedy for hangover —
yet another hard drink — seems to
relieve the suffering briefly.
The congeners (pronounced con-
juh-nurz), that create
the different tastes of
various alcoholic
drinks, have a toxic
effect on the brain,
too. So, mixing drinks
creates a build-up of
congeners. That is
why party-hoppers
are likeliest to wake
up with a horrible
headache.
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Dehydration is a major cause of
hangover misery, causing a severely
dry mouth, a pounding headache
and a very confused mind. Can you
be dehydrated after guzzling so
many drinks? Yes, because the body
spends 8 parts of water to burn one
part of alcohol.
One alcoholic drink, for all practical
purposes, is equivalent to one ounce of
hard liquour, 6 ounces of wine and 12
ounces of beer. The vomiting and gas
is often the result of pouring alcohol
into a stomach filled with only a hand-
ful of nuts and wafers.
Add to this, a lack of sound sleep.
You may have slept like a log, but the
heavy passing-out is actually a
dreamless, coma-like condition, that
does little to refresh the brain.
Usually, a hangover begins sever-
al hours after the last drink, when the
blood alcohol level begins to drop.
Symptoms normally peak when the
Reckless binging in night always
leads to depressing hangover next
morning spoiling your whole day.
alcohol level is zero, and may contin-
ue for an entire day.
Hangover is the sum total of
effects of alcoholic and non-alcoholic
factors, such as:
Toxic chemicals, such as congener
methanol, formed during fermenta-
tion in most alcoholic beverages, are
responsible for headaches and
vicious hangovers.
Use of drugs, especially nicotine,
through cigarette-smoking.
Personality traits, such as neuroti-
cism. Negative events and feelings of
guilt.
Contrary to popular opinion, com-
bination of different alcoholic bever-
ages is unlikely to worsen hangover.
And, if you have had a hangover, you
know it is something you never want
again. So, what can you do to avoid
it? Drink less, of course!
Time-tested remedies
Forget black coffee or fried break-
fasts. Salvation may have arrived in
an unlikely form — volcano ash.
A British firm is about to market a
new cure, based on lava-formed
stone, imported from Turkey and
Australia. The volcano dust or “zeo-
lite” acts as a natural detoxifying
agent and has already been used
internationally for purifying water,
treating animal feed and attending
victims of the Chernobyl nuclear dis-
aster in Bulgaria.
Before you reach out for a pain-
killer for the hangover, here is a
warning: Alcohol and pain-killers
may lead to stomach ulcers. Instead,
try out these home-made remedies
(supplemented with enough water
consumption) to ward off or get rid
of the hangover:
“A major cause of hangover is the
depletion of potassium from the body.
Potassium-rich bananas can help you
get rid of headaches and dehydra-
tion,” says Dr Sakshi Chawla, senior
dietician, Fortis, Noida. The fruit is
also high in magnesium (which helps
relax the pounding blood vessels) and
An egg to combat alcohol.
tryptophan, an amino-acid, that can
make you fall asleep!
Vitamin-C increases the rate of
alcohol breakdown in the body.
“Drink orange juice or lemonade.
The vitamin-C in it will speed up the
metabolism of alcohol by the liver,”
advises Dr Verinder Anand, senior
consultant, internal medicine,
Moolchand Medcity, Delhi.
Coconut water is rich in potassi-
um and natural electrolytes, which
get depleted with consumption of
alcohol. “Drink a glass of coconut
water before going to sleep or when
you wake up, to replenish the lost
electrolytes,” says Dr Venkata Rao
Abbeneni, internal medicine, Apollo
Hospitals, Hyderabad.
“Have a bowl of curd or a glass of
butter-milk before you go out drink-
ing. This will slow the absorption of
alcohol by coating the lining of your
stomach,” says Dr Chawla.
A breakfast of eggs and toast can
help. “Eggs are packed with cysteine,
an amino-acid that clears all the
destructive chemicals, that build up in
the liver when it is metabolising alco-
hol,” says Dr Manoj Rai, internal med-
icine, Apollo Hospitals, Bilaspur.
Dr G.L.Arora of Herbal Cure
Centre, Delhi, has some very interest-
ing advice to give — pressing the tip
of your nose at regular intervals.
“Press it for a minute, give a gap of
half-a-minute, before pressing it
again. Repeat the procedure for a
while and experience the relief!”
Eat your rice grains, cereals, peas
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Strange cures
History is awash with
hangover remedies. In
ancient Rome, a remedy
for a hangover was to eat
fried canaries! Pliny the
Elder’s favourite fix, back
in the 1st century AD, was
a couple of fresh owl
eggs. Medieval rakes sur-
vived on chopped eels
garnished with bitter
almonds. Hollywood hell-raisers of the
1950s simply drank some more.
Sometimes, the cure is worse than
the disease. That is certainly the case
with hangovers. It is bad enough to
wake up with a pounding head, a
heaving stomach and puffy eyes. But
just imagine topping that off with a
raw egg or plateful of dried eel!
Here, from a website called hang-
over.net, are ways to tackle a nasty
hangover. Not all of them work but, at
least, when you next reel out of bed on
a Sunday morning, you have options
at hand:
The Haitian voodoo people recom-
mend sticking 13 black pins in the cork
of the offending bottle!
Apparently, in the Wild Wild West,
whiskey-swilling cowboys swore by a
cup of rabbit-poo tea!
In Outer Mongolia, drunks are said
to slurp sown a pickled sheep’s eye in
tomato juice!
In Puerto Rico, the local alcos cure
hangovers by rubbing half a lemon
under their “drinking arm”!
Apparently, still in use today,
‘menudo’ is
born from a mix
of a cow’s stom-
ach and super-
hot chillies!
Believe it or
not, prototypes
for today’s
Sultana Bran
were being sold
as the cereal for
hangovers, in
the 1980s!
33
 Hold hangover at bay
If you want to enjoy your drink,
without the fear of the looming hang-
over, here are some tips:
Drink slowly. Your body burns alcohol
at a fixed pace — about one drink an
hour. The slower you go, the less alcohol
reaches your blood and brain — even if
you finally drink the same amount. Follow
every drink with a glass of plain water.
Drink on a full stomach. If you
expect to drink through the evening, eat
a mini-meal beforehand. Food slows the
absorption of alcohol and less alcohol
reaches the brain. Chips and nuts do
not really absorb much alcohol.
Choose the drinks right. Congeners,
which give different drinks their charac-
ter, decide how much pain you will
have later. Vodka has the mildest con-
gener; brandy, whiskey, red wine and
champagne have the strongest.
Anything fizzy, like rum and coke, gets
alcohol into your blood faster.
Remember your size. If you are have
a slim, small build, do not expect to keep
up with your 80-kg, heavy-drinking
buddy. You will be harder hit by alcohol!
and nuts. They are all stuffed with
vitamin B1, which helps you
metabolise the grog and stabilises the
nervous system.
Visit an Italian restaurant.
Through extra-virgin olive oil and
the liberal use of fresh tomatoes, the
Italians have learned the secret of
getting real plump without getting
heart disease and curing hangovers
at the same time.
Your body might have been 90%
water before you went out but it feels
34
like 20% now. Get to the tap and
drink, drink, and drink. Drink until
your stomach is so full, it hurts. A
few minutes later, your mouth will be
dry again and ready for more.
Drink non-alcoholic, non-caf-
feinated beverages to alleviate
depression. Caffeine can worsen
symptoms, as it is a diuretic and
increases urine production.
Get out for a walk. The fresh air
will make you feel better and the exer-
cise will increase your heart-rate and
help your headache and body aches.
Of course, nothing cures better
than sleep. Or, just relax doing stuff
you enjoy. Just keep drinking water
and taking naps.
An American company recently
announced it is developing a drug
which, it claims, can sober people up
within minutes. The human metabo-
lism normally takes about 8 hours to
break down 8 units of alcohol (4 pints
of beer or 8 glasses of wine).
A large dose of the new drug, called
Detoxahol, can clear all alcohol from
the bloodstream within a few minutes.
So far, the drug has only
been tested on animals.
There is no alcohol in
the world which will not
give you a hangover.
And there is no way to
prevent a hangover
except not drinking.
People process alcohol at
different rates, depend-
ing on many factors:
weight, gender, age, and
what they eat with the
drink. The amount of alcohol that
gives a woman a high, for instance,
may not affect a man as severely.
High IQ scores may do more than
separate genius from those of lesser
intelligence; they also tell how prone
you are to a hangover. Scottish scien-
tists now say that smart people are
less likely to suffer after a heavy night
out. Researchers suspect that this is
because smarter people are smart
enough to stay off binge drinking.
Hangovers tend to get worse with
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Natural neutraliser coffee.
age. Drinkers over 40 not only suffer
more acutely from a hangover, they
take more time to recover than they did
when they were young. Curiously,
women recover faster than men.
Preventive measures
Anti-hangover steps have to be
taken, if you are bent upon drinking.
The body can oxidise only one alco-
holic drink per hour. Drinking slower
than that minimises later discomfort.
A few glasses of water between and
after drinks prevent the sick feelings
that come from water imbalance.
Eating something substantial
before drinking slows down alcohol
absorption and saves the stomach lin-
ing from irritation. The next morning,
honey and dry toast is probably the
best breakfast because the concentrat-
ed fructose in honey helps the body
burn the alcohol faster.
Usually, hangover symptoms disap-
pear in 8 – 24 hours. A really bad hang-
over may not just be about the morning
after; it may linger on for days.
The end result of binge drinking
can at best be described as “sick”. It is
a heavy-headed, swollen feeling, the
day after. You wake up only to wish
you hadn’t! The events of the night
before are a muddle and the only
thing you can be sure of through all
that haze is that you must have made
a fool of yourself.
The American humourist, Robert
Benchley, once wrote: “The only cure
for a real king-size hangover is
death!” ■
 E XPOSITION
The 2010 Consumer
Electronic Show at
Las Vegas
The gradual warming of the global economy has led to a
renewed sense of optimism, this year. Exhibitors could be heard
joyously chatting about the rapid spread of personal computing
and mobile devices. ■ by Anoop Verma
Y
ou had to be at the fabulous
Las Vegas strip from 7 - 10
January, when the Consumer
Electronics Show for 2010 took
place, to discover how cut-
ting-edge technology is turning out to
be indistinguishable from magic. 1.8
million square feet of immaculately
choreographed space had come alive
with about 2,830 exhibitors display-
ing 20,000 new products and the lat-
est technology innovations.
The footfalls were impressive.
More than 110,000 journalists, blog-
36
gers, analysts, senior industry execu-
tives and others, crowded the myriad
booths, to have a tryst with latest
innovations in the realm of TVs,
smart phones and other consumer
electronic offerings. Many more are
known to have followed the show on
the Internet and TV.
Unlike the last year’s CES show,
when the global financial meltdown
had led to a feeling of gloom and
doom, the atmosphere this year was
decidedly upbeat. Last year, the chat-
ter on the show’s floor had been more
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
about how to weather the economic
storm than about the latest innova-
tions and breakthrough technologies.
The gradual warming of the glob-
al economy has led to a renewed
sense of optimism, this year.
Exhibitors could be heard joyously
chatting about the rapid spread of
personal computing and mobile
devices. It was clear that various
businesses, associated with electron-
ics, foresaw a better period ahead –
and a more inventive one. And the
2010 CES was the greenest show ever,
Wonders of electronics: Dog stares back at lady from screen and people navigating in virtual reality of cyber world.
with plethora of eco-friendly gadgets
on display.
The first CES was held in 1967.
Since then, the show is being held reg-
ularly, once or twice every year. Here
is a description of some of the most
awesome gadgets and technologies
that made a debut in the 2010 CES:
Intel Wireless Display: The latest
Wireless Display technology (or
WiDi), from the ensemble of tech
major Intel, turned out to be the
biggest show-stopper at Vegas. In
fact, this could turn out to be the
biggest sleeper technology in the
world. Just think about the ease,
which would come to you, if you
could connect your laptop to an
HDTV or business display, without
having to go through the rigmarole
of fumbling around with HDMI
cables or having your range limited
by the length of one.
You do not even have to use Ultra
Wide Band technology, which might
come in the form of a flash drive type
of a dongle. The Intel Wireless Display
comes bundled with the laptop, so you
do not need to rely on wires or dongles.
All you need is an adaptor. Simply con-
nect the adaptor to your TV, follow a
few simple steps, and your task is
done. Once you have set up the sys-
tem, sharing your screen with various
devices at home or office is going to be
as simple as pushing a button.
According to the Intel spokesper-
son, the Wireless Display (WiDi) is
available for end-users from 17
January 2010, on certain select laptop
models, which are powered by the
new 2010 Intel® Core™ i5 processor.
Dell Alienware M11x: Video game
aficionados at the show were clearly
spoiled for choice. The gaming indus-
try was out in full force and there was
a plethora of cutting-edge goodies on
display – Nyko Wand Plus, Super
Street Fighter IV Tournament Edition,
FightStick S, Alienware M11x and
much more. But amongst all the excit-
ing products, Alienware M11x from
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Dell clearly stood out as a trend-set-
ting gaming netbook.
Powered by the state-of-the-art
Intel Core 2 ULV, the U7300, this
gizmo boasts of an 11.6-inch display,
NVIDIA GT335M switchable graph-
ics, 6.5 hours of battery-life on inte-
grated usage and over 2 hours on
gaming mode. For a better visual
treat, the netbook can be connected to
a larger screen by using the
DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA ports.
Thinnest E-book reader: One
problem with those e-book readers
that have been available till now is
that they are somewhat thick, com-
pared to traditional magazines and
newspapers. And they are not flexi-
ble. You cannot even think of bend-
ing your Kindle or Sony e-book read-
er. Those devices would break if you
tried to bend them.
However, that is set to change,
once the latest reader from the
ensemble of US publisher Hearst
Media makes a debut in our electron-
37
ics showrooms. This inimitable, 11.5-
inch, flexible gizmo goes by the name
of Skiff and it is geared to change the
way we get our daily quota of news
and entertainment.
The Skiff has 3G connectivity, and
a 1200 x 1600 resolution screen. Being
only 0.25 inches thick, it is all set to
give those anorexic models a run for
their money. The flexible display
made of a thin sheet of stainless steel
foil, is also embellished with touch-
screen capabilities. A clear must-have
for all book-lovers.
Microsoft’s HP Tablet: It is difficult
to imagine any CES show without the
grand presence of the tech behemoth
called Microsoft. The company was
out in full force at the Vegas strip, with
its entire armada of state-of-the-art
gadgets and emerging technologies.
The versatile Tablet, that Microsoft
brought out in collaboration of
Hewlett-Packard, was clearly the cen-
tre of attraction for many technophiles.
Steve Ballmer was there to intro-
duce the Tablet PC, which runs on
Windows 7 and has the size of an e-
reader. The gizmo is about as
portable as a typical phone and yet it
is capable of doing everything that a
normal PC would.
Spring Design's Alex E-Reader:
The truth is that there was no dearth
of e-book readers at the 2010 CES
show. One of the most notable efforts
was Spring Design's Alex device. This
e-reader manages to give the feel of
an actual book, by having 2 screens,
which open like 2 conjoined pages.
Powered by Google Android, the
38
Alex comes with an easy-to-the-eyes,
6-inch, monochrome, e-ink display.
The LCD display can also be used
for browsing over 3G or Wi-Fi net-
works. At the top of the gizmo, there
is a mini USB port, and a 2.5mm head-
phone jack. A removable MicroSD
card slot, expandable to 2GB, is built
in the back of the system. The screen is
embellished with magnificent touch-
screen capabilities and the books
download in a breeze.
IdeaPad U1 Hybrid from
Lenovo: The coolest laptop on dis-
play was clearly the IdeaPad
U1 Hybrid from Lenovo. This
gizmo swept everyone off
their feet, by its unique capa-
bility of giving users the ben-
efit of both a laptop and a tablet.
When the screen and keyboard
base are attached, the IdeaPad Ui
Hybrid works as normal laptop run-
ning on Windows 7 Operating System.
But when you detach the 11.6 screen,
that portion becomes a petite tablet
running on Lenovo’s Skylight Linux
Operating System.
The gizmo comes with embedded
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
3G capabilities and it has a solid-state
memory of 16 GB. Both pieces of the
system have battery power enough
for 5 hours, and that is why they can
work independently. If you are famil-
iar with iPhone, then you should have
no problem in mastering the Skylight
operating system, as the interface in
both is somewhat similar. You might
have to wait till June, this year, to get
hold of this mouth-watering hybrid.
The really small camera from
Sanyo: According to some analysts, the
new Sanyo VPC-CS1, which was
proudly displayed during the CES
event, is the world’s smallest dual cam-
era. However, one thing is
for sure – this is the most
versatile camera you
will ever get hold of.
It is thin enough
and small enough to fit
snugly into your
trouser pocket, and yet
it features just about
everything you need to
shoot like a pro: 8-
megapixel, 10x zoom,
Digital Image Stabiliser,
Face Chaser, Eye-Fi
card compatibility, Mini
HDMI terminal, Sound
Zoom, and records MPEG-4 AVC /
H.264 and Apple’s pushed iFrame.
Whenever you feel the need of
capturing a moment of your life, just
flip the Sanyo VPC-CS1 out of the
pocket, point and shoot. The technol-
ogy inside the device will make sure
that the pictures and videos you cap-
ture are of professional quality.
iPhone-controlled helicopter
device: So you thought that your
iPhone was only meant for talking,
texting, and browsing! How about
using this gizmo to control a heli-
copter? This was a major attraction at
the 2010 CES.
French firm Parrot has developed
the helicopter, a giant, hovering
remote-controlled toy, called AR
Drone, which has 4 propellers and
can fly several metres in the air. In
order to move the gizmo, all you
need to do is tilt the accelerometer in
the iPhone, or iPod Touch.
Razer’s awesome motion-con-
troller: In future, your video-game
experience is going to get more real
than what you would have ever imag-
ined. The motion-controller unveiled
by Razer and Sixense, at the CES
show, is capable of creating an exact
mirror-image of what you do in real
life and what appears on the screen.
The Wii remotes might soon
become passé; and that is because
Razor’s system of using an electro-
magnetic field, sent out from a single
transmitter to create an exact, one-to-
one duplication of movements
onscreen, turns out to so incredibly
precise. This is something that the
folks at Wii, which uses old-fashioned
cameras and accelerometers, have not
been able to match as of now.
Boxee set-top box: During the ini-
tial days of its launch, Boxee was
simply software that that could be
installed into your computer, to beam
top-class web content directly to your
TV. But the rigmarole of download-
ing and installing of software is prob-
ably too complicated and that is why
the creators of Boxee unveiled the
Boxee set-top box at the CES 2010.
Now there is nothing to down-
load, nothing to install. Just plug the
Boxee set-top box to your television
and start streaming the best of the
web over your home broadband net-
work. So, watching those YouTube
videos is going to be a lot more fun
on the Boxee set-top box.
The operation is quite simple.
Video outputs through an HDMI con-
nector. For audio, you have the option
to use digital audio-out jack or regu-
lar composite audio. Internet connec-
tivity can be availed via the normal
Wi-Fi network. The gizmo even fea-
tures a SD card slot and 2 USB ports,
to allow you to expand storage.
Light Touch: Imagine a sci-fi
world filled with flat surfaces
appearing blank and neat at first
sight, but any part of which is capa-
ble of transmogrifying into a virtual
computer at a mere touch. Welcome
to the world of Light Touch, brought
to you by Light Blue Optics.
Most of us might not even have
heard about a company called Light
Blue Optics, but it is small companies
like these, that come up with really
amazing products and make global
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
events like the CES, truly worth-
while. The Windows CE-powered
Light Touch happens to be the com-
pany’s very first effort to create an
interactive projector that allows users
to interact with the displayed image
as they would with any modern
touchscreen display system. If you
want to know what the future of
computing is going to be, you need to
look no further than Light Touch.
Zyxio Sensawaft: Why should any-
one ever want to control the cursor in
their computer using only their
breath? Let us say, in some mysterious
scenario, or simply for the heck of it,
you want to do just that, then you
have to rely on something like the
Zyxio Sensawaft. Quite understand-
ably, this gizmo managed to muster an
amazing amount of attention at the
CES 2010. In order to control the speed
and the direction of the cursor across
the computer screen, all you needed to
do is blow into a special ‘microphone’.
By the way, the company behind
the gizmo says that the technology
can be very useful for disabled com-
puter-users. It can also be used for
controlling a mobile phone. By incor-
porating the Zyxio Sensawaft, you
might also enhance your gaming
prowess. Just turn your breath into a
3rd hand, while playing an adrena-
line-pumping video-game!
The first batch of Sensawaft
enable devices is expected to go on
sale later this year. Time to take a
deep breath, because soon you will
have to blow out lot of hot air to con-
trol your devices. But that should cer-
tainly be an interesting exercise. ■
39
 T ECHNOLOGY
Smarter
and Versatile Robots
Robots of the future will be smaller, cost-effective and more
practical. Of course, the development of robots, as projected in
science fiction, is not yet on the horizon. ■ by Radhakrishna Rao
S
mart, dynamic and improved
robotic systems, endowed with
the faculty of reasoning and
intelligence, are today playing
an increasingly important role
in diverse sectors. They are of
immense help in industrial produc-
tion, defence, security, space explo-
ration, cleaning of households, han-
dling of hazardous substances,
surgery, as well as many other chores,
that are difficult and time-consuming
for humans to perform.
Robots feature advances in elec-
tro-mechanics, electronics, systems
software, embedded systems and
related tools of information technolo-
gy (IT), and are immune to tedium
and exhaustation. They can also per-
form a specified set of tasks in a cost-
effective manner, with a high degree
of accuracy and precision. Thanks to
the advances in Artificial Intelligence
(AI), robots (meaning serf or slave
labour) could change the way
humans live in the future.
According to Robotics Institute of
40
computers also achieve their Aeronautics and Space
full potential. Administration) of the USA, in
There is no denying the fact association with Carnegie
that India, with its large pool of Mellon University, was
talented engineering experi- deployed to zero-in on micro-
ence and an excellent level of scopic organisms in Atacama
expertise in software and AI, Desert, Chile, considered the
has an environment tailor- driest arid stretch in the world.
made for sustaining the growth Security forces across the
Robots may soon develop sensuous emotions.
of the robotics industry. But as world are increasingly falling
things stand now, the robotics indus- paves the way for faster recovery. back on robots for diffusing bombs and
try in India lags behind its counter- In particular, robotic cyber knives handling hazardous materials. Robots
parts in North America, West Europe are emerging as a favourite tool for are also used in nuclear-power plants,
and Japan, in terms of growth and operating upon malignant tumours. to handle radioactive materials and
level of sophistication. As it is, a robot helps a surgeon get a nuclear waste. Small, robotic,
3-dimensional view of the site unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), con-
required to be operated. And this trolled from the ground, are also used
Ubiquitous presence
makes for fewer. more precise and for reconnaissance and surveillance.
According to a research study, the accurate cuts and incisions. This kind Moreover, robotic systems,
global robotics market, which was of surgery leads to less pain, faster equipped to improve agricultural
worth an estimated $ 17.3 billion in recovery and shorter hospitalisation, productivity, are also in the pipeline.
2008, could touch $ 21.4 billion by according to a researcher specialising Robots, equipped to monitor the
2014. “Everybody, who is consuming in robotics surgery. health of plants by zeroing-in on the
computer technology, will want to Many of the ambitious, deep-space diseases and insect infestations are
consume robotics technology in some exploration missions, including the under development. These robots are
way, in the coming decades,” says Dr ones meant for studying the terrain of equipped with the latest-generation
Odest Chadwicke Jenkins, Assistant Mars and the Moon, have been carried sensors.
America, a robot is a “reprogramma- Industrial Robots, which says that it Professor of Computer Science, out with the help of robotics technolo-
ble, multi-functional manipulator, has introduced the world’s heaviest Brown University, USA. gy. For instance, India’s Chandrayaan-
designed to move materials, parts, palletising robots in the Indian mar- In recent years, robots have been II spacecraft mission, a follow-on to
Resembling humans
tools or specialised devices through ket, offers a full range of industrial making forays into the area of surgery the country’s maiden lunar probe The so-called humanoid robots,
variable programmed motions for robots of varying description. with the potential to change the way Chandrayaan-I, will carry 2 robotic developed by Japanese industrial
the performance of a variety of Blue Star, the air-conditioning and operations are performed. Rapid systems — one Russian and the other outfits, are slowly gaining in popu-
tasks.” As such, the physical appear- refrigeration engineering major, expansion of health-care services, sup- Indian — to study the lunar soil sam- larity. Roomba, developed by iRobot,
ance of a robot is less important than makes use of over 20 robots for its ported by advances in medical tech- ples. Chandrayaan-II is slated for is most popular among the systems
its functional attributes. duct-cleaning services. These robots nology, is expected to fuel the demand launch in 2012 by means of India’s 3- meant for clearing operations.
In keeping with the trend across were supplied by the Mumbai-based for robots that are custom-built for stage Geosynchronous Satellite Roomba is now active in 2 million
the world, robots are also gaining in Robosoft Systems, which specialises carrying out complicated surgeries. Launch Vehicle (GSLV). households around the world.
popularity in India. Many leading in producing robots for use in both For instance, the laproscopic Robots are also evolving as an Looking into the future, the plans
automobile companies in India are industrial and educational segments. surgery robots enable the surgeons to invaluable tool in expanding the are to develop a range of robots that
now regularly using It also has a plan to work inside the body of a human frontiers of astro-biology, which is could mimic humans and be closer to
specially-built, indus- develop robots that can patient without going in for a major aimed at studying the dynamics of the human decision-making ability. It
trial robots for spot do sewage cleaning in surgery. The non-invasive surgery, life in the universe. The rover robot is planned to make robots more
and arc welding, spray a hassle-free manner. performed with the help of a robot, Zoe, developed by NASA (National autonomous in that they would be in a
painting, materials According to a position to function on their own.
handling and other spokesman of Kuka The thrust is also on evolving
routine tasks. Industrial Robots, robots capable of entertaining
The Gurgaon-based about 400 - 500 indus- humans. Robots of the future will
Kuka Industrial Robots trial robots are sold be smaller, cost-effective and more
specialises in providing annually in India. practical, in comparison to the pre-
robots for industrial Sources in the indus- sent-generation systems. Of
applications, including try feel that robots can course, the development of robots,
ones for use in automo- reach their full poten- as projected in science fiction, is
bile companies. Kuka Providing better guidance. tial in India only when Robots are doing everything from writing to entertaining children and gardening. not yet on the horizon. ■
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 41
 H UMOUR
The Austerity
Express
It’s totally fun when austerity is taken as a serious matter.
E
ver since the Indian Finance
Minister publicly ticked
of 2 of his Cabinet
colleagues for
luxuriating in 5-star
hotels, albeit at their own
expense, the country has
been in the grip of an
austerity drive, the likes of
which have never been seen
before. If the Union Minister
for Agriculture has had to
squeeze his portly frame
into an economy-class airline
seat, keeping him company is
none other than the Congress
Party President, who has
suddenly realised that she has no
business to travel business-class —
especially when she is not travelling
on business.
“M um’s the word,” says her
dear son, who has gone one better
and boarded a train to save some
money for the national exchequer.
Our roving reporter recently sent us
this summary of a meeting of
ministry officials in Delhi, which
reflects the urgency of the UPA, the
(U)ltimate in (P)robity and
(A)usterity Alliance, to impose
stringent austerity.
Minister: Well, gentlemen, take
your seats. I hope all of you have
brought your own stationery. Don’t
ask for pens or refills; we aren’t
42
■ by C.V. Aravind
supplying any.
Official I: I had promised my
[ [
daughter that I would bring back a
nice pen from this
meeting. Now her
dreams are dashed.
Minister: We have
dispensed with the OP
(Overhead Projector).
So, one of you will have
to come and
demonstrate while I
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
reel off the figures.
Official II: At this rate, we
will soon be going back to
the Stone Age.
Official III: Thank God for
small mercies — at least we
have a chair each to
ourselves and we don’t have
to share sitting space.
Minister: I am happy to
inform you that, ever since
we launched our austerity
drive, we have saved a
record 45,45,445.45 paise. I
have mentioned the paise
for, if you take care of the
paisas, the rupees will take
care of themselves.
(Refreshments arrive)
Official I: What is this?
Just half a samosa and half a
sandwich.
Official II: Haven’t you
heard the saying, ‘Half a loaf is
better than no bread?’
Official III (to the server): Make
my coffee without sugar, please.
Server: What do you mean?
Sugar has been out of
stock for 2 weeks now.
Thank God for
small mercies — at Whether you have
sugar or want sugar,
least we have a
chair each to you get no sugar!
Official I: Three
ourselves and we
cheers to the austerity
don’t have to share
drive. I hope you two
sitting space.
have noticed that the
coffee is coming in plastic cups.
Official II: Big deal. The coffee
continues to taste like tap water...
Minister: We have lined up a few
trips for the three of you.
Officials I, II and III (Looking
forward to some foreign junkets):
Now that is something exciting.
M inister to Official I: You, Mr
Gupta, will undertake a tour to
Lajpat Nagar, Delhi. And mind you
no official car and no staying
overnight. Return the same night or
foot your hotel bills yourself. Now is
that understood?
Official I: (under this breath): I
was hoping he would send me at
least to Noida. I could have paid a
courtesy call to my friends.
Minister to Official II: Mr Mathur,
I am sending you to Chandni
Chowk. The instructions I have given
[ [
Mr Gupta hold good for you also.
Yes, that’s the spirit.
And now please use the stairs
to descend. There is a
notification from the Power
Ministry that we should
conserve electricity, so the lifts
have been switched off.
Official II (under his breath): If I
was to go to Faridabad, I could at
least meet my in-laws.
Minister to Official III: Mr
Chauhan, you proceed to Karol
Bagh. And since it is walking
distance from the office, you can
proceed on foot. And no conveyance
bills please.
Officials I, II and III: Three cheers
to the austerity drive.
Minister: Yes, that’s the spirit.
And now please use the stairs to
descend. There is a notification from
the Power Ministry that we should
conserve electricity, so the lifts have
been switched off.
(The Minister and the Officials
walk down from the 14th floor and
almost drop dead by the time they
reach terra firma.)
MY PET PEEVE
My pet peeve is against those
news reporters and journalists who
make post analysis of events and
blame and target only men when it
comes to post marital discords,
sexual harassment, rape or forced
sex. Barring few isolated cases of
rape, the women should be equally
held responsible. I recall the recent
Delhi High Court directive
pronounced for women to safeguard
their chastity in pre-marital affairs.
Assuming men may be greedy for
women but women are no novices,
who rope in their opposite gender with
precise tactics. They connive and know
how to use men for money, pleasure
and in some instances, for fame. In
most of the cases, in spite of being fully
aware of the man’s marital status they
make advances and imagine how such
things can ruin a happy family. Alas!
Mostly the men are targeted.
—Avinash Pandita
The news that the former DGP of
Haryana Police SPS Rathore was
sentenced to 6 months imprisonment
and a Rs 1000 fine for molesting a
young girl, who later committed
suicide is shocking. It is a justice
delayed and denied after a lapse of 19
years of the crime.
— Indira Gopalan
We became politically free after a
long struggle. This freedom was quite
essential to raise the living standard
of the poverty-ridden masses of our
country. Even after six decades of
independence, penury of the people
could not be substantially reduced.
Our forest dwellers do not get rice
and wheat to eat. We have about 40
crores of people living below the
poverty line. We have the largest
number of poor people whose
earnings are woefully meagre. They
Send your entry written neatly on white paper to: ALIVE
Delhi Press, E-3, Jhandewala Estate, New Delhi-110 055.
A prize of Rs 200 is given to Amit Choudhary.
■
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
do not get two square meals a day.
Then, there is no question of clothing,
housing and other facilities.
The people living in our villages
have to do manual labour mostly in
the cities. Anyhow, they survive, their
children are ill-clad ill-fed. Medical
and educational facilities are not
available to them even though they are
voters and citizens of India. Simply
giving reservation, unemployment
allowance and cheap grain will not
eliminate their poverty. There are
glaring disparities in the matter of
income in our society. Sincere efforts
have not been made to remove the
curse of poverty so far. Rich persons
are spending money lavishly which
increases materialism and
competitiveness, no doubt. Until and
unless, poverty is eliminated, there is
no point in talking about our economic
progress and democracy. Hence, I am
peeved about government policies.
R. S. Sengar
My pet peeve is against the so
called moral police who keep on
bringing up the controversies over
media. Sometimes they object over a
scene on screen or lyrics or clothes of a
celebrity or a TV serial. They simply
drive the focus of the nation to such a
thing which makes no difference to the
society but serves as an entertainment
only. Some of the western countries
and religion are so confident about
their culture, flag and deities that they
accept humour and fashion with any
of these things. There can be only two
reasons of such tantrums in India —
either our so called moral brigade do
not have anything else to do to justify
their existence or they may be feeling
insecure of their own cultural values
due to the lack of confidence in the
roots of Indian philosophy.
— Amit Choudhary
43
 W ILDLIFE
A good
Conservation
Effort
E
xcitement mounts as
the eager visitor hits
the tarred road lead-
ing into the
Eravikulam National
Park. He is impressed by
the number of signboards,
which are displayed in
order to make eco-tourism a
success: “Keep to the road”,
“Illegal trekking is punishable”, “No
horn”, “No transistor-radio or cas-
sette-playing”, “Do not leave anything
or take anything”, and, last but not the
least, “This is a plastic-free zone. Do
not take any plastic material inside,”
exhorts another signboard.
No wonder, then, that Eravikulam
National Park is recognised as one of
the cleanest, well-managed National
Parks in the country. The profession-
al approach to conservation is evi-
dent as the visitor makes the rounds.
The forest guards on duty seem to
be a committed lot. One of them warns
a visitor to keep off the grass as the
young man tries to go off the track, in
search of a good spot for a picture.
44
The staff there is well-trained,
equipped better and
well-provided for, so that they
can protect the wildlife and their
habitat. ■ by D. B. N. Murthy
At the same time, the friendly breeding season. There is some
guard gestures you to be silent, point- inbreeding as the concentration of the
ing his finger at a bush. At first, you see animals is limited to a few grazing
nothing as the animal's body colour zones. From the cold, inhospitable
merges so well with the surroundings. heights of the Western Ghats, the ani-
But, as your eyes get adjusted to the mals come down in search of food and
scene, you gasp in surprise. shelter during the winter months.
There, amidst the bushes, are a They stay together in herds as they
number of Nilgiri Tahrs foraging for roam in search of food and shelter.
grass. The frisky, young ones jump If the visitor is lucky, he can spot
up and down, watched sedately by several herds during a brief visit dur-
the bigger animals. As they walk, you ing season. The Nilgiri Tahrs are
feel they are defying gravity with restricted to the monotone grasslands
their nimble steps, when they negoti- amidst rolling hills, deep valleys, and
ate the steep slopes. They look up at floating mist.
the human beings but are soon back “No, sir, there is no poaching here.
to their grazing. We are all very strict,” assures a forest
The month of January signals the guard, who is slightly offended by the
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
enquiry. However, the Nilgiri Tahrs
face some danger from their natural
predators that prowl in the park.
With an area of 97 sq km, the park
is located amidst breathtaking
scenery. The view of the hills, the val-
leys, the mist, and innumerable green
tea estates spread all around, is an
unforgettable experience. The mist
rises like cotton-wool, enveloping
everything in its embrace. This may
not be the ideal weather for viewing
the park but it has its own charm.
Eravikulam National Park is locat-
ed 15 kms from the town of Munnar,
in Idukki District, Kerala. Established
in 1975, it is situated on the crest of the
Anaimalai range of the southern part
of the Western Ghats. The highest
peak of South India, Ana Mudi, tow-
ers 2,695 m and is located in the park.
Limited movement
Permission is needed to trek with-
in the park as well as climb Ana
Mudi. Visitors are permitted only in
the tourist area, in the Rajamala
region, which is actually a narrow
strip of asphalted road, 1 km long.
The core area and the buffer area are
strictly off limits to visitors.
The park is 1200 m - 1500 m in alti-
tude and has a luxuriant growth of
‘shola’ grassland and is part of the
eco-system of the Western Ghats. This
is the natural habitat of the rare moun-
tain goats of the family of Hemitragas
Hyclocres, that have found a safe
haven. The population of the Nilgiri
Tahrs in the sanctuary is estimated to
be 1,317, out of an estimated popula-
tion of 2,500 in these ranges.
What is needed is a band of dedicat-
ed staff that love wildlife and is com-
mitted to their protection, come what
may. They should not be lured by any
inducement by anyone, in the course of
their duty. Then only, the wildlife can
have a safe and peaceful haven.
That the staff should be equipped
with better gear, transport, communi-
WORLDLYWISE & OTHERWISE
Caring student
I have been running my spoken
English institutes at Bilaspur for more
than a decade. For the last 10 years
we had been celebrating “Teachers
Day” with great pomp & show. This
involved good amount of money as
celebration would call for hi-fi music
system, eatables and decoration. It
used to be an occasion to have fun.
This year, however, 5th September
was celebrated in a totally different
manner much to the discomfiture of
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Delhi Press, E-3, Jhandewala Estate, New Delhi-110 055.
A prize of Rs 200 will be given to all published items.
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Travel tips
How to reach: From Munnar by
autorikshaw / taxi cab. Munnar can
be reached from Madurai (Tamilnadu)
or Ernakulam (Kerala) by road.
Best time: December to April. The
park is closed during monsoon months.
Where to stay: Hotels, holiday
resorts and lodges are available in
Munnar, to suit all tastes.
Entry fee: Rs 10 for adults and Rs
5 for children below 12 years. Rs 50
for foreigners. Fee for vehicles is
charged separately.
For trekking and adventure
tourism permit: Contact Wildlife
DFO, Munnar.
cation and arms for protecting the
wildlife. But, clearly, the Government
is dragging its feet in providing these
to the staff. Moreover, the staff
deserves a better deal than what they
have at present, to make their com-
mitment to wildlife total.
The management of the Federal
Parks could provide some guide-
lines. The staff there is well-trained,
equipped better and well-provided
for, so that they can protect the
wildlife and their habitat. ■
many students who had been eagerly
awaiting to shake their legs. And the
credit definitely goes to one of my ex-
students who telephonically request-
ed me to divert the funds to buy
books for the under privileged.
This student of mine has been
working with some NGO. I was
really happy to consider and imple-
ment his suggestion. Now, I have
decided to stick to this philosophy
as this will be the best way a teacher
can contribute to his surroundings.
— R. K. Vashistha
45
 E D U C AT I O N
Tutorials
Just a pain in the neck!
It is a fashion these days to blame the existing educational
system. Even if it is so, till the system is not changed, the students
should be loyal to it. ■ by Kumar Pradhan
I
never supervised my tutorials.
The staff lecturers had assured me
that I need not come on the tutor-
ial. That is because I was very
busy with my advertising consul-
tancy. Side by side, I was a visiting
professor for Advertising in a college
of Commercial Art in Mumbai.
When the college roped me in for
teaching advertising theory, I had
told them that I was quite busy but I
might join them for the pleasure of
teaching. However, when I read the
syllabus, I noticed that I had to take
10 tutorials in one academic year, rel-
evant to the portion covered by me. I
realised that 10 tutorials in one acad-
emic year were not possible for me.
So, I refused to accept the position.
Then, the Principal of the College
assured me that he would get his reg-
ular staff to conduct and supervise
the tutorials on a suitable day, if he
received the tutorial papers from me.
I agreed to that. However, one day, I
had to deliver a lecture to the 5th year
on the day a tutorial for the 3rd year
had been scheduled.
Before going to the lecture, I stuck
my head into the 3rd year class,
where my tutorial paper was being
conducted by a staff lecturer. I found
groups of 4 - 5 students; each sitting
around a scholar student and copy-
ing what he or she was writing.
The student in the centre was on
the bench and the surrounding stu-
dents were positioned wherever they
got place — facing the scholar stu-
dent from the desk, or bending over
46
Making one understand: It’s not only speaking out.
him from behind and watching what
he was writing. Then, they would jot
it down on the paper held in their
hands. I observed one student holding
his paper on the back of the student
on the desk, and merrily copying
what he was writing!
There were 6 such groups. I had
not seen such a funny, weird, annoy-
ing method of writing tutorials any-
where. I felt that I should not have
taken the trouble of teaching in this
state of affairs. Even then, I broached
this topic with a senior professor.
His reaction was not very pleas-
ant. He expressed that they were not
used to writing and, thus, could be
excused for copying. I swallowed my
grouse and quietly went to take the
5th year lecture.
Why this apathy for tutorials? This
negative attitude had probably devel-
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
attempting the tutorials indepen- word scored as the afterthought
dently. The tutorials should not be and another word written in place
used to amass marks but for build- in all the papers of the bunch! The
ing the knowledge-base. The ranks whole answer was a blind copy.
and marks come along. It is like Each group had some stupid sim-
remembering the answers to the ilarity which was common to it.
entire yearly portion by install- The tutorial marks had to be
ments. The art students, therefore, added to the annual examination
would do well to be more serious marks. I planned a strategy for
about tutorials. checking the answer papers. I
knew who were the scholar stu-
dents, who helped the below aver-
Present trends
age students. I spotted the group
It is a fashion these days to leaders’ answer papers from all
blame the existing educational sys- the bunches and gave 2 marks
tem. Even if it is so, till the system more than the scholars to the oth-
is not changed, the students should ers in the group.
be loyal to the extant system. Latest trend: Elaborating the visual with After the checked answer
the help of projector.
Secondly, what is the guarantee papers were distributed, a young
that students would be faithful and answers. Though an answer to a lady came to me and complained that
loyal to the new system? Surprisingly, question may not differ very drasti- a male student got 2 marks more than
the same students do any volume of cally from one student to another, it her though her answer was correct. I
exercise given to them by private could not be so identical too. promised her that I would peruse the
classes very sincerely. You could identify different answer papers again and asked her
When the bundle of the answer groups by the similarity the papers to bring both the answer papers
papers came to me for evaluating, I exhibited. A bunch of answer papers together to me. She never turned up
was amused to see so many identical belonging to a particular group had a with the papers. ■
oped because of an oft-used dictum,
‘A picture talks a thousand words.’
This was true for in the advertising
profession but does not apply to the
students’ education. In the mass com-
munication, which they were to per-
form in their entire career ahead,
small, crispy and minimum text mes-
sages will always be expected of
them. For this, proficiency in written
communication was essential.
The tutorials are a grand rehearsal
of the terminal or semester examina-
tion. If students pay attention to them
and keep themselves prepared, it is
going to help them gradually finish
the entire portion covered by a lectur-
er in the class. They can avoid the last-
minute rush to finish their studies.
If they are attentive while the por-
tion is being covered in the classroom,
they should not have difficulty in
 J O B C AT C H I N G
Outshining
competitors in an
interview
In a cut-throat competition, what
assures your selection in an interview
is a thorough preparation. Here are a few
tips on how to prepare well for the
the D-day. ■ by Prakash Hiralal
F
irst impression usually lasts
long. Your appearance gives
the opening image. You should
appear clean, neat, tidy and, of
course, confident and at ease
— at the first glance. So, before an
interview shave and bathe. Trim and
clean the nails.
Dress well; posh but not
gaudy — unless you are
seeking a position in
advertising or fashion
industry. Your attire
must be spotless
and ironed, shoes
well polished. You
should be comfort-
able in your wear.
If the clime is hot and a tie makes
you sweat profusely and uncomfort-
able, do not put it on — unless the
venue of the interview is air-condi-
tioned. In that case, you can wear the tie
after reaching the air-conditioned area.
It is a good practice to bow and
greet the interviewers with, ‘Good
morning/day, Sir/Gentlemen.’ Smile.
You are pleased to meet the selectors.
Show your gladness for this
opportunity of a personal
presentation.
Prepare well for the
event. If you had failed
to get selected in earlier
interviews, recall the questions you
could not answer satisfactorily.
Prepare replies for those troublesome
questions. Ask a friend to act as an
interviewer and record your answers
on a video camera. Then put yourself
in the shoes of the interviewer.
Play the video. Observe it careful-
ly. Would you appoint the inter-
viewed person, if you were the selec-
tor? If not, revise, rehearse, and
record the replies again. Repeat the
procedure till your friend and you
are satisfied with the performance.
An interview is like a race, a com-
petition, a war. Candidates use all
types of tactics to excel others. Better
knowledge of the recruiting compa-
ny’s products, machinery, competi-
tors etc, helps you excel others. In
fact, the waiting-time at the reception
can be utilised to gauge the competi-
tion — like a shrewd salesman.
Keeping your eyes and ears
always open to opportunities, is a
mantra few competent salesmen can
disregard. Awareness of surround-
ings situation can aid a lot in over-
taking rivals.
While awaiting an interview for
post of a Tool Designer, I could see a
couple of automatic copying lathes
through a glass window overlooking
the manufacturing workshop.
During the chat with other candi-
dates for the post, I realised that no
other candidate, except myself, had
experience in designing tools for
copying lathes. Without mentioning
the others’ lack of experience in the
field, I highlighted the fact subtly,
during my interview. Of course, I
was selected for the post.
Big organisations generally consti-
tute committees for interviewing can-
didates. These generally comprise
members from various departments
relevant to the functions of the post
being filled. The objective is to have a
sort of consensus among the connect-
ed departments.
Although all the members of the
committee have a say in selection, there
is usually a powerful boss, who has the
ultimate say — a veto. It is not difficult
to find the decider. His as well as other
members’ demeanour manifests the
top man’s authority. Most of the con-
stituents will concur with him most of
the time to be in his good books.
Screening the stuff
Of course, other members will ask
you some questions to contribute to
the screening process. Answer them
respectfully. However, reply to the
top man’s queries very tactfully, pre-
tending that the head has asked a
very intelligent, interesting question.
It made you think hard.
Your admiration for the committee
head should be obvious. He should
think that you will like to work under
him. After all, the decider could have
selected a suitable candidate without
any assistance from the com-
mittee. It was constituted main-
ly to share the responsibility for
the choice.
Most selectors say, “Tell
me/us about yourself.”
Your education, work expe-
rience etc, can be browsed
from your application and its
appendices. They were consid-
ered before calling you for the
interview and need not be
repeated, unless the selectors
tell you to elaborate some Little rehearsal at home will benefit you in real situation. suspect that you may not
Candidates in a group interview often try to subdue others.
check the veracity of boasts. Be brief.
point. Nonetheless, significant details
can be added. If you have graduated Compress your personal information
from a prestigious institute, mentionin 200 words, about 2 minutes’ talk.
that. You may highlight professional Your response to the first question
training programmes and updating manifests your communication skills:
seminars you attended. brevity, clarity, logical order. You
In general, be brief and to the make your first audio impression
point. Focus on the query. Do not through that reply. So prepare well. A
waste the interviewers’ time on good delivery will also boost your
unasked, irrelevant explanations. Actconfidence — that you have begun
like a seasoned salesman. After all, well and got a head-start. But do not
you are selling your candidature. rejoice too soon. For the subsequent
queries could be tricky.
Instead of bragging, give facts and
figures about your achievements — if Why you want to change your
present job?
possible, in rupees. Tell selectors sub-
tly why you think you are suitable If you were fired, better to disclose
for the post. If you have accom- the fact and the reason. Also relate the
plished something remarkable in remedial action you have taken to
your prior career, emphasise that. Doavoid a repetition. Retrenchment due
to downsizing cannot be helped. Even
not lie. The interviewers can, and do,
if your present company is in
financial doldrums, you need
not disclose the fact.
‘Better prospects’ is a good
enough reason for leaving
any organisation. Better
prospects can be paraphrased
as higher salary, more
responsibility, higher post.
Some interviewers look
down on job-hopping. If you
change jobs too soon — say,
within a year — sceptics may
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 49

Keep your credentials
together securely.
have good prospects in the company.
The organisation might be unsatis-
fied with your performance. One
should spend at least 2 to 3 — prefer-
ably 5 — years in a company to estab-
lish that the organisation was satis-
fied with your performance.
Some cynical interviewer might
imply that you are leaving your job
because you are in the employer’s
bad books. I tackled a malicious
selector by the following reply: “I am
not very eager to leave my present
job. I have very good prospects in my
current post. I won’t leave the com-
pany unless you offer me a substan-
tial raise over my present salary.”
Use cool, soft tone for rejoinders.
After all, you are dealing with a
potential employer.
What you can do for our
company?
Usually, the purpose of
this query is to find out
how much — if at all — you
know the company’s products
and activities. And if you look
before leaping.
Did you prepare for the
interview?
Some selectors consider lack of
preparation arrogance.
What are your strengths?
Zest, originality, leadership, tenaci-
ty, sociability, alertness and many sim-
ilar qualities are valued by business
50
and industry. However, when you say
that you have some commendable
quality, you should be able to give
examples to back up the claim.
Versatility often succeeds over
high, narrow specialisation. A versatile
person can carry out a wide variety of
functions in an emergency. Leadership
and ability to train subordinates are
valuable in almost all fields.
What are your weaknesses?
The object of the query is to probe
your honesty and vanity. If you say
that you excel in everything, that you
have never committed a mistake, you
are either vain or untruthful. Your
reply also indicates if you have pon-
dered over a slip, found reasons for the
error, done something to prevent its
recurrence. If you have not done all
that yet, start now. Cogitate over a
major failure on your part, think over
the reason and remedies and keep the
answers ready for your next interview.
Tell us about your notable
achievements.
Recall your memorable assign-
ments/work which was much appre-
ciated by most. These can be exam-
ples of ingenuity, instances of meet-
ing targets before schedule or over-
shooting them. If possible, convert
your accomplishments into rupees.
Currency is a universal unit almost
everybody can comprehend.
What salary do you expect?
The expected salary should be at
least 3 to 4 increments over your
salary at the juncture. You may agree
to marginally lesser increment. Do
not agree to only a little more than
your present salary.
When can you join?
If you are unemployed, you
should be ready to work for any
organisation which offers you a job
and reasonable salary/stipend. Field
experience is an important criterion
for most employers. Experience
enhances your employability and
salary potential. So, one should start
imbibing field knowledge soon after
finishing education. You should join
as early as possible.
However, if you are already
employed, ask for sufficient time —
at least, a fortnight more than the
obligatory notice period — usually
one month for ordinary posts and up
to 3 months for superviso-
ry/managerial incumbents.
One should check the status of the
prospective employer. If you have
not done that before applying for the
post, you must do it before joining
the company. Peruse the compa-
ny’s website.
Browsing business and trade
magazines, as well as financial
pages in newspapers can help in
verifying the claims on the web-
site. Chatting with employees,
too, can help. But suppliers,
distributors, former employ-
ees and competitors can throw
more light — however biased — on
the negative features of the company.
Make sure that the next organisation
is really better than the one you intend
to leave. You do not want to jump from
a frying-pan to an incinerating fire. ■
 M USING
The
Romance ofBooks
Books, especially old ones sometime form a
sort of bridge between two completely
unknown people and give birth to a memory
that lingers on forever. ■ by A. C. Tuli
I
have a passion for reading books.
There was a time when I could
afford to buy 3 or 4 books every
month. This practice continued for
years and I succeeded in building
up a fair collection of my own.
However, when the price of
books started escalating, in the
1980s, I found myself unable to cope
with the expense. It was certainly no
comfort to know that the paperback
edition of a novel, that I had once
bought for just Rs 5 from a
bookshop in our city, was now
selling at Rs 100.
Then, I came to know of a
‘kabadi’ bazaar in Delhi, where
old books in fairly good
condition, apart from a
miscellany of other things, were
available at ridiculously low
prices. The lure of this
inexpensive literary fare was too
strong to be resisted. So, I
started visiting this kabadi
bazaar twice a month.
In the beginning, owing
perhaps to my lack of
experience, I was not much of a
success in striking bargains with
the wily shopkeepers there. Those
who knew the ways of this market
would have laughed at my naivete
and gullibility. I would rummage
through a pile of books, looking for
a title that suited my taste and,
when I lighted upon such a book,
my eagerness to possess it would be
so clearly written on my face that
the shopkeeper knew he could get
whatever price he asked for it.
However, with experience, I
52
learnt that a little bit of drama and
play-acting were necessary, if one
wanted to strike a profitable bargain.
One day, while I was rummaging
through a heap of books, a middle-
aged man in a golf cap came there
and started meddling with the same
heap. Shortly, he got hold of a book
that seemed to interest him.
“You’re lucky,” I said to him, “to
have found a book of your choice so
soon.”
To my surprise, by way of a reply,
he darted a quick look in the
direction of the shopkeeper, who
was at that moment busy talking to
another customer. Then, winking at
me with a roguish smile on his face,
he furtively raised his index finger
to his lips, indicating that I keep
quiet and not spoil his game. I was
somewhat perplexed for a minute
but, pretty soon, came to know what
the fellow’s game-plan was.
“How much for it?” he asked the
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
bookseller, holding up the book to
him.
The man took the book from him,
looked at it rather thoughtfully, and
then, shooting a quick, appraising
look at the golf-cap, said brusquely,
“Ten rupees!”
“What? Ten rupees for this old,
dog-eared book?” cried ‘Golf-cap’,
his eyes popping out in well-
simulated amazement. And then,
quite abruptly, he turned to leave.
“What’ll you pay for it?” asked
the shopkeeper.
“Two rupees,” replied Golf-cap.
The man threw the book back
into the heap, saying that he did
not want to starve his children by
foolishly accepting Rs 2 for a book
that he knew was well worth
more than Rs 10 in the market.
Golf-cap once again picked up
the book from the heap, idly
turned over its pages, frowned
disapprovingly, and then, in a tone
of finality, said, “Will Rs 4 do?”
“It’ll be Rs 5,” was the reply.
“Take it or leave it.”
Muttering something about
the growing rapacity of
booksellers, he paid up, put the
book in his bag, and then made for
another shop nearby.
Of course, I could never rise to
the artistic level of the man with the
golf-cap, in striking bargains for old
books but I did come across some
rare titles that were long out of print
and not easily available even in
libraries. And some second-hand
books that I acquired from the
kabadi bazaar have a certain aura of
romance and mystery about them. Lakshmi Menon,
For instance, The Adventures of who had bought it in
Hajji Baba, by James Justinian Morier, 1940.
that I bought in 1990, had adorned The first time I
the bookshelf of one Sunil Mukerjee, went through this
in 1945, who was at that time a book, I was a little
student of B.A (Hons). On the title surprised to find,
page, Mukerjee had written not only tucked between its
his name, the name of his college and pages, a postcard-
the class of which he was the student, size photograph of a
but also the date, month and the year strikingly beautiful,
when he bought this book. young lady, probably
in her early 20s. The
S urprisingly, in a corner of the photograph had, of
same page, Sunil Mukerjee had, course, acquired a sepia tint with the
perhaps in an unguarded moment, passage of time. Gracefully dressed
also written, ‘Oh, my love, Aarti!’ I in a chiffon saree, the young girl in
find this line especially intriguing. the photograph had big, smiling eyes
Now, whenever I open this book, I and exquisitely-curved lips.
wonder whether Sunil Mukerjee is I thought it must be the
still alive. photograph of Lakshmi Menon, for
If, in 1945, Sunil Mukerjee was a it is not unusual for the reader to use
young man of about 20, he must be a anything handy, including his or her
grandfather now. I wonder what photograph, as a bookmark and
became of his love, Aarti. Is the grand, then leave it in the book.
old woman, with whom he now takes Interestingly, Lakshmi Menon
his evening tea and shares his had written on the flyleaf of this
reminiscences of days gone by, is ‘O, book not only her name but also her
my love Aarti’ or some other woman? complete address. Normally, readers
Another bulky old book, The Good do not write their address on books
Companions, by J.B. Priestley, which I they read, but Lakshmi Menon was
got at a bargain price from the same one of those who do.
bazaar, had once belonged to some Her book induced me to be a bit
Devdutt Sharma. Sharma, it appears, adventurous. Here is an opportunity,
took his reading a little too seriously. I told myself, for chasing romance,
He has mentioned on the title as I sat browsing through the book
page of this book the date, month in my study. I decided to write to
and the year, when he started Lakshmi Menon at the written
reading it. On the last page, again, is address and then wait for her reply.
the date, month and the year, when Of course, I realised it was very
[ [
he finished it. Then, on the inside of unlikely that Lakshmi Menon would
the hard cover, he has expressed his still be living at the same old
opinion of this novel – address, after more
a paragraph of After this, a sort of than 40 years.
gushing praise! pen-friendship However, in my
However, the book developed between letter, I mentioned how
I cherish most is an us and, every year, in I had come by that
old and slightly the first week of book, which had once
musty-smelling January, I would belonged to her, and
edition of Emma by receive a New Year how I had found in it a
Jane Austen. I bought greeting card from photograph that I
this book in 1980. The the lady, with presumed was hers.
previous owner of this unfailing regularity. Imagine my
book was one named amazement when, after
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
about one month of posting that
letter, I received a reply. Yes, I did,
and it was from Lakshmi Menon,
now an old woman and living in a
small town of Kerala.
My letter had, surprisingly,
reached her after it had been re-
directed to her a couple of times
from different places where, in the
past 3 decades, she had lived with
her husband. The latter had worked
with an insurance company.
S he recounted that she was
carrying Jane Austen’s Emma with
her while she, along with her
husband (who was now no more),
was travelling from Bombay to
Delhi in those days of World War II.
She wrote in her reply that she had,
perhaps, absent-mindedly left the
book in the train. Yes, she owned she
was in the habit of using old
photographs as bookmarks, but she
could not quite recollect now how
she came to put her photograph in
the book that was now with me.
I sent her the photograph along
with the book. The photograph as
well as the book was hers, indeed,
she told me in her reply letter. She
was profusely thankful to me for
sending her that old photograph.
After this, a sort of pen-friendship
developed between us and, every year,
in the first week of January, I would
receive a New Year greeting card from
the lady, with unfailing regularity. This
practice continued till Lakshmi
Menon’s death in mid-1990s. ■
53
 A L T E R N AT I V E
Wealth
From
Weeds
Sea-weed can easily
be sold in both
domestic and
overseas markets.
Moreover,
see-weed cultivation
is an eco-friendly
operation.
■ by Radhakrishna Rao
N
oxious weeds, both aquatic
and terrestrial, that flourish
with unchecked abundance,
pose a serious threat to the
well-being of both humans
and cattle. However, human ingenu-
ity has paved the way for successful-
ly harnessing many of the trouble-
some weeds for improving the quali-
ty of man’s life.
For instance, the fast-growing,
much-detested, water-hyacinth, known
as a “champion coloniser of the plant
world,” is now being exploited to
generate bio-gas, purify water, and
treat effluents, as well as for produc-
ing utility items, including paper,
hard-board and cattle-feed.
Incidentally, the potential of
water-hyacinth as an agent for puri-
fying waste-water, was first noticed
by researchers at the National Space
Technology Laboratory (NSTL) in
Louisiana, USA, way back in 1976,
while looking for an efficient life-
support system in outer space.
Further, in conjunction with a
water-hyacinth-based waste-water
treatment system, it is also possible to
recover valuable minerals from the
54
waste as the weed has the property of
absorbing heavy metals. In many
countries of Asia-Pacific region,
water-hyacinth is used to treat waste-
water and industrial effluent.
The potential of water-hyacinth as
an agent to purify tannery effluents
has also been demonstrated in pilot-
projects carried out in India and other
parts of the world. Water-hyacinth
has also been used effectively to
absorb chemical, heavy metals and
organic compounds, including pesti-
cides from an aquatic eco-system.
However, the promise of water-
hyacinth as a potential source of bio-
gas, eclipses all its other properties in
view of the rapidly-escalating energy
crisis. Water-hyacinth-based bio-gas
is being projected as a promising sub-
stitute for natural gas.
Researchers at the NSTL demon-
strated that 314 litres of bio-gas can be
produced from 1 kg of dried water-
hyacinth mass. As it is, this aquatic
weed is converted into bio-gas by
capitalising on nature’s process –
decay by anaerobic bacteria found in
the warmer zones of the world.
The gas so generated can be used
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
for cooking, lighting and operating
appliances. The high-nutrient com-
post, left behind in the digester, is rich
in nitrogen, potash and phosphorous.
On another front, water-hyacinth is
also used in producing paper, hard-
board, as well as animal-feed.
So much for the manifold uses of
this problematic weed. Now about
Lantana.
Not long ago, lantana was consid-
ered a harmful weed, found thriving
on the forest floors, posing a serious
threat to plantation forestry. It is now
being widely used to make a wide
range of aesthetically-designed furni-
ture to suit every taste and pocket.
Lustrous lantana
Known in Kannada language as
Belligida or Silver Plant, lantana was
introduced into India by the British
colonial rulers as an ornamental plant,
in early 19th century. However, it
turned out be a menacing weed, threat-
ening all vegetation in its vicinity.
A group of tribals in southern
Karnataka, including Medaras,
Koravas and Soligas, who used to be
dependent on forest produce for their
survival, have now taken to turning
lantana into beautiful furniture. It is
being made into chairs, dining-
tables, racks, cots and baskets.
This furniture has a ready market
in cities such as Bangalore and
Mysore. In fact, anything that can be
crafted out of bamboo-cane, can also
be made from lantana. The rapid dis-
appearance of bamboo stocks has
threatened the very livelihood of trib-
als dependent on bamboo for making
both ends meet.
Now, lantana has emerged as their
saviour and life-sustaining force.
Prior to this, the Dehradun-based
Himalayan Environmental Studies
and Conservation Organisation
(HESC) had actually promoted the
use of lantana for making furniture.
Thanks to the initiative by the
Bangalore-based Ashoka Trust for
Research in Ecology and Environment
(ATREE), tribals in M.M.Hills,
B.R.Hills, Nagarhole and other
adjoining areas, were trained to make
furniture from lantana. In fact, simple
and cost-effective techniques devised
to treat strips of lantana, allowing
them to be used in much the same
way as cane, attracted the tribals to
Deep sea treasure: Sea-weeds are emerging as lucrative alternative
for coastal people.
The gas so generated can be used for
cooking, lighting and operating appli-
ances. The high-nutrient compost,
left behind in the digester, is rich in
nitrogen, potash and phosphorous.
On another front, water-hyacinth is
also used in producing paper,
hard-board, as well as animal-feed.
lantana as a potential bamboo-substi-
tute for crafting furniture.
Over 60 products, ranging from bas-
kets to office furniture, are being
designed and crafted out of lantana.
Many destitute women, too, have taken
to crafting lantana furniture. According
to sources in ATREE, cost-wise, lantana
furniture is much cheaper than cane
furniture. Not surprisingly then, many
offices, business centres and individual
households in Bangalore are taking to
lantana furniture.
Lucrative sea-weeds
On another front, rustic women in
Langaleswar village, off Ganjam coast
in Orissa, have floated self-help
groups to promote the cultivation of
sea-weed, whose extracts are used in
toothpaste, ice-cream, textile-print-
ing, cosmetics, teeth-filling, tissue-
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
culture and packaging. Sea-weed is
also a major ingredient used in the
food-processing industry. It is used as
a thickening agent in products such
as chocolates and custard powder.
Moreover, it is also considered a
rich source of certain vitamins and
minerals. Currently, about 60 women-
folk in this coastal hamlet of Orissa are
actively involved in sea-weed cultiva-
tion. Central Salt and Marine
Chemicals Research Institute (CSM-
CRI) at Bhavnagar and Central
Marine Fisheries Research Institute
(CMFRI) at Kochi, have developed
culture technique for some of the com-
mercially important sea-weed species.
Similarly, in the shallow waters of
Mandapam coast, in the Gulf of
Mannar along Tamil Nadu’s
Rameswaram coast, one can see hun-
dreds of bamboo rafts floating. These
rafts carrying sea-weeds are left to
float in the calm Gulf waters by around
700 cultivators, who make a living by
growing and selling sea-weed.
Normally, each raft, carrying about
60 kg of sea-weed, gets ready for har-
vesting after 45 days. Here, too, the cul-
tivators have floated self-help groups
to cultivate and market the sea-weed.
According to one of the cultivators, the
investment on sea-weed cultivation
can be recovered in a year’s time.
Many fishermen, who no longer
find fishing lucrative on account of the
rapidly-declining fish catch, are taking
to sea-weed cultivation. However,
sea-weed cultivation in India is still in
its infancy. South-East Asian countries
have made major strides in cultivating
and marketing sea-weed.
Through a well-conceived strategy
of cultivation and an efficient market-
ing mechanism, sea-weed could be a
major money-spinner for India. There
is a huge and captive market for sea-
weed, which India can easily tap.
Experience says that sea-weed can
easily be sold in both the domestic
and overseas markets. Moreover, sea-
weed cultivation, in distinct contrast
to aqua-cultural prawn cultivation, is
an ecologically benign operation. ■
55
 S H O RT S T O RY
right thing in coming to Tumkur, she tried different
means to earn her livelihood.
She was willing to work as a maidservant in people’s
houses, but they would ask her where she came from
would them to school and bring them back safely. When
the shopkeeper and his wife went out of town, the
children would be in her care. Never once did she
misuse the trust that they had placed on her. She loved

Ungrateful
and where she had worked before. She had no home in
Tumkur and she had no previous work-experience to
give them as reference. She wondered whether she
would ever get a job.
Then an idea struck her. Since there were many shops
near the bus-stand, she requested the shopkeepers to
She told she was very happy with them. She allow her to clean their shops on a daily basis. She went
then touched their heads with her palms and about from shop to shop, begging the owners to allow
her to work for them. Some of them agreed; some didn’t.
blessed them. As the car approached Tumkur, She took up the job of cleaning shops during the day
and with the money she was paid she would buy bread
she breathed her last. ■ by Sharada Ramu and live on it for the whole day.
the children very much and always saw to it that no
harm came to them.
The shopkeeper and his wife were very impressed by
her sincere and honest work. They told her to get her
whole family to Tumkur and gave her a small room,
which was a part of the out-house, for her to stay with
her family. He also got her father a good job and
disciplined him. The family now lived in peace.
K amala’s parents decided to get her married and
found a suitable boy for her. He was a skilled electrician,
and worked in a shop for repairing electrical goods. So

I
t was drizzling heavily, one morning. After my
husband and children had left for their respective
jobs, I sat sipping my coffee and watching the
raindrops gently dropping down the window-panes.
The leaves of the trees surrounding my verandah
looked clean and green, decorated with the raindrops,
here and there. How blessed I was, l thought. I had the
time to observe and celebrate nature.
Just as I was feasting on nature’s beauty, I heard the
sound of my gate opening. An old woman entered my
verandah and sat down — as if she too wanted to enjoy
the beautiful scenery.
When I offered her coffee, she refused. She told me
that she had come to ask if I needed a servant to work in
my house. Since mine had given me a one-month notice,
I really needed one. She wanted to bid goodbye to
Tumkur and go back to her village.
“Thank God, I am getting a replacement! What a
blessing,” I thought.
Somehow, she really impressed me at the very first
sight. She proved to be a very clean and honest. Sun or
shower, she would be at my house right on time. Soon, I
not go to work, he would beat up his wife and snatch
the money, for which she slogged 5 hours, every day of
the month, to feed her children.
So, all that these children saw at home was a
drunkard father and violence. There was starvation by
day and by night for them. The children would
helplessly see their mother’s struggle. Kamala would
wonder whether there was a solution to all these
problems and decided that she would, one day, save her
family.
One fine morning, she got out of bed, ran out of the
house and stared at the sun, as if gathering enough
strength from it rays. She made up her mind to search
for a way to solve the problem.
K amala was 13 years old on that day. She told her
mother that she would leave the village and go to a
town called Tumkur and see what she could do to help
in bringing up her brother and sisters.
The mother tried to persuade her not to leave them.
She tried to convince Kamala that her father would, one
day, change his ways. But Kamala would have none of
She worked very sincerely and honestly, so most of Kamala had no money problems. She had 2 children and
the shopkeepers were very kind to her. She used to sleep she thought life had, at last, taken a nice turn. She had
on the pavements, along with other poor people, during big dreams of sending her children to school, and
the night. Like this, she saw many sunny and educating them.
unbearably hot days. In winter, the nights were very Her parents were very happy as her younger sisters
cold and she had no blanket to cover her thin body. The and brother were going to school and all seemed to be
body suffered but the mind was strong and determined. going well for them. They got jobs after their schooling.
She was not going to give up. In good time, her sisters and her brother were happily
There was no message from her people, all this while, married.
as they knew not where she was. But that did not bother
her, as she knew that, one day, she would be better off
and bring them to Tumkur. Every night, she would say a
silent prayer as she had immense faith in God and in her
efforts. She believed in her strength.
Meanwhile, in Gubbi, her mother continued to go
through her tough days. She mother had lost all hopes;
all the dark clouds in her life never seemed to have any
silver lining. Same toil during the day and same
starvation for her and her children and same beating
from her husband. In addition, this there was no news
about her eldest daughter.
In Tumkur, Kamala concentrated on her work and,
slowly but steadily, she was saving up some money for

[ [
took a great liking to her.
One day, she felt like telling me all about her life. Her
story was a moving one, indeed...
Her name was Kamala and she had 3
sisters and one brother. She was born in a
village called Gubbi, in Karnataka. Her
mother worked in a house on a monthly
pay of 400 rupees. Her father was an
electrician; he was very skilled but very
lazy.
He would work on a daily-wage basis.
But then, he hardly went for work. Even if
he decided to work for a day, now and
then, he was happy to spend all his
earnings on his country liquor. If he did
these as she was fed up of the violence and starvation at
home. Every day was a dull and sad day for her. The
child in her was hurt deeply.
Kamala’s happiness, She walked and walked till her legs
however, did not ached. She finally reached the bus-stand at
last long. One fine Gubbi. The bus was crowded and she had
day, her husband just to stand throughout the journey but she
did not turn up. He managed not to fall even though her legs
went after another ached badly. The bus fare was Rs 10, and
woman and left that was all the money she had.
home, leaving When she landed in Tumkur, she was
Kamala and her tired and hungry. She had no money to buy
2 children to fend food. She lived for a week on the alms
for themselves. given to her by the passengers at the bus-
stop. Wondering whether she had done the
her family. One morning, she went to work as usual. She
started her day’s work. A shop-owner had left Rs 20,000
in cash, on the table and rushed out of the shop on some
urgent work.
After cleaning the floor, little Kamala noticed the
money. She kept it safely and then gave the whole
amount to the shopkeeper, when he returned. The
shopkeeper, who thought that he had lost the money on
his way to the bank, decided that he would reward the
girl by giving her the job of a servant in his house.
She worked in his house for 2 years and, since her
food and clothing was taken care of by the shopkeeper
and his wife, she would send all her earnings to her
mother so that the rest of her family could have food.
Kamala also took care of her employer’s children. She

56 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 57


Kamala’s happiness, however, did not last long. One
fine day, her husband just did not turn up. He went after
another woman and left home, leaving Kamala and her
2 children to fend for themselves.
After a few months of weeping and being drowned in
sorrow, Kamala went to her parents. By then, the parents
were too old and pleaded helplessness.
She then went to her brother for help. He was so
engrossed in his own progress, that he told her that he
had no time for her.
She went to her 3 sisters’ homes, but they told her
that she should have known how to manage her family
better. They said she was foolish and they could do
nothing for her. It was time for them to enjoy life now,
after all the struggles.
Sitting forlorn under a tree, Kamala wondered at the
strange behaviour of her relatives. Looking at the dry
and barren branches of tree she was sitting under, she felt
her life, too, was similar to that of the tree. However, it
dawned on her that the latter was still standing because
of its strong roots. She decided she, too, would stand tall
in this world, educate her children, teach her husband a
lesson or two and survive in this cruel world.
She went back to the shopkeeper, worked
once again, sincerely and honestly, for years.
With the pay she got from her work, she
educated her children. Both the children
studied well and succeeded in becoming
clerks in an office and they took good care of
their mother. Yet she continued working for
the shopkeeper and took good care of him
and his wife in their old age.
Being pleased with her service, the
shopkeeper and his wife had left her a
sum of Rs 10 lakh in their will. She
was surprised and wondered
whether she deserved this gift
from them.
After their death, when the
money came to her and her
husband learnt of this, he
came back to her. He
promised that he would
leave his other wife and
stay with her and take
good care of her. But
Kamala would have none
of this nonsense. She
threatened to beat him
up in such a way, that
he would never dare to
come anywhere near her
house.
Her brother came and
58 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
[ [
fell at her feet and begged her to forgive him. Kamala by village, Gubbi. She wanted to save at least “My children are very slippers to wear. Their hair was unkempt,
now knew too much about the ways of the world; she a few children from suffering the way she good; they are angels; but they were personifications of
just would not have anything to do with him. had, in her childhood. they learnt their innocence. She hoped that, one day, these
Her sisters came to her and said, “Whatever it is, we Kamala wanted to go to her village, lessons very early in children would become great, rich and
share the same blood. We were born to the same parents. Gubbi, just once. Her children took her life,” she would say famous.
You must realise that and forgive us.” there by taxi. She visited the place where proudly. “My children
Kamala told them all they were out of her mind and their hut used to be, recollecting her are very independent,”
S ince it was a Friday, she wanted to
heart; she wanted to have nothing to do with them. It childhood days. She went near the well, she would boast like a see the Friday village fair, too. She looked
was now her turn to laugh and scoff at them. where she used to wash the clothes of all typical mother. “But I at the bangles, the ribbons, the colourful
What an irony of fate, she thought. The shopkeeper her family members. She remembered, wouldn’t like to be clips and recollected how badly had she
and his wife were not related to her but they had with tears in her eyes, how she would sing dependent on them wanted them, as a child. She would look at
supported her at every stage of her life for her honest while washing the clothes, even though and trouble them.” the hot peanuts, the colourful flowers, the
and hard work. there was sadness in her heart. fancy dresses and tell herself they are are
That was when she landed in my house — weak in All the neighbours she knew had left the village to not for her. She bought some now and gave them away
body but very strong in spirit. She seemed to be totally live in towns. She went to the temple on the outskirts of to the children wandering about there.
relaxed in her mind. the village an met an old couple. As a child, she would “Not a single familiar face in the fair,” she told her
visit them whenever she went to the temple. They children. She walked around the village and then returned
S he worked for me for 3 years, though she could seemed to recognise her and were pained to hear of the to Tumkur by the same car engaged by her children.
quietly sit at home to enjoy her wealth, given to her by troubles she had faced in life. She was very tired by the time they left her village
the shop-owner. She wanted to work so as to be active The village now had a small health-centre. Inside, she but she was at peace. She thought about her first trip to
till the last. found a fat woman yelling at the patients waiting to be Tumkur in an overcrowded bus; today she was
“My children are very good; they are angels; they attended by her and wondered when the lot of the poor travelling back to Tumkur by a car. She sat there in the
learnt their lessons very early in was going to improve. back seat, holding both her children's hands.
life,” she would say proudly. There was a municipal school, too, but it presented a She told them that she was very happy with them
“My children are very sorry picture. There, she found the children running and they had made her feel so loved. She then touched
independent,” she would about, while the teacher was dozing happily. The their heads with her palms and blessed them. As the car
boast like a typical mother. children were dressed in torn clothes and had no approached Tumkur, she breathed her last. ■
“But I wouldn’t like to be
dependent on them and
trouble them.”
Kamala now had a
small house, enough for
her 2 children and herself.
She had a beautiful garden
with roses, jasmines,
sunflowers and coconut
trees. Her son would
market all the coconuts
and give the money to
his mother. The
daughter would pluck
the jasmines, tie them
up with thread, sell
them but not keep the
earnings for herself.
She never felt short of
money any more; she was
never short of attention from
her 2 children. “I am lucky,”
she would whisper to
herself.
Kamala made a will that
all her money should be used
to educate the poor in her
 P E R F O R M I N G A RT
Festival to promote
classical dance
The highlight of the festival was a special seminar titled
‘Pratibimb’ which showed an insight into how the choreographers,
retained their essential spirit of the classical form, while also
being innovative and creative. ■ by Ramesh Kumar Raja
S
eher, one of the country’s pre-
mier organisations in the area
of performing and visual arts,
in an association with Delhi
Government and Sahitya Kala
Parishad, hosted its 8th edition of an
annual extravaganza – Ananya
Dance Festival 2009. It was an
endeavour to showcase Indian classi-
cal dance in its pure form, packaged
sleekly for the younger generation
and the first-time enthusiasts of
Indian culture. The 5-day fiesta pri-
marily focused on the group chore-
ography at Delhi’s historic Purana
Qila’s lawn to celebrate the beauty of
Indian classical dance forms.
According to Seher founder and
the festival director, Sanjeev
60
Mohiniattam by Gopika Varma group.
Bhargava: “In a world that is fast
turning to Western dance forms and
an age where TRPs of reality televi-
sion is growing, Seher’s motto has
always been to preserve the Indian
heritage and culture. With Ananya,
we have succeeded in democratising
culture by first taking classical dance
into public spaces like monuments
and parks, and second by imparting
it at a mass-appeal.”
This year, the festival opened on 3
October, aptly with an Odissi perfor-
mance by the veteran maestro
Madhavi Mudgal. She has wooed
audiences in India and abroad with
her delicate postures and strong
rhythmic footwork. Her subtle abhi-
naya, strong music knowledge and
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
aesthetic sense added to the highly
distinctive character of her recitals.
She and her troupe began their
performance with Orissa’s percus-
sion diversity followed by Kalidas
Kumarsambhavam, which highlight-
ed their natya and concluded with an
invocation to the sacred river Ganga.
Rhythmic pattern
Another accomplished artiste,
whose dance is marked by extreme
grace, radiant movements and
expression with geometrical preci-
sion and technical finesse, was
Gopika Varma. With her group,
Gopika performed a theme-based
Mohiniyattam act titled Sringara on 4
Bharatanatyam by Rema Odissi by Madhavi Mudgal group.
Shrikant group.
October. Their act began with an cially synchronised performance – and, in the current period, it has been
invocatory item – Choltekku on Nartan – on 5 October. elevated to the stage with other tradi-
Kamadeva, the creator and preserver Monisa and Moumala Nayak said: tional dance forms.
of Sringara, followed by a composi- “Our performance Nartan is a musi- The climax of the sister-duo’s
tion of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, cal journey that showcases the vari- choreography was a jugalbandi (duet
where the nayika narrated to her eties of music used in Kathak during recital) of percussion and instru-
friend her experience of first love. old, medieval and modern times.” ments and concluded with a bandish
The scene then moved to the love Their performance was divided into that portrayed a beautiful synthesis
triangle between Lord Shiva, 3 stages – Temple period, Court peri- of all that is best in the 2 distinct cul-
Goddess Parvathi and Ganga where od and Stage period, where each tures belonging to both Hindu and
Parvathi questioned Shiva on his stage described how Kathak has Muslim periods of political rule and
amorous activity with Ganga. The evolved as a comprehensive and consequent social ethos of the Indo-
choreography concluded with Jeeva, expressive dance form. It started in Gangetic belt.
a dance number that symbolically temple courtyards; then the royal Monisa Nayak’s performance was
showed the journey of the soul – the courts of the Muslim and Hindu marked by her perfect blending of
restless human form that transcends kings of India started patronising it; rhythmic patterns, footwork and
in the quest of knowl- varieties of spins along
edge and realisation with her profound
and eventually leads to expression, while
the attainment of the Moumala Nayak’s per-
param atma or the formance can be
greater soul. described as an excellent
In an attempt to link blend of sensuous move-
the monument of ments and graceful foot-
Purana Qila with the work with absolute con-
sensuality of Kathak, trol on laya.
the sister-duo Monisa 6 October witnessed
Nayak (from the Jaipur an avant-garde contem-
gharana and trained porary fusion by Astad
under Rajendra Deboo and his troupe of 8
Gangani) and Pung Cholom drummers
Moumala Nayak (from of Manipur. Said Astad
the Lucknow gharana Deboo: “Our perfor-
and trained under Birju mance, Rhythm Divine, is
Maharaj) created a spe- Contemporary by Astad Deboo the Pong Cholam drama. a highly refined classical
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 61
 B IASES

Is Cooking a
which showed an discussion revolved around ‘classi-
insight into how the cal’ dance in today’s world
choreographers, who Questions discussed included
presented their work at how the choreographer engages with

Female Domain?
Ananya, retained their the grammar and vocabulary of clas-
essential spirit of the sical dance forms and codifications
classical form, while for a large audience; in a world of
also being innovative infinite choices – cinema, satellite TV,
and creative. The semi- jazz, salsa, Bollywood – what does
nar aimed to create a classical dance offer that is more When the wife is not able to cook, the
dialogue between the attractive than these other options;
choreographers and what are the limits of freedom for an husband buys food, which is cooked by a male chef,
the audience (young artiste, while attempting to be
dancers, scholars, stu- appealing and modern through
from a restaurant. But he will not try cooking at
dents and dance- experimentation and innovation in home. ■ by Anuradha Srinivasan

W
enthusiasts), where the their presentation. ■

Kathak by Monisa and Moumala

hen any girl is to be mar- earn similar salaries too.
Nayak group.
Interesting Facts about ried, along with her other
“prominent qualification”,
Worldwide, men are employed as
chefs in all the hotels and restaurants;
dance number characterised by the
modulation of sound from a soft
English Language one thing that is always
stressed upon is whether
even roadside eateries have male
cooks. Then, why is it that, at home, it
whisper to a thunderous climax.” ● A dot over the letter ‘i’ (or the girl knows cooking or not. is only a woman’s job? A man in the
Rhythm Divine’s eerily moving lower case j) is called a ‘tittle’. My friend Raghvan’s daughter, kitchen is looked down upon, even
ritual on stage captured the Manipuri ● “Forty” is the only number who is management graduate from a ridiculed. The word ‘kitchen’ is
idyll of a world that was, before being which has its letters in alpha- reputed institute and holds a high almost synonymous with ‘woman’.
swallowed up forever by anarchy and betical order. “One” is the post in a resource management com- So much so, a female Head of State
chaos. What followed was a visual only number with its letters pany, got engaged to another similar- with other women ministers is
poetry — the oriental music and in reverse alphabetical order. ly-qualified person. The other day, I referred to as a ‘kitchen cabinet’!
dance of the drummers, slowly pick- ● A bibliophile is a collector of met the mother and congratulated
ing up the tempo with perfect syn- her on her daughter’s upcoming
rare books. A bibliopole is a Men are great cooks
chronisation. Astad Deboo comple- seller of rare books. wedding. She was happy over the
mented them with emoting fingers, ● There are only 4 words in the
alliance but worried about her In mythology, King Nala was a
eyebrows and body movements. English language which end daughter’s lack of culinary skills and great cook; so was Bhima. There is no
how her daughter’s future in-laws Working or homely, a woman has to reference to any woman being a great
in “-dous”: tremendous, hor- cook anyway.
would react to it. cook. Then, how come, kitchen and
Dance of creation rendous, stupendous, and
lived at home and there was mother cooking ended up being a woman’s
hazardous. Raghvan’s daughter was star stu-
The grand finale on 7 October wit- dent, a good sportsperson and very to take care of the food. domain?
● Only 3 words in the English
nessed Bharatanatyam danseuse Rema good in cultural activities during her Later, when she started working, In a family, where one of the
language end in “ceed”:
Shrikant making her debut in Delhi. school and college days. These she was busy climbing the corporate spouses earns, the other one looks
● “Dreamt” is the only English “proceed,” “exceed,” and
She showcased the dance form as the accomplishments kept her away ladder and had little time to learn the after the home, cooks, cleans and
word that ends in the letters “succeed.”
most effective vehicle to access the from learning to cook. She always basic culinary skills. All this while, takes care of the children. But now,
“mt”. ● Except for the word Q-boat, a
realm of Hindu myth and scripture. cooking was never a issue. with the husband and wife both earn-
● “Underground” is the only word starting with letter ‘Q’ has
The performance commenced with Now, when she was get- ing — sometimes, wife earning more
word in the English language ‘u’ as its second letter.
a recital of Ganpati Vandana of ting married, based on her than the husband — still, she is
that begins and ends with the ● Bookkeeper is a special word
Ottukkadu Venkata Subaarama Iyer, achievements, she is expected to cook for the house, take
letters “und.” because it is a word in the
followed by Shrusti Tandavam, the expected to know the care of children’s needs and the
● “Facetious” and “abstemious” English language with 3 consec-
dance of creation and depiction of “womanly” things like home. It so one-sided!!
are the only words that contain utive sets of double letters... (o,
Shakti, the primordial saver of this vast cooking and mending. When the wife is not able to cook,
all the vowels in the correct k and e)
manifestation. The dance concluded To cap it all, she is get- the husband buys food from a restau-
order. ● “Indivisibility” is a special word
with Subramaniaya Bharatiar’s mazhai ting married to a person of rant that is cooked by a male chef, but
● “Almost” is a commonly used because it is a word in the
or rain followed by a brisk tillana. similar qualifications — he will not try cooking at home. This
word in the English language, English language with only one
The highlight of the festival was a but his mother is not wor- is because he is a man and you can-
with all the letters in alphabeti- vowel, which occurs 6 times: ‘i’.
special seminar titled ‘Pratibimb’ (A ried about the son’s lack of not expect a man to know the basic
cal order. Wallace Jacob ■
reflection on Ananya Dance Festival), Dependent on females to be served cooked food. culinary skills. They both skill of feeding oneself right! ■

62 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 63

 D EFENCE
Crucial Higher
Defence Management
What India needs today is a strong military, which can stand
on its own. Only then, can we talk with confidence on global issues
and our foreign policy will acquire the required teeth.
■ by Brigadier Arun Bajpai (Retd)
F
inally, the verdict is out. The
report of the Parliamentary
Committee on Defence, tabled
in the Indian Parliament on 16
December 2009, should make
the people of India stand up and take
notice of the cavalier manner in which
the neta-babu combine, straddling the
Ministry of Defence (MOD), are deal-
ing with the country’s security.
If this slide is not arrested, it may not
be long before we see a repeat of the
ignomous defeat that we suffered at the
hands of the Chinese Army, in 1962.
Kudos to this body of Indian legisla-
tures who, cutting across party lines,
have taken serious note of this lack-
adaisical attitude of the people in
power, concerning India’s security. The
report points out that the 3 wings of the
Indian Armed Forces are working on
the “Long Term Perspective Plan 2012 -
2027,” taking the “11th 5-Year Defence
Plan 2007-2012” as their base. However,
64
it is shocking that the Indian political
masters and bureaucrats, holding the
high chairs in MOD, have not
approved this 5-year plan, even 3 years
after it should have been implemented.
In other words, in the absence of
an approved 5-year plan, the 3 wings
of the Armed Forces are only shadow-
boxing, when they prepare for the
2012 - 2027 Long Term Perspective
Plan. It is a fact that, even after 62
years of Independence, our political
masters have not yet spelt out the
country’s long-term strategic goals.
If we do not know what role we,
as a country, want to play in the inter-
national arena in the short-term span
of the next 8 to 10 years and long-
term period of, say, 2 decades, what
meaningful planning can be done by
the security establishment? All that
we have been doing till now, in the
name of Defence planning, are the
knee-jerk actions based on the imme-
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
diate, developing situations. Instead
of being proactive, we have always
been reactive.
Very recently, Army Chief General
Deepak Kapoor has confirmed that
Pakistan has built 69 new bunkers on
our western borders. The Chinese
Army has been transgressing our east-
ern boundary in Ladakh and
Arunachal Pradesh, almost every other
day, as if they are visiting picnic-spots.
Lacking coordination
Since the last 3 years, these border
violations are averaging 208 per year.
Both these countries have now open-
ly joined hands against India. These
should have been sufficient enough
reasons for the MOD in India to wake
up and take immediate corrective
measures. Have they?
Based on Kargil Committee recom-
mendations, the Indian Government
in 2003 had approved the plan of den it initially, with this role, as
setting up a federal Defence they want to degrade the overall
Intelligence Agency (DIA) under capability of the enemy air force.
the MOD. Its job was to oversee Both schools of thoughts have
the functioning of the intelligence merit but who decides which one
agencies of the 3 Services and to adopt? This is where the CDS
coordinate between the other comes in.
Central and State intelligence Another most important func-
agencies. More than 6 years later, tion of the CDS system is that it
no effort has been made to make provides a single-window mili-
this operational. tary advice opportunity to the
Another decision, aimed at bet- Government. CDS also resolves
ter functioning of the MOD and the procurement and planning
Inducting old horses: Modernisation of ailing
timely decision-making, was that Naval fleet is the need of the hour. requirement of the 3 Services,
the 3 Service headquarters will be thereby ensuring optimal usage of
fully integrated with the MOD. The in them. What is most important is a the Defence Budget.
Armed Forces officers were also to be common doctrinal platform.
posted on Joint Secretary and
Additional Secretary posts, which
Conflicting interests
The Parliamentary Committee has
taken note that 8 years have gone by
and, in the name of obtaining politi-
currently remain the exclusive cal consensus for implementing the
domain of the bureaucrats. This pro- Case in point is that, currently, the CDS system, all that the MOD has
posal is also gathering dust. Army is harping on the concept of done is to write some letters to the
What is most shocking is that, in Cold Start in an event of limited war States. Truth of the matter is that the
2003, based on the recommendations with Pakistan. The concept envisages bureaucrats, currently straddling the
of the GOM, the then NDA no large mobilisation of forces, there- MOD and playing General, will lose
Government had decided to imple- by losing the element of surprise — their primacy. So, they do not want
ment the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as it happened in Operation this CDS system.
System in India also. This system is Parakram in 2002. The 3 Services Chiefs’ individual
being followed in America, Britain, In this concept, the pre-designat- powers will also be eroded so they, too,
France and 67 other countries. The ed, mobile battle groups start from do not want this system. Politicians are
only rider was that, before imple- their cantonments straight for war. also quite happy because the 3 Services
mentation, a political consensus will For this, they want the Indian Air keep on fighting their turf battles.
be obtained. Force (IAF) to provide them with When things go wrong, these gentle-
The CDS system is required to close air support. men can then blame one or all the 3
coordinate the functioning of the 3 The IAF is telling the Army that Services and they will come out clean.
Services, which tend to pull in differ- they should use their own means, The 1962 Indo-Chinese war debacle is a
ent directions, and create a synergy like helicopter gunships, and not bur- case in point.
For long, we, the people of India,
have been listening to the parroted
assurances by the Indian politicians
and the 3 Service Chiefs that we are
fully ready to give a befitting reply to
anybody, who casts unholy eyes on
India. Truth is just the opposite.
As of date, we suffer from a crip-
pling shortage 11,387 officers in the
Army, 1,512 officers in the Navy and
1,400 officers in the Air Force. These
shortages are in the young and mid-
dle officers order, who form the cut-
ting-edge of the Defence Services.
A recent study has brought out
Banking on meagre resources: Indian Air Force needs more staff and advanced that, for the Army alone to make up
fighter planes in order to control India’s vast spatial territory. for this deficiency, it will take 27
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 65

Joint exercise of Army, Navy and Air Force off Gujarat coast.
years, if no additional efforts are
made. The situation in the Air Force
and Navy is no better. Still, the pow-
ers-that-be seem quite unconcerned.
The IAF, which has a sanctioned
strength of 39-and-a-half squadrons,
is down to just 32 squadrons because
we do not have any war-planes to fly.
The Indian Navy, which as per the
Government’s own directive, was
never to go less than 142 ships, is
reduced to 132 warships now.
The 19 submarines, that we are
currently having, are of very old vin-
tage. There is no guarantee that, if
they dive in war conditions, they will
ever resurface.
Antique fleet
Of the 2 aircraft carriers, Virat and
Vikrant, that we had, the Vikrant was
retired 3 years back and the Virat is
more of a museum piece. Our
supreme commander, President
Pratibha Patil, recently visited the
Virat and it was discovered that it has
no planes to fly (Sea Harrier Fighters
have been grounded due to age).
As for the Army, out of its 3,000
tanks, only 450 tanks (T-90) can fight
at night; the rest are night-blind. We
have not bought any new artillery
guns for the Army in the last 2
decades. Things have come to such a
pass that, for guns like the Bofors, due
to non availability of spare-parts, the
guns themselves are cannibalised.
Despite this pathetic state of
66
affairs of our armed forces, our polit-
ical class feels highly pleased when
we are called a regional power on the
way to become a global power. They
do not understand that, if Pakistan
and China are cocking a snook at us,
it is because they know the poor state
of our Armed Forces.
All this talk of lack of funds and
defence versus development, is
bunkum. Just one Madhu Koda scam
of Rs 4,500 crore would have been suf-
SHACKLES OF SUPERSTITION
Life is worthless
On a Sunday early morning, I
was loitering in my upstairs balcony
as usual. The link road between
mine and the next road can be seen
by me. About 7 A.M. on that day, an
old man with a stick in his hand, was
very carefully walking on a side,
even though there was no traffic so
the road was almost empty.
While the old man crossing to next
road, a running cow hit him and he
fell at once. Just then another man
was coming from behind, holding a
glassful of water. I really thought he
would render his helping hand, but
he bypassed him looking for a second
towards the fallen old man. After few
minutes, same people came back and
Send your entry written neatly on white paper to: ALIVE
Delhi Press, E-3, Jhandewala Estate, New Delhi-110 055.
A prize of Rs 200 is given to all published items.
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
ficient to equip the entire Indian Army
with heavy artillery guns. If you add
to this, the 1,775 billion dollars of
black money stashed by our worthy
countrymen in Swiss banks, then a
very small percentage of this money
can make us a major world power.
There is no doubt this
Parliamentary Committee on Defence,
cutting across party lines, has done a
great service to the country and its
Armed Forces. Now, it is for the people
of India and the politicians in power,
who must understand that, thanks to
the China - Pakistan collusion, we are
fast getting isolated in Asia.
In his recent China visit, American
President Obama has also given the
green signal to China to play a monitor
in Asia. What India needs today is a
strong military, which can stand on its
own. Only then, can we talk with confi-
dence on global issues and our foreign
policy will acquire the required teeth.
China has proven Mao’s dictum
that, ‘Power comes from the barrel of
a gun.’ ■
lifted him who was profusely bleed-
ing. (I could not rush to the spot as I
was a heart patient, brisk walk or run
was a taboo to me, even now.)
Fortunately on the next day, the
same man I found with again a glass-
ful of water. I called him from my bal-
cony loudly and asked him why he
failed to render his help to the helpless
old man yesterday. The man started
laughing and replied me, “Sir I was
carrying God’s sacred water from the
temple to home and under no circum-
stances I should place the sacred glass
on earth.” He left me with a laughing
face, as if nothing new.
I feel sorry for his inhuman senti-
mental superstition which is still
very strong in our country.
— G. V. L. N. Swami
 D I S C OV E RY
Detection of Water
on the Moon
Though it died prematurely, Chandrayaan-I created history
in the scientific world. ■ by Radhakrishna Rao
I
ndia’s maiden lunar probe,
Chandrayaan-1, has made a land-
mark scientific breakthrough.
Though its mission life was abort-
ed prematurely, in late August last
year, it created waves in the annals of
global space research by finding the
strongest-ever clues for the presence
of water traces across the surface of
the moon.
Indeed, this path-breaking discov-
ery has gone to disprove the long-
held theory that the earth’s nearest
celestial neighbour is absolutely dry.
Looking for signs of water on the
earth’s only natural satellite was one
of the objectives set for
Chandrayaan-1, which was launched
in October previous year, by means
of the 4-stage, space work-horse,
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle(PSLV).
Though Chandrayaan-1 could
survive for just 312 days, as against
its originally-designed lifespan of 2
years, sources in the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) said
that the Indian moon orbiter has met
all the scientific and technical objec-
tives set for it admirably well.
Incidentally, it was the US-built
Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3), one
of the 11 payloads onboard
Chandrayaan-1, which found chemi-
cal signatures of water on the moon
while looking for minerals.
Moon Impact Probe (MIP),
onboard the Chandaryaan-1, which
68
covered 97% of the lunar surface, has
indicated the presence of water in
molecular form and in extremely
small quantities. “There is a confir-
mation of the traces of water. It is a
path-breaking event as far as
Chandrayaan-1 mission is concerned.
It is very, very significant. So far, no
mission has confirmed the presence
of water positively,” observed a jubi-
lant ISRO chief, G.Madhavan Nair.
The M3 payload had detected tell-
tale signs of hydroxyl and water mol-
ecules within the top few millimetres
of soil and rocks on the lunar surface.
As pointed out by ISRO, the signa-
ture of water was strongest at the
higher latitudes of the moon.
Planetary research
More importantly, the discovery of
water traces on the surface of the soil
and rocks at many diverse locations,
in sunlit regions of the moon, also
goes to disprove the thesis that water
on the moon could be found only in
the deep craters in the permanently-
shadowed polar regions of the moon.
“We have made a very important
step with this discovery. When we say
water on the moon, we are not talking
about the lakes, oceans or even pud-
dles. Water on the moon means mole-
cules of water and hydroxyl that
interact with molecules of rock and
dust specifically in the top millime-
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
tres of the moon’s surface,” said
Carle Pieters, Chief Investigator of
M3 probe and a planetary geologist at
Brown University in the USA.
Incidentally, harvesting one tonne
of the top layer of the moon’s surface
would yield just around 32 ounces of
water.
Planetary researchers are of view
that the confirmation of presence of
water on the moon could trigger a
serious hunt for life on the planetary
bodies. Similarly, this discovery could
also speed up the probe to confirm
the availability of Helium-3, a rich
and eco-friendly source of energy, in
sufficient quantities on the moon.
Many countries, including India,
have hinted at the possibility of mining
Helium-3 from the moon and trans-
porting it back to earth, to generate
energy. According to Dr. K.
Kasturirangan, former Chairman of
ISRO, who conceived the proposal for
the Indian lunar probe, “Ultimately, in
the long run, if humankind has to go
and inhabit the moon, one of the impor-
tant requirements is that you should
have adequate water for survival.”
As it is, Russia, the USA and China
have all hinted at setting up human
bases on the moon in the future.
Clearly, India which is planning a
human landing mission to the moon
by 2020, could not afford to lag behind
in the race to colonise the moon.
On another front, the availability
of water on the moon could give an
impetus to the idea of using the
moon as a base for launching inter-
planetary probes, including human
expeditions to the red planet Mars.
Here again, the hydrogen derived
from the water on the moon could
serve as fuel for rockets meant for
deep-space missions.
One more advantage is that a
rocket taking off from the moon can
derive a higher level of lift-off power
due to the fact that the gravitational
pull of moon is far weaker than that
of the earth.
Interestingly, much before M3
came out with the stunning discov-
ery of water on the moon, the fully
Indian-built, 34-kg MIP onboard
Chandrayaan-1, which crash-landed
on the lunar surface on 14 November
2008, had detected the presence of
water on the moon. According to ISRO,
during its 25-minute descent to the
lunar surface, MIP had given a “clear
signal” of water traces on the moon.
Hydrogen rain
On his part, Nair stated that,
analysis of the data provided by the
mass spectrometer instrument, that
forms part of MIP, gave clues to
water on the lunar surface. As it is,
MIP was programmed to crash-land
on the lunar surface after its separa-
tion from Chandrayaan-1 orbiter.
“The MIP, while falling on the
moon, picked up strong signals of
water particles. It was varying from
the moon’s equator to the poles.
These variations – from the poles to
the equator – coincided with that of
M3,” observed Nair. The mission
objective of MIP was to help ISRO
acquire expertise in building pay-
loads for landing on alien surfaces
through remote operations.
Significantly, scientists first
claimed that water existed on the
moon about 4 decades back, after
they analysed rock samples brought
to earth by Apollo astronauts. But
they had doubts about the finding as
the boxes, in which they were
brought to earth, had leaked, conta-
minating the samples with air from
the atmosphere.
Cassini, the US-European plane-
tary probe, had detected the presence
of water traces on the moon, on its
way to Saturn, in 1999. More recently,
the American Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter’s 7 onboard instruments had
confirmed the presence of large
amounts of hydrogen – a marker for
water – in the permanently-shad-
owed, south pole crater of the moon.
ISRO scientists say that, unless
deep-soil samples proved the pres-
ence of water under the surface, it
could be difficult to prove the utility
of water on the moon. In this context,
J.N.Goswami, Principal Scientist of
Chandrayaan-1, says that it would
take a lot more time to find whether
the water molecules are present below
the surface layer. However, he indicat-
ed that the finding of water traces on
the moon could also imply that water
is present on other planets as well.
Scientists are of the view that
hydrogen, which bonds with oxygen
to form water, may have come from an
astronomical phenomenon called solar
wind. As the sun undergoes nuclear
fusion, it constantly emits a stream of
particles, mostly protons, which are
positively-charged hydrogen atoms.
On the earth, the atmosphere and
natural magnetism prevent the plan-
et from being bombarded by these
particles. But, since the moon is with-
out such a protective layer, the lunar
surface is constantly bombarded by
Barren moon surface reveals water.
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
hydrogen ions moving at one-third
the speed of light. The number of
such ions hitting the lunar surface is
quite high – about a 100 million ions
per square centimetre per second.
The energy of the solar wind
hydrogen allows them to penetrate
one-tenth of micrometer of lunar rock
or soil surface, where they can pick
up an oxygen ion to create a strongly-
bonded hydroxyl species. Addition
of another hydrogen ion of solar ori-
gin will lead to the formation of a
water molecule.
Sample mission
In the context of the detection of
water by Chandrayaan-1, ISRO is
planning a revision of the objectives
set for the follow-on Chandrayaan-II
mission slated for launch in 2013.
“We are making a mid-course correc-
tion for Chandrayaan-II. We will
mine the moon’s surface much deep-
er to find more water,” quipped Nair.
In keeping with the changed prior-
ities, Chandrayaan-II will now incor-
porate a 15-kg, Indian-built robotic
rover, along with a 50-kg, Russian-
supplied robotic rover. These rovers
will be designed to collect soil to test
for further evidence of water and ele-
ments, such as Helium-3.
Chandrayaan-II will be hoisted
into space by means of the 3-stage
Geostationary Launch Vehicle
(GSLV). Like its predecessor,
Chandrayaan-II will also feature
international payloads.
About the proposal for scientific
payloads onboard Chandrayaan-II,
Nair said, “I am under terrific pres-
sure. The number of proposals for
instruments we have received is so
high. We are full at the moment. We
are, in fact, wondering whether and
how to create extra capacity to carry
all that. We will evaluate all propos-
als and examine them in the light of
our objectives.”
Beyond Chandryaan-II, ISRO is
looking at going in for a sample
return mission to moon. ■
69
 A WA R E N E S S

Cosmetic Surgery
Indian cosmetic surgery
industry
In India, cosmetic surgery has been

for Men
More and more men realise that looking their best can boost their
confidence, motivate them to exercise more, and help them feel
good to bring out their best. ■ by Suman Bajpai
efficient. In an effort to retain a
youthful look, many men have
turned to cosmetic surgery.
Preference for appearance
Today, an increasing number of
men are going for cosmetic surgery
and plastic surgery. The reasons for
this are complex. It probably reflects
an increased awareness about cos-
metic surgery and health-care issues.
“Ten years ago, about 10% of my
clients used to be men. Now, it is
40%. Most young men want to flaunt
a firm, clean, unshaven chest,” says
Anup Dhir, a senior consultant in the
So much pain, lot of gain too. In the end, good look is the reward.
Pioneers of cosmetic surgery in India: Dr Anup Dhir (L) and Dr Mohan Thomas.
“Appearance has taken preference
among both men and women. Earlier,
it was considered a woman’s depart-
ment; now, more men are going under
the knife than ever before. Apart from
breast-reduction, many men also want
permanent cure for their hairy chests.
We use the laser technique for hair-
removal. This is a permanent way to
remove hair from the chest. It means
one sitting a month for 4 or 5 months,”
he further added.
Most of these men opt for cosmet-
ic surgery when they are looking for
a new job or a new partner, he
reveals. “A lot of men come for wrin-
kle-removal treatment, botox shots
bers. They are turning to brow-lifts to
correct age-related eyebrow-droop-
ing and forehead-creasing. New tech-
niques allow surgeons to make small
incisions and lift the forehead with-
out raising the hairline or leaving any
visible scars.”
With regards to age and ethnicity,
the type of men turning to plastic
surgery for cosmetic enhancement is
changing colourfully. Some patients
are frustrated with diet and exercise-
resistant fat and want body-contouring
to improve their physique and max-
imise the results of their work-outs.
Many men are unhappy with the
shape of the nose, the prominence of
practised for a long time but there has
been a notable surge in the past 5 years.
There is an increasing demand for aesthet-
ic procedures from people in the urban
cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai,
Bangalore, Pune and Chandigarh.
Cosmetic surgeries in India were
associated with celebrities and people
of the affluent-class at a point of time.
Today, these surgeries are increasingly
being taken by the mushrooming middle-
class. At present, more and more men
and women from the upper-middle-class
are opting for cosmetic procedures to
attract lucrative jobs, get the best possi-
ble marriage partner and mainly get rid
of any deformity that they feel impacts
their self-confidence and self-esteem.
The major growth factor of the Indian
cosmetic industry, among others, is its
affordability — and that comes from the
growing disposable income. Another
important factor is the consumer awareness
that has resulted from the active efforts of
the media — especially the print media.
The estimated size of the overall cos-
metic surgery industry is worth Rs 460
crore, with the maximum revenue con-
tributed by invasive or surgical proce-

T
his is the age of presentation.
How you present yourself
makes a great impact on your
career. Looking good improves
one’s self-image and confi-
dence and can play a part in being
successful at home and at work. This
awareness has contributed to the
growth of male cosmetic surgery,
worldwide.
The definition of cosmetic surgery
has changed in line with people’s out-
look towards life. An increasing num-
ber of youngsters are going for differ-
ent options to enhance their looks.
The days of plastic surgery as a
‘women-only’ pursuit are over. More
and more men realise that, looking
their best can boost their confidence,
motivate them to exercise more, and
help them feel good. Men, these days,
are taking more care of themselves
and trying to improve on their looks
to bring out their best.
Inspired by Bollywood actors and
models, who parade around shirt-
less, these men — mostly in their 20s
— are ready to shell out money to
improve their looks. Generally, men
and women want to feel confident in
the way they look, be happy with
how their clothes fit, and hope their
image justifies that.
In the workplace, gaining respect
and getting that better-paid position
amongst younger co-workers is rea-
son enough for many men to invest
in cosmetic procedures. Another
stimulus is the intense competition in
the business world. There is often a
perception, correct or not, that an
older person is less up-to-date and
department of cosmetic surgery, at
Apollo Hospital.
Being a macho man is a craze today.
and filler injections, just before going
for a job interview,” says Anup Dhir.
According to the American
Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery,
surgery is becoming increasingly
popular with men as a way to deal
with maintenance and change of
image. BBC news has reported that
breast-reduction surgery is gaining
popularity amongst men with gynae-
comastia, generally known as man
boobs or moobs.
According to Dr Mohan Thomas,
Director, Cosmetic Surgery Institute
and Senior Cosmetic Surgeon at
Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai,
“Cosmetic surgery is no longer taboo
in India. The awareness levels and
the demand for cosmetic surgery are
increasing consistently. Men are seek-
ing cosmetic surgery to enhance their
body and looks in increasing num-
ears, or the ‘weakness’ of the chin.
dures. These cost comparatively more
They wish to pursue facial-sculpting to
than the non-invasive procedures.
beautify their facial features. Men pre-
Breast-reduction can cost anything
fer straighter, stronger and more angu-
between Rs 40,000 - 60,000 and laser
lar facial features than women do.
surgery for hair-removal can burn a Rs
60,000-hole in the pocket. A botox shot
New breed of males comes for Rs 8,000. Rhinoplasty, gynae-
comastia and liposuction cost between
For years, Indian women have
Rs 30,000 and Rs 45,000.
been relying on the surgeon’s knife
for that perfect body and that flawless
face. Now, India’s economic boom
has spawned a new breed of male,
middle-class professionals, with the
desire to look good and the money to
make it happen. A few years ago, the
ratio was 80% women, 20% men, but
now it is almost 50-50. Today, it is
quite acceptable for men to go for
facials and manicures, waxing and
plucking and there is no stopping it.
“The craze for 6-pack abs has been

70 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 71


a media creation. Not surprisingly,
young men are looking for the ulti-
mate body-contouring by high-defini-
tion liposuction. For men, who are
committed to a good body-shape by
way of a healthy diet and regular exer-
cise, a 6-pack look can be created by
body-etching through hi-definition
liposuction,” says Dr Mohan Thomas.
“Dimples are also gaining popular-
ity among men, probably since many
Bollywood stars are sporting dimples.
Dimples can be created by surgery
from within the mouth and with few
days’ recovery time. In a few weeks,
the dimples look quite natural. Botox
and fillers are used as quick-fix,
lunch-time procedures for removal of
wrinkles and creases,” he adds.
“Having breasts can be very
embarrassing for a man. Most find it
annoying and comes in the way of
wearing tight T-shirts and baring the
chest (for swimming and otherwise).
During puberty, hormonal changes
take place in the body (unopposed
female hormones or low levels of
male hormone) and, as a result, breast
tissue form and enlarge in some boys.
“This may disappear in many
cases, over time. But, if it does not,
the residual breast tissue and fat
together form the male breast. This
can very well be removed in an aes-
thetic manner with liposuction only,
using certain special instruments.
This is termed ‘Key-Hole Male Breast
Surgery’. The scars are minimal and
fade in time. This is a day-care
surgery and one can return to work
in a couple of days.
“Hair-transplantation is also a
popular option for men. The hair fol-
licles from the back of the head are
transplanted to the top and grow like
normal,” adds Dr Mohan.
Procedure
Cosmetic surgery in men uses
many of the same procedures as in
women. However, because of the
structure of a man’s body, there are
many technical differences. For
72
example, a man’s skin
is thicker and the facial
area contains hair. This
means the blood sup-
ply is greater. The
result is a greater risk of
bleeding but better
healing.
In general, men tend
to be less happy with
the results of cosmetic
surgery than women.
And there is a flip side
Cosmetic surgery is a
also. Experts say that an
boon for women also.
unqualified or unac-
credited pair of hands conducting a surgery, penile implants for erectile
surgery can be risky, with possible dysfunction, and male genital cos-
complications like excessive bleeding, metic surgery.
Karishma Kapoor Unveils
Aromaz’s Latest Products
Aromaz, the aromatic brand of
beauty produces from RDM Care
(India) Pvt. Ltd. recently launched
anti marks and scars cream and
tamarind-based skin care range of
products. Karishma Kapoor, the
brand ambassador of Aromaz,
launched the products at IITF (India
International Trade Fare), in New
Delhi last year. The product range
based upon the principle of treat-
ment with aroma with constituents
of distinct essential oils extracted
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
scarring, nerve damage,
skin necrosis and even
paralysis of the face.
The most-sought-
after procedures for
men are keyhole male
breast-reduction, hair-
transplantation, dimple,
hi-definition liposuc-
tion, rhinoplasty, dou-
ble chin, facial rejuvena-
tion, botox and fillers,
brow-lift, tummy-tuck,
ear correction, skin
resurfacing, eyelid
■ t was indeed a bolt from the blue. Although with the
from plants and others that help in
rejuvenation of skin and body.
Karishma Kapoor, epitomising
the Aromaz’s personality says,
“Today’s fast and stressful life takes
extreme toll on the skin, so it’s very
necessary to take proper care. The
Aromaz skincare range with array of
products has the insight of aromatic
concept, backed by strong research
and development to improve the
skin texture and is highly relevant
for today’s modern women.”
Since ages, tamarind has been
used as an essential beauty treat-
ment for women. It’s a traditional
herb used in cosmetic ingredient.
The use of extracts to tamarind seeds
enriched in xyloglycans is an active
agent in a cosmetic product for topi-
cal usage for the skin. The active con-
stituents of tamarind extract are of
great benefit in skin care. Studios
have shown that tamarind extract
significantly improves skin elasticity,
hydration and smoothness.
The range includes gels, astrin-
gents, bleach, shampoos, condition-
ers, scrubs, creams, lotions and
body wash.
S H O RT S T O RY
The Pink Slip
Vibhor felt surge of excitement running up and down his
spine. The apprehensions, the feelings of uncertainty and
insecurity seemed to have been vanished in the assuring
presence of Parul. ■ by Kumud Bhatnagar
I
have you once again as my most trusted lieutenant, the
global recession, the market had shrunk like a home- moment things return to normal. But when they would
spun fabric, retrenchment had started almost in all
sectors but nobody had ever imagined in a wildest
or would be ever in my lifetime, I don’t know so I have
to bid adieu to you with a heavy heart,” Mr. Raizada
dream that the management’s blue eyes boy Vibhor
Arya would be ever given the ominous pink slip. He
said helplessly.
“As you yourself honoured me by calling your most
was known as media’s whiz kid with a Midas touch. So trusted lieutenant Sir, why don’t you give me a chance
far every project handled by him had turned into a vir- to be with you and fight your battles,” Vibhor pleaded.
tual gold mine. “I wish I could Vibhor but the only battle we have to
Call it luck, his business fight is of virtually ‘NO
acumen or strategy of WORK’ or in other words,
working hard and partying no clients,” Mr. Raizada
harder, he would concen- pushed a file towards him.
trate on one project at a “Look for yourself, how
time to turn it into a win- many clients had cancelled
ning venture. He also had their contracts. There is no
an enviable reputation of work for you Vibhor.”
completing his projects “I don’t mind taking up
before time. Obviously, he the small projects Sir.”
was the prized possession
of the big bosses and the “T hose are already
youngest highest paid being handled by others
executive in the company. and there’s nothing new in
Then what went wrong the pipeline. I suggest
where? Of course, there Vibhor, you start free lanc-
was not much business in ing for the small projects.
the offing and company There’s no dearth of small
had to curtail the expenses players in the market and
but why at his cost? He there will be no dearth of
decided to meet Mr. work either for a talented
Raizada, the big boss. man like you. My best
“Actually I was about to wishes are always with
call you Vibhor, to explain you,” Mr. Raizada stood up
the things and personally to shake hands with him.
tell you that we are parting Vibhor’s head whirled.
ways not due to any fault He knew there was no
of yours and I will love to dearth of work for him. But
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 73
he couldn’t think of switching over to something new the old friends and cousins; he too joined the leg pulling
right now, with his wedding being just a few weeks and verbal duel between the bridesmaids and the
away. The wedding cards from his and his fiancee’s side groom’s party.
were already in the printing press. The venues for the “Oh come on girls, why are you bent upon proving
functions were booked long back and the invitees that Anushka is about to join the bandwagon of
requested to make their travel arrangements. Only his dimwits?” one girl asked. “Why don’t you realise that it
office people had not been informed. Actually it was reflects upon Anu’s taste? So let them have the last
Parul’s idea to keep their marriage plans a secret till last word.”
minute. Vibhor looked at the girl, not strikingly beautiful but
“Once people come to know about our being she was quite attractive and what impressed him most
involved, for a slight lapse on our part, they may jeer at was that unlike other girls she was not dressed to kill
us for day dreaming and you know what? Moreover, but attired in a simple yet stylish dress.
presuming that we would be going on leave, we may be “What a way to escape from defeat,” Vibhor
burdened with extra assignments. Let’s complete all our remarked.
pending work quietly, then a week ahead of proceeding “In polished words, it is known as stooping to con-
on leave, approach the management with the wedding quer,” the girl replied.
invitation and leave application,” Parul suggested. Vibhor was floored. He made a beeline for his moth-
er, showed her the girl and told, “If you want that girl to
W hatever she said couldn’t be refuted and Vibhor be your daughter in law, please be on the job right now
decided to comply by that. Actually Parul’s matter of Ma. I am booked by the morning flight but if things look
fact approach had made him to fall hook, line and sinker favourable, I can extend my stay.”
for her. Although he was well placed in life and his As luck would have it, Parul too was supposed to go
mother had started looking for a suitable bride for him, back to Hyderabad where she was working in a leading
she too didn’t seem to be in a hurry. One night she pharmaceutical company. After being told about Vibhor,
phoned him to come over to Delhi to attend his cousin she too extended her stay. Things really moved fast after
Anuj’s marriage. that. Although she was quite happy about her job, she
“Look mom, didn’t I tell you that I am not in a mood was prepared to resign if she could get an equally good
to get suffocated in the sultry weather of Delhi...” one in Mumbai.
“Yes and I too agreed,” his mother intervened. “But “Meanwhile we’ll give flying visits to each other
today in Anuj’s betrothal ceremony, I saw a few of every weekend,” Parul said breezily. “With our types of
brides’ unmarried cousins and friends. Some are strik- salaries and savings, the airfare is not worth frowning.
ingly beautiful and others simply good looking but all of The couples in our income bracket spend that much
them are well placed professionals. I want you to air amount in resorts and spa every week end.”
dash to Delhi tomorrow, have a look at the girls, have
your pick and then go back. I’ll take care of the rest. “T hat’s right,” Vibhor agreed. “Many of my bache-
Look Vibhor, without feeling awkward, you can quietly lor friends spend a packet on massage and steam bath
make your choice.” etc at health resorts. We’ll be spending that amount to be
“Without knowing whether the other party is inter- with each other.”
ested in me or not.” “Yeah, for a short while, once we’re together we too
“So far the girls I am talking about are uninvolved would go for all these fads but meanwhile let’s live the
and their parents have coaxed them to attend this mar- way we’re living.”
riage for groom hunting purpose.” They had no objection for an early marriage and
[ [
“I see Anuj and Anushka’s marriage is a modern day Vibhor’s parents also wished so but Parul’s parents
‘sawayambar’ mom?” Vibhor joked. “Who wanted some time to prepare for their only
else has come or is expected? I mean, my “As you yourself daughter’s wedding. The preparations
cousins.” honoured me by call- were in full swing from both the sides that
“Almost everyone expect you and most ing your most trust- this catastrophe broke on Vibhor’s happy
of Anuj’s old friends are also there.” That ed lieutenant Sir, world. He didn’t know how to break news
did the trick. He and Anuj being classmates why don’t you give to his family, especially his mother who
had common friends. It would be real fun me a chance to be was more excited than him for the mar-
to meet everybody in one go. with you and riage.
“Okay mom, I’ll catch the first available fight your battles,” Every night she would excitedly tell
flight.” Vibhor pleaded. him for something new, she wanted to be
It was indeed a pleasure to be amongst done during his marriage. How will she
74 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
take the news that her son has lost the job and perhaps
his well off in laws now won’t like him for their well-
placed daughter? And what about Parul, who tells him
every night, “Now only... more days for us to be united.”
How will he tell her that he has lost the job?
The best thing would be to switch off the mobile and
quietly think over the issue. He switched off the mobile
but could not think of any solution or sleep either. In the
wee hours of the morning, he had a fitful nap that the
doorbell rang.
‘Has the newspaper man got the inkling of his being
unemployed and wants his money in advance,’ fuming
and fretting he opened the door. Parul was standing
with a travelling bag, bleary eyed and tired yet looking
as ravishing as ever.
“How come you’re here?” was all he could say.
Pushing him aside Parul came in, closed the door and
threw her on him.
“What else could I do Vibhor, let you undergo all this
alone?” she asked in a
choked voice.
He was baffled rather
shocked.
“Who told you?”
“My instincts. Look,
before switching off your
mobile, you had always
been informing me before-
hand but today there was
no message. Late in the
afternoon, when I tried on
your office landline, not
the receptionist but a man,
most probably a peon told
me that neither you nor
your assistant was in the
office. The speculations
about retrenchment in your fields were also rife and I
decided to take no chance and catch you at home.
B ut as luck would have it, the boss wanted a feasi-
bility report of a new project immediately and to com-
pile the data I had to be in the office till 10 at night. I
came home, packed an overnight bag and rushed to the
airport. To cut the long story short, I could board an
international flight going via Mumbai.”
“I am really sorry Parul,” Vibhor said hoarsely. “I
simply don’t know how to break this news to everybody
especially when all are so excited about our fast
approaching wedding.”
“Why are you behaving like the proverbial pigeon
who by closing his eyes presumes the danger to be over?
The news about the retrenchment in your firm will be in
the news soon and everybody would get worried over
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
your silence. Face the crises boldly and inform every-
body about it.”
“I would have if the marriage had not been in the off-
ing. Look Parul, I won’t be unemployed for very long...”
“A man of your qualification and calibre can easily
find an alternative job,” Parul cut in. “And my parents
too will agree for it if that’s what bothering you. As far
as I am concerned, I am with you through thick and
thin. Look, had mom not insisted for an elaborate wed-
ding, we would have been married by now. Then could
anybody ask me to leave you?”
“Then I could have easily come to Hyderabad to live
with you.”
“That you can still do Vibhor, I mean after the mar-
riage. Although being hyped as Cyberabad, basically the
retail marketing in Hyderabad thrives on paddy and
tobacco crops, industries and educational institutions are
also there.”
“To tell you the fact, I
am looking for an alterna-
tive career in educational
institutions Parul. Having
a master’s degree in man-
agement, I can look for an
opening in an institute
teaching planning and
management.”
“Not only international
but other prestigious
institutes are there and
there is no dearth of small
players either. Look
Vibhor, I am entitled for a
company car and accom-
modation. The car is
already there and when
married I can move out of my paying guest pad. Not a
swanky bungalow but a decent flat would be there till
you get settled in your new vocation. But Vibhor you
have your home in Delhi, supposing you like to get
settled there, I won’t mind looking for an opening for
myself there itself.”
Vibhor looked straight in her eyes.
“I won’t like to dislocate you too Parul when I am
already uprooted. You will keep the home fire burning
while I’ll explore the market for myself. We’ll work as a
team Parul and emerge out as the winners.” Vibhor felt
serge of excitement running up and down his spine. The
apprehensions, the feelings of uncertainty and insecurity
seemed to have been vanished in the assuring presence
of Parul.
So far he was looking at the grey colour but Parul
had shown him ‘pink’ in the so-called pink slip. ■
75
M E L O DY
Kailash’s
‘Kailasa’
Music to me is more like meditation. It’s like
connecting with God. ■ by Ramesh Kumar Raja
T
hey say, if you also lent special appearances in some
have the talent, blockbusters, including Corporate
nothing can stop it (2006) and Mangal Pandey – The
from erupting. Rising (2005). Today, the singer is a
This is what hap- proud owner of the band ‘Kailasa’,
pened to the current and an acclaimed lyricist and music
singing heart-throb, composer as well.
Kailash Kher. After burn- On a recent trip to Delhi, for a con-
ing his hands in busi- cert in Shri Ram College of
ness, Kailash moved to Commerce, Delhi University, he went
his old hobby of singing, nostalgic about his formative years
to make it a full-time pro- and the city where he learnt the basics.
fession. Here, he feels
infrastructure has little role Excerpts:
to play, unlike in business. How does it feel to be in Delhi,
Realising his hidden poten- where you spent most of your youth?
tial, Kailash dared to explore his It certainly feels great to be in the
own kind of singing mannerism. It city where I grew up and learnt the
is a trait that he has inherited from gayki of Kumar Gandharva, and fol-
his father, Pandit Mehar Singh Kher, lowed that pattern and style of singing.
a folk singer renowned in Uttar Though I wasn’t a regular student of
Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Delhi University, as I graduated with
Subsequently, Kailash moved to its correspondence programme, I feel
Mumbai. After some hiccups, he nostalgic about those playful days.
landed an offer of the track “Rabba Moreover, how can I forget the day
Ishq Na Hove...” for the Akshay (3 years back) when I decided and sub-
Kumar starrer Andaz, which instant- sequently formed our band ‘Kailasa’ in
ly became a smash-hit. Soon, his Delhi, with immense help from Naresh
song “Allah Ke Bande...” from the and Paresh. Though they are Mumbai-
relatively obscure film Waisa Bhi based, I met these guys in Delhi, dur-
Hota Hai - Part II (2002) made him ing a concert at Pragati Maidan.
a household name.
Since then, there has been no How did you feel, performing in
stopping this short-statured front of Delhi University students?
singer. Besides giving mem- I’m really thrilled about the way
orable hits, Kailash has youngsters’ feet tapped on my num-
Though we are living in the age of cut-throat
competitions, healthy competition also co-exists,
which every professional understands.
bers. Unlike my Sufism-influenced
songs, I sang only those tracks that
could enthrall them. I knew it was the
youngsters’ festival, so I did not want
to bore them with my slow numbers.
My selection of songs paid off
when they were hysterically
demanding more and more! But I
had to finally stop, as I am only a
human being, not a music system! I
warmly thank them for showering so
much praise and affection on me.
Though this may be a repetitive
question, could you tell us what
music means to you?
Well, my answer is the same every
time! Music to me is more like medi-
tation. It’s like connecting with God.
While singing, I get lost in some
other sphere. It’s like finding my
inner self and soul.
When it comes to singing tracks for
movies, you seem to be very particular?
I believe in quality, not quantity.
It’s not that I have dearth of offers; I
want to concentrate only on quality.
If I start singing every song that is
offered to me today, I would definite-
ly start sounding very monotonous
and people will get fed up. Many
other playback singers followed this
practice and had to face criticism.
You are a music composer as well.
Which job is more challenging:
singing or composing?
Both are entirely different, in
terms of effort. Singing simply goes
on the direction of the given compo-
sition and situation involved. On the
other hand, composing brings a lot of
responsibilities to any music director.
In addition, a composer has to go
with different kinds of situations.
As a music director, I have all the
liberty, when I am composing songs
for my non-filmi, private albums.
When I compose songs for movies, I
have to keep in mind the situation
and follow the mood of the actors.
I feel there is definitely far more
challenge when I am given the
Enchanting new release from Kailash.
assignment of composing music for a
movie than a private album.
Aren’t you worried that other
music composers will stop asking you
My First Job Experience
Though by qualification I am an
advocate, I chose to become a
teacher by profession for sheer love
of closely interacting with children
instead of hard core criminals! As
my own kids were very small I had
plans to work after a couple of years
later, but the principal Mrs. S.L.
Sahay (a strict disciplinarian popu-
larly known as “Hitler” for her cut
and dry ways) of the nearby English
medium school run by the Bhilai
steel plant (where my husband was
serving) phoned me one fine morn-
ing and offered me a temporary post
of Teacher. Though I was hesitant
initially, my husband encouraged
me to take a plunge!
As the school was facing acute
staff shortage I was asked to take
charge of Class V-B as its class
teacher. It was a section full of smart,
radiant and mischievous children.
First of all, I had to sign my presence
in the staff attendance register and
prepare a lesson plan to be submit-
ted to the Principal for her approval.
In my excitement and confusion I
signed before the Principal’s name
as her and my names had SL in com-
mon! In the first period itself I had
established a fine rapport with the
cute and friendly children of my sec-
tion like Maya, Soma, Aroop, Amit
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
to sing, on finding you a competitor?
Not at all. The scenario has
changed now. Though we are living
in the age of cut-throat competitions,
healthy competition also co-exists,
which every professional under-
stands. If you have the requisite tal-
ent, people will admire it, and help
you bring it to the fore.
A.R. Rahman, Shankar Mahadevan,
Vishal Bharadwaj, Vishal-Shekhar and
Pritam are some wonderful examples
of this trend. They respect each other
in equal vein and request one another
as per the demand of the given lyric, to
give it a perfect voice. It’s a kind of
Ram raj for the music scene in India. ■
and several other charmers and
enjoyed teaching and listening to
their stories and jokes in between.
Came the last period and Lo!
The principal had sent a peon
with a message to meet her before
going home! Nervously I went to her
office to face the grim-faced “Hitler”
pointing her finger without a word
to the Teacher’s attendance register
where my signature was prominently
affixed before her name! Then she
ran her finger on my lesson plan run-
ning into three pages and said she
wanted only an outline plan and not
an essay! Thirdly she pointed to my
hair which had turned grey due to
chalk dust!
“All these, my dear, indicate your
state of nervousness and it is one
thing which a teacher should not pos-
sess. From now on I want to see you
sans this, but with a smile!” Needless
to say that this boosted my
morale in my first encounter
itself with the so-called
“HITLER”!
Later I served in
that setup for 23
years during
which I got the
Best Teacher
award!
— Shanta N.
Laxman
77
 N ETIQUETTE
might be available to them. But, unfortunately, some
employees are using this facility for checking their e-
mails 20 times a day (if not more), useless chatting,

Bypassing Internet
downloading songs, movies, or even accessing porno-
graphic websites.
This is casting a very heavy strain on resources and

Censorship
causing loss of valuable time. Therefore, it is impera-
tive to block access to certain websites. Nonetheless, a
number of circumvention technologies are available for
accessing blocked websites.
Let us assume that, whenever a user tries to access a
You might wipe off the information that blocked site, the computer says, “Please contact your
network administrator.” Now, the user can open a
are visible to you on computer, even then proxy site, such as power.com or carbonproxy.com or
you might have left some clues in other hidden jumboproxy.com. These websites will provide a
textbox, in which the user can type the name of the
files. ■ by Wallace Jacob blocked site which he wishes to access, and sign-in. It

A
is possible that the user might be able to access the
few nations have blocked information. Perhaps, a time per Children's Internet blocked website.
access to some websites that In a country like might come when Protection Act (CIPA).
are promoting undesirable China, the material the use of Internet There are some countries
The loopholes
material. These websites are available over the will have to be regu- in the Middle-East,
considered immoral, Internet is controlled at lated in our country which block access to As an analogy, suppose 2 individuals, A and B, are
obscene, or carrying news inciting the national level, also. Many organisa- websites that discuss forbidden from talking to each other. So A and B do not
people towards subversive activities ensuring uniformity in tions in our country homosexuality issues. talk to each other but A conveys the desired informa-
or intend to bring about communal the blocking of access have provided If this filtering system tion to C. In turn, C conveys the information to B and
disharmony, or speak against prevail- throughout the country. Internet services to is implemented at the also takes information from B and passes it onto A. A
ing rituals in certain regions, etc. The The Internet users in their employees, so Internet Service Provider and B do not talk to each other but the interchange of
purpose is to protect the fertile minds China might not be able that pertinent infor- (ISP) level, then it is dif- ideas has taken place through an intermediary, C.
of the younger generation, or nation- to access information mation might be ficult to ensure uniformi- There are a number of other websites like stupidcen-
al security concerns, or to organise pertaining to Tibetan available to them. ty unless filtering is sorship.com (https://www.stupidcensorship.com) and
strategic events. and Taiwanese inde- backed by law. The ISPs peacefire.org, which provide circumvention methods.
The problems caused due to pre- pendence or some other political fig- may use their own discretion in exer- There is another method of accessing blocked web-
venting access to certain websites are ures (due to obvious reasons). cising censorship over the Internet. sites. The websites are actually identified by a number,
sometimes aggravated because some In the USA, schools, libraries etc. As a consequence, some users for instance, 203.77.188.166 (referred to as IP address).
authorities use Commercial Filtering are required to block access to might not be able to access certain On some operating systems, this number appears on
Software, which is actually subject to obscene or pornographic material, as material which might be accessible the Status Bar (a bar at the bottom of a window), when
over-blocking. Such soft- through a different ISP in a website is being opened.
ware works on the prin- the same country. A par- A user can determine the IP address of the websites
ciple of categorisation. ticular cable service he wishes to surf and then type the number in the
A classic example of provider might give Address Bar, instead of typing the domain name
blocking could be that access to only 60 chan- (eptra.com is an example of domain name). The work-
access to a website dis- nels, whereas another ing of these methods often depends on the level of
seminating information provider might have 83 security that has been implemented in an organisation.
on AIDS might be channels.
blocked simply because Perhaps, a time might Statutory warning: Accessing banned content can
the term “unprotected come when the use of be a serious violation of the law. You can be constantly
sex” might appear some- Internet will have to be monitored when you access the Internet.
where in the website. regulated in our country Also, when you work on the computer, your “foot-
The net result is that a also. Many organisations prints” are being recorded in some files (such as
section of the society in our country have pro- Registry File). So, though you might wipe off the infor-
might be deprived of vided Internet services to mation that is visible to you (such as information from
sexual education or, per- their employees, so that the Address Bar of the browser), even then you might
haps, some important Accessing the cyber world: Interruptions are going to arise soon. pertinent information have left some clues in some other files. ■

78 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010

 S OCIAL NETWORKING
somebody’s messages or rebroadcast ucts. (A number of San To converse with your in the world. One of the
ones that are interesting, funny or Francisco eateries tweet friends, you post a things I like so much
important. their daily menu, for tweet and, unlike about President Obama
Twitter is many things to many example). e-mail services, where is his vision that it is not
people but, most of all, it is light- There is a transfor- a zero-sum game, where

witter
you have to add the
weight, easy to use and transparent. mative power in an name of each recipi- one country is going to
Its swirl of activity is like a huge party, SMS, that is extremely ent, the website dis- win the game for earth.
full of hundreds of conversations you inspiring. Think about a tributes it to the entire That fits Twitter.”
can tap into — unlike Facebook, an street-vendor in India,

Tweeting all
exclusive club where you need to
know the right people to join in.
All of this makes it popular with
network of people who
asking, “If I get a water- are following you. How does Twitter
melon, will you buy it?”! work
Suddenly, it is not just about Like for any other social network-

around
the users and the media, which duti-
fully reports every twist and turn on
the site. There are 4 billion cellphone-
users in the world, who are carrying
around Twitter-ready devices. The
Twitter is the newest term on the plethora of Twitter team, sitting in San Francisco,
tries to concentrate on keeping things
social networking sites, which offers even high profile running smoothly without interfering.
people as well as commoners to twitter to all others.
World-spanning vision
■ by Sudha Chandrasekaran
searching for information; it is about ing website, users have to sign up,
letting the news find you — offering register their phone numbers and
people, anywhere, the chance to get create their own network of friends.
their messages out to anyone who is In the terminology of the website,
interested. As a tool for students and you ‘follow’ your friends or some
faculty to compare thoughts on a celebrity, while your friends will ‘fol-
topic, Twitter could be used academ- low’ you. To converse with your
ically to foster interaction and sup- friends, you post a message (tweet)
port meta-cognition. and, unlike e-mail services, where you
The world-spanning vision is cer- have to add the name of each recipient,
tainly a long way from where the the website distributes it to the entire

S
uddenly, Twitter, a free social-
networking and micro-blog-
ging service, that enables its
users to send and read mes-
sages known as “tweets”, has
become immensely popular. Twitter
is ranked as one of the 50 most-popu-
lar websites worldwide and is the 3rd
most-used social network.
Twitter is a service for friends, fam-
ily and co-workers to communicate
and stay connected through the
exchange of quick, frequent messages.
People write short, text-based updates,
of 140 characters or fewer. These mes-
sages are posted to your profile or
your blog, sent to your followers and
are searchable on Twitter search.
Tweets are displayed on the
author’s profile-page and delivered
to the author’s subscribers, who are
known as followers. Senders can
restrict delivery to those in their cir-
cle of friends or, by default, allow
open access. Users can send and
receive tweets via the Twitter web-
site, Short Message Service (SMS) or
external applications.
While the service costs nothing to
use, accessing it through SMS may
If enough people talk about some- company’s founders started out: network of people who are following
incur phone service- The idea was simple: of social change, seems to thing, it bubbles to the top of Williams, who grew up on a farm in you. Hence, the same message will
provider fees. This online to build a website have happened in a matter Twitter’s hot topics — a list that lets Nebraska, dropped out of college appear in everyone’s home-page.
application is part blog, that let someone tell of months. users see what everyone else is talk- and packed his bags to Silicon Valley; Unlike other content-based, social
part social networking their friends what How does it feel to be ing about. Apart from weeding out Stone, a Massachusetts native, also networking websites, which allow the
site and part cellphone they were doing. at the heart of it all? “It’s a spammers, the Twitter team largely quit university to take up a design user to create contents like uploading
tool. It is designed to let At any given little bit like being in the keeps its hands off. apprenticeship; Dorsey, who grew up photos, videos, keeping a blog and
users describe what they moment, millions of eye of the storm,” says Of course, Twitter is not only about in Missouri, moved to California, incorporating various multimedia
are doing or thinking, at people are sending Biz Stone, one of the com- people chatting to their friends or shar- ending up working for a taxi-dis- programmes, Twitter operates by
a given moment. messages from their pany’s co-founders. ing news of a revolution. Biz Stone patching company in Oakland, just managing the simplest mode of social
Twitter’s 52 employ- computers. Chief Executive Evan points to the success of companies, who across the bay from San Francisco. networking — sending and receiving
ees are part of the biggest Williams and Stone — 10- use the service to communicate with Stone says that part of their inspi- messages. Perhaps, its simplicity has
media story on the planet. Their online year dotcom veterans, who had customers — whether it is big names ration comes courtesy of people with made it the fastest-growing website
messaging service, which encourages enjoyed previous success building offering discounts or smaller business- a similar global drive. “There is a lot in the social networking category.
people to share their thoughts with the blogging service and social networking es, who tell them about the latest prod- we can learn from smart people, out By accepting messages from
world in short, bite-sized morsels, has sites — knew they were on to a winner. mobile phones, web, or instant mes-
rocketed into the public consciousness Within a year, the podcasting company sage (IM), Twitter makes it easy for
over the past year. was being sold off and the team was folks to stay connected. To target a
It began as something a hip, concentrating full-time on Twitter. larger user-base, Twitter is primarily
young iPhoner would do. It then The idea was simple: to build a designed to work with the SMS pro-
won endorsements from people such website that let someone tell their tocol as it is the most widely used
as Oprah, who knew celebrities friends what they were doing. At any and also supported by all service-
would want to let their fans know given moment, millions of people are providers across the globe.
every time they left the house. sending messages from their com- SMS allows the user to exchange
And then, most extraordinarily, it puters or mobile phones or reading messages from a cellphone to other
began to play a role in times of extreme the messages left by others. services like landline phone or an
crisis, getting information out of coun- Twitter lets you choose who you Internet website. Any message sent
tries, such as Iran and China, where the want to keep up with. They, in turn, to Twitter is collected by its mobile-
authorities were tightly controlling the can choose whether to reply. The con- switching-centre (MSC) and
news. And to top it all, this amazing versations are largely held in the processed by a series of redirections
journey from plaything to instrument open, allowing anyone to point to before getting posted on the website.

80 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 81

 World’s most powerful man sharing his views with common people.
The website sends the message back
to all the people in the user’s net-
work by reversing the process.
Twitter, as a result, can be used for
addressing several people by the same
message. Twitter does not just admire
Obama; it also played a part in the
election campaign as his team used
the service to send out messages to
hundreds of thousands of supporters.
In countries all around the world,
people follow the sources most rele-
vant to them and access information
via Twitter as it happens — from
breaking world news to updates
from friends.
Is not Twitter just too much infor-
mation? No. In fact, Twitter solves
information overload by changing
expectations traditionally associated
with online communication. At Twitter,
we ask one question, “What are you
doing?” The answers to this question
are, for the most part, rhetorical.
In other words, users do not
expect a response when they send a
message to Twitter. On the receiving
end, Twitter is ambient — updates
from your friends and relatives float
to your phone, IM (Instant Messaging
is a type of real time communication
service) or website and you are only
expected to pay as much or as little
attention to them as you see fit.
The result of using Twitter to stay
connected with friends, relatives and
coworkers is that you have a sense of
what folks are up to but you are not
expected to respond to any updates
unless you want to. This means you
82
can step in and out of the flow of
information as it suits you and it
never queues up with increasing
demand of your attention.
Additionally, users are very much
in control of whose updates they
receive, when they receive them and
on which device. For example, set-
tings are provided for scheduling
Twitter to turn off automatically at
dinner-time and users can switch off
Twitter updates at any point.
Following someone on Twitter
This simply means receiving their
updates. When you follow someone,
every time they post a new message,
it will appear in your Twitter home-
page. New messages are added to
your home-page as people post them,
so you always get the updates in real
time. When you log in, you can see
what the latest updates are.
In the grand scheme of things,
Twitter is just a part of a larger move-
ment in which Google, Facebook, the
mobile phone industry and the
Internet, all play a part. How does
Twitter compare to any of the previ-
ous start-ups that its creators have
worked at?
“Everything about Twitter goes
faster,” says Stone. “It has grown
faster, we move faster. ...any decision
you think we are going to need to
make 2 years from now, we will prob-
ably have to make it tomorrow.” That,
he suggests, reflects modern life — a
world where we expect things to hap-
pen with lightning speed. ■
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
MY MOST
EMBARRASSING
MOMENT
Absurd treat
We expected some guests for
lunch that day. They were relatives
who were passing through the
town, and had informed us, that
they would be dropping in on us.
As the expected time was round
about 1 p.m. we had, told that they
could have lunch with us, before
proceeding on their journey, and
that they should have it without
any hold.
So I had prepared vegetable and
non-vegetable dishes, and all of it
had turned out very well. The rice,
as usual, I had made in my checks
on rice cooker. You take down the
rice vessel, after one boil, and with
sufficient water, the rice gets cooked,
and ready, in the checks on cooker.
Imagine my consternation, when
I had set the table, with the curries in
respective dishes, called the guests
to the table, and then gone to fetch
the rice but there was no cooked rice
in the vessel but only the hot water.
What had transpired was that I had
forgotten to put in the rice!!
The long and short of it, they
had to eat at a hotel after all.
— Hyma Bala Krishnan
Send your entry written neatly on
white paper to: ALIVE
Delhi Press, E-3, Jhandewala Estate,
New Delhi-110 055.
A prize of Rs 200 is given to all published items.
 W
R ECYCLING

From to aste
earth
N
eed is the mother of all inventions, they say. But all the
inventions by humans have generated so much waste
that our environment is unable to cope with. Here
again, faced with the necessity of disposing of the waste,
humans resort to innovation. PET bottles, a major item of
use and throw mentality, have become such a nuisance
that our earth has begun to cry under their burden. But an
initiative taken in a Latin American country shows some
hope, as people built a full-fledged house using PET bot-
tles as the main building blocks instead of bricks. Such
experiments need to be emulated all around the world to
ease our environment of the problems it is facing...

84 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 85

 S H O RT S T O RY
Blunder
It is not only sheer stupidity but also a strategic blunder to
lavish generosity on an adversary in the war.
■ by D.B. Chaddha
M
ajor Anand was commissioned in the Raj Rifles
(Rajputana Rifles). The name may not be
important but what is important that he can be
identified with the gallantry awards, gleaming
medals and ribbons, pinned on the left side of
the chest, won during combats in the service of the
army. His Battalion Commander, Lt. Colonel Hemant
had nicknamed him ‘Daredevil’.
One day, the wireless came to life with orders to
move the battalion to the dizzy heights, as reinforcement
along the Line of Control. They were all standing with
their newly-received snow-kits at the military airport. A
lot seemed to be happening.
Here, a wife and child and there, half-dozen pals
were shouting in encouragement. In one secluded
corner, an aged father and mother were talking softly to
their son. There were many young women and girls,
some weeping, some fighting back tears, as they stood
by their husbands / sweethearts / boy friends. The
buzzing sound of farewell echoed at the terminal.
One father was saying to his son, “Sorry, your mom
couldn’t make it due to illness, but she has sent you
paranthas and sweets.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Take care of yourself, as our hopes are based on you.
When you opted for the army, we couldn’t muster
enough courage to oppose your decision but we are
worried about your safety.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. I am 22 years old. I will look after
myself,” he replied reassuringly to his father.
“Hope they give you enough time, to get adjusted to
the new environment.”
“Of course, Dad. They can’t pick us straight from the
scorching desert base of the Rajputana Rifles, straight to
the dizzy heights, where the oxygen is in short supply.
We will be given some time and training on the lower
slopes first, to get acclimatised.”
He was not aware that the clouds of war were
hanging very low, eager to unleash their ferocity. Where
was the luxury for acclimatisation?
In one corner, young Pooja, was sobbing. “Please
don’t. I cannot bear it,” Lieutenant Dev put an arm
86 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
around her shoulders. “We should not say anything that
we may regret later. You will see, I will be gone and the
love will wear off — you will meet some other fellow
and...”‘
“I don’t want anyone. I want you only,” she sobbed.
“You are going to mess up everything!” he said.
“Maybe, we are too young... I just want to go on
being your girl.”
“I guess, you know what you are letting yourself in
for?” Dev said.
“I don’t care,” she replied.
“What will your parents say?”
“I don’t care what they say. Will you write to me?”
she implored.
“I will give you my address as soon as I can.”
“I’ll wait for you. No matter how long you are gone,”
she smiled through her tears.
“If you want to change your mind, Pooja, I mean
it...be honest.”
“Do you really do not want me to?” she enquired.
“No, not at all. I guess this sort of conversation makes
us engaged,” he wiped her tears as she managed a
weak, little smile and nodded.
“So it’s all right to say it now?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied reassuringly.
“I love you, Pooja.”
“Me too, Dev. I’ll wait for you.”
They parted. It is the cruelty of the destiny that Dev
could not come back to tie the marital knot with her. He
got a bullet-hole in the chest, in the war.
Just then, Major Kapoor 2nd-in-command of the
battalion, ordered, “Attention, all 6 company
commanders. Move with your men and material in an
alphabetical order (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo,
Foxtrot) to terminal gate number 2, for airlift.”
Soon, they were transported to frozen heights. Of the
women they have left behind, some will wait and some
may not...
‘This love of mine
Goes on and on
Though life is empty
Since you have been gone.’
The smell of cordite was
M ajor Anand looked out everywhere. The bunkers
of the command bunker. were overrun and busted,
Across the field of snow, in the occupants killed. In the
one bunker, he saw a few faces frontal assault, Major Anand
which looked just like his own got injured in the leg. Later,
men, except that their eyes were he was evacuated to the
blazing hatred. They consider base hospital. The battle
Kashmir Valley as part of their theatre widened from the
country, on religious grounds. Line of Control, to the
What they do not admit is that, fertile plains of Punjab and
they have not only snatched a big to the far, arid deserts of
chunk of the neighbour’s land, but Rajasthan.
gifted away some of it to another The columns and
country. columns of soldiers
At some places along the Line of crossed over, backed by
Control, the temperature is below artillery and armoured
zero. Human life is always in regiments, deep down
jeopardy, routinely threatened into the adversary’s
by the extreme conditions and territory, capturing the
rugged terrain. Life is in great strategic installations,
peril due to the snow and villages and small towns.
avalanches. But all those The entire region was in
dangers are nothing flames. The adversary could not
compared to how humans withstand the massive show of
threaten each other here, firepower and preferred to retreat.
along the Line of Control. The Western countries, fearing that the
Sudden movement is adversary may resort to nuclear-headed missiles,
discouraged, as it will be wrongly understood. Soldiers culminating in mass destruction on both sides,
are advised not to smoke, as it will give away their immediately passed a resolution in the Security Council,
positions. Threats of shelling from the other side are not which brokered a cease-fire. Pressure was mounted on
dependent on the time of the day; they have been the victorious side to show generosity, by returning the
consistently present, every hour, for the last 60 years. captured territory, which it did.
It is perplexing that, in the face of everflowing
massive financial aid to crush the fanatic outfits, which B ut the situation on the ground did not change a
are prowling all over, the enemy has amassed its troops bit. It remained as tense as it was before the
here, in an eye-ball to eye-ball situation, instead of commencement of the war. Then, what was the hurry for
[ [
crushing its fanatic, terrorist outfits for which it is showing generosity to the defeated adversary, knowing
getting massive, international aid. Thus, the country has fully well that it will be reciprocated only with perpetual
destabilised its own very existence, leading hatred and distrust?
to disintegration. A few of the It is nothing but foolishness.
Major Anand sat behind the foldable soldiers will get Strategically, the country gained nothing. It
table, in the underground Command gallantry awards failed to exercise its bargaining power for a
Centre. On the wall before him, was posthumously, long-term truce. It meekly gave in, even
hanging a map of the region. It was spotted during the Republic after having lost thousands of its men in
with red pins, showing the placement of Day function. the war.
the adversary, and blue pins, showing their Citations from the A few of the soldiers will get gallantry
own. President, addressed awards posthumously, during the Republic
War looked inevitable; anger was to the widows, will Day function. Citations from the President,
building up. Then, just one stray bullet be telecast live on addressed to the widows, will be telecast
from across the line was enough to ignite the national network. live on the national network. But they will
the short fuse. The light machine-guns But they will soon be soon be forgotten. The men’s lives were
opened their lethal mouths, blazing forgotten. laid down in vain, for it ended merely in a
indiscriminately all around, thick and fast. show of short-sighted generosity. ■
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 87
 T REND
Modern, yet
Traditional is Today’s
Indian Girl
Many modern Indian girls are breaking free
from the bonds of matrimony.
Does that indicate that the society is in for a drastic change?
“W
hy should boys have all
the fun?” is the punch
line of an advertise-
ment of a prominent
automobile company,
featuring Bollywood sensation
Priyanka Chopra. The ad has a typical
‘desi’ girl, giving a ride to an English-
speaking, chauvinist youngster, on
the bumpy road of an Indian village.
This is reel. But in real life as well,
girls are riding ahead of the boys on
88
■ by Ramesh Kumar Raja
different fronts. There was a time
when boys feared obligation in their
relationship with a girl. But now,
roles have been reversed.
Since the Indian girl has become
more career cognisant – thanks to
educational development – she is not
dilly-dallying in exploring new
avenues and opportunities in her
relationships and ways of life.
Gradually, she has gained a vastly
pragmatic attitude and mindset
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
regarding her partner or better half.
For her, occupational life has
become more imperative than her
emotional or private life. Hence, mar-
riage seems to have become a burden
that she can easily do without and
still be happy.
The trend is gaining recognition
not just amongst the girls working in
metropolitan cities but even those in
smaller towns. They are becoming
meticulous professionals with
domestic life taking a back
seat.
Taking a cue of this para-
digm shift, we talked to some
members of the fair sex and
tried to investigate why they
think that marriage is not
necessary for them. Here is
an account:
Says Tanvi Saxena, a stu-
dent, pursuing post-gradua-
tion in Economics from Delhi
University and also prepar-
ing for higher academics,
“Why should I get married? I
can manage everything —
home, money, my car and
Independence:
Occupational life has
become more imperative
than familial life.
savings. I have my parents and bud-
dies with me. So, I think, there is no
necessity for me to make a life-long
commitment.”
According to Tanvi, matrimony is
more of a lumber. Her proclamation
apparently reflects the changing
mindset of that simple, Indian tradi-
tional girl.
Free-bee Rama Mishra, who
belongs to Bihar but is working in
Delhi as a senior marketing executive,
has the similar opinion to share. “I
don’t want to spend my life like my
mother did. I want to be liberated and
I cannot see myself imprisoned within
unnecessary boundaries,” says Rama.
She further states, “Why do par-
ents always expect girls to follow the
norms set by the old, traditional,
Indian society? I am sorry but I am
not ready for it. We are living in a free
nation and we have the full right to
live our life the way we want to.”
On own terms
Moreover, sex before marriage in
India has always been regarded as
forbidden or it is treated as some-
thing against the Indian laws and
norms. But now, an Indian girl is not
bothered about it. She is involved in
live-in relationships.
A girl from the city working with
a multinational firm in Bangalore,
who is in a live-in relationship for the
past 4 years, on conditions of secrecy,
says, “I am a girl who loves her inde-
pendence more than anything else in
the world. If my partner tries to get in
the way of my work or the way I am
leading my life, I’ll not hesitate
In big cities like Delhi or Mumbai,
a number of young girls are
living alone or are in a live-in
relationship. However, even for the
girls of small towns, long-term
relations are, slowly but surely,
losing their significance.
before leaving him.”
In big cities like Delhi or Mumbai,
a number of young girls are living
alone or are in a live-in relationship.
However, even for the girls of small
towns, long-term relations are, slowly
but surely, losing their significance.
Says Dr Sameer Parikh, a well
known psychiatrist, “Indian society
has largely been influenced by
Western culture in everything.
Nowadays, youth is trying to race
with the living standards of Western
culture, where these things are very
common.”
Says Geeta Ahuja, 63, a grandmoth-
er of 3, “An Indian girl is not really
geared up for this change. She is only
going after Western culture blindly,
like a copy-cat but there comes a junc-
ture when she realises that she
requires emotional support too.”
However, the fashion might put a
question-mark on the rich Indian cul-
ture. In India, marriage has its own
significance. Marriage is like a festiv-
ity and an institution, and has fantas-
tic touching implications.
After so many transformations
and shifts, there is a section of the
society that still considers marriage is
necessary for a happy existence. We
tried to know whether the trend will,
in due course, cause the institution of
nuptials to collapse.
“Not in the near future,” answer
the majority. “Only a few Indian
girls are breaking free from the
bonds of matrimony and we
shouldn’t feel threatened yet.
We can rest assured that this
holy institution of marriage
will not be bulldozed, at
least for the coming 15 or 20
years. We are safe,” states
Parikh.
With this, one can
say that though mod-
ern Indian girls are
pacing up like a
rocket but are tradi-
tionally intact.
Anybody beg to
differ? ■
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 89
 S PA C E M I S S I O N
Boost To Indian
Manned Flight
Today, a feeling is gaining ground that a manned flight
is a right step in the direction of pushing the frontiers of the
Indian space programme to a “new high”. ■ by R. K. Rao
R
ussia will chip in, with its tech-
nical expertise, to help India
build the manned spaceship
for the Indian human space
flight mission slated for a take-
off some time during 2015-2016.
According to Alexei Krasnov, Chief
of the Department of Piloted Programs
of the Russian Federal Space Agency,
Roskosmos, “The Indian side intends to
use the experience of building the
manned spaceship Soyuz to advance in
building their spaceship. We will build
this spaceship in a similar scheme, but
it will not resemble Soyuz.”
Interestingly, China had also fall-
en back extensively on the Soyuz
spaceship technology for building its
manned space vehicle, Shenzhou.
China has accomplished 3 human
flight missions, one of which
involved a space walk. Its astronaut
candidates were trained in Russia.
Krasnov also revealed that India
and Russia have discussed the issue of
90
The Shape of ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Ambitions
The Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) has
released design illustrations
of the capsule and rocket it
plans to develop for the
nation’s first independent
manned orbital spaceflight,
currently scheduled for
2015. The capsule is
designed to accommodate
three people, but the initial
spaceflight will carry a two-
astronaut crew. The rocket
will be a variant of ISRO’s
planned Geosynchronous
Satellite Launch Vehicle
Mark 2, featuring safety and
reliability enhancements for
crew-launching missions.
flying an Indian astronaut onboard
Soyuz, before the Indian manned mis-
sion. As part of an Indo-Russian agree-
ment, the selected Indian astronaut
will be trained in the Russian Star City
and this exercise would help India
gain an insight into the nitty-gritty of
the astronaut-training programme.
In 1984, Sq. Ldr Rakesh Sharma of
the Indian Air Force (IAF), became
the first Indian cosmonaut. He flew
to the Russian Salyut-7 space station
onboard the Soyuz-T vehicle, under
the international space cooperation
programme of the Soviet Academy of
Sciences. Incidentally, the first Indian
satellite, Aryabhata, meant for scien-
tific research, was hoisted into space
in 1975, by means of a Russian launch
vehicle.
Russia will also contribute a
robotic rover to India’s 2nd lunar
mission Chandrayaan-II, which is
planned to be launched in 2012-13.
This robot will help study the soil
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Launch Orbital Cutaway view showing three-person crew
vehicle vehicle and environmental control elements
samples scooped from its landing-
site on the lunar surface.
In order to perfect the re-entry
technique, that is considered critical
for a successful manned mission,
ISRO will launch a SRE-2 recoverable
space capsule experiment in 2010. In
January 2007, ISRO had launched and
successfully retrieved its first space
capsule recovery experiment SRE-1.
The SRE-1 was launched by means of
the 4-stage space workhorse, Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
Mission plan
As envisaged now, the Indian
manned flight, expected to cost the
exchequer Rs12,400 crore, will
involve the launch of 2 or 3 crew
members onboard an autonomous
spaceship. This space capsule, which
would weigh around 3 tons, will be
launched at the head of a 3-stage
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV), featuring an upper
cryogenic engine stage.
Exactly 16 minutes after the lift-off
from Satish Dhawan Space Centre
(SDSC) in Sriharikota island on
India’s eastern coast, the launch vehi-
cle will inject this crewed vehicle into
a near-earth orbit. On completion of
the mission, the manned capsule will
return for a splash-down into the Bay
of Bengal.
ISRO, which had released the con-
cept of the crew vehicle in February
2009, is awaiting the final clearance
of the Indian Government for the
manned flight mission. Former ISRO
Chairman G. Madhavan Nair had
driven home the point that a manned
space mission is a vital part of India’s
strategy of sustaining its leadership
position in space exploration.
However, Nair denied the sugges-
tion that, “India has taken up the
manned flight programme to com-
pete with China in the final fron-
tiers.” He said that the Indian space
programme is guided by its own set
of priorities and mission goals. Even
so, analysts believe that India’s
manned mission plan is in response
to China’s achievement in the fron-
tier areas of space exploration.
With the successful accomplish-
ment of the maiden lunar mission
Chandrayaan-1, ISRO is now busy
preparing the ground-work for the
manned space mission. In order to
support the manned mission, ISRO
will be not only be setting up new
facilities but will also be developing
“new and innovative” technologies.
To begin with, a 3rd Thiruvananthapuram- in the manned space mis-
launch pad will be set based Vikram Sarabhai sion and the required
up at SDSC on India’s Space Centre (VSSC), capabilities to realise the
eastern coast, for entry the largest Indian mission.
into the space capsule space establishment, In the international
and escape chute. In a will take up the political and strategic
tie-up with the Institute challenge of develop- arena, an Indian manned
of Aviation Medicine ing a space-suit for flight mission is consid-
(IAM), a part of the the astronauts. ered a calculated move to
Indian Air Force (IAF), boost its national pride.
ISRO will be setting up an astronaut In fact, it represents a clear-cut dilu-
training-centre, on the outskirts of tion of the original philosophy with
Bangalore. which India launched its space pro-
This will be equipped with a radi- gramme, in 1963, with the firing of a
ation-simulator chamber, to help the 9-kg sounding-rocket from the fishing
astronaut candidates handle radia- hamlet of Thumba, on the outskirts of
tion from the sun; a centrifuge to Thiruvananthapuram.
enable manoeuvres in space; a zero-
gravity simulator to familiarise the
Seeds sown
astronauts with the conditions in
outer space; and hardware meant to Way back in the 1960s, Dr Vikram
train astronauts to fly the spaceship. A. Sarabhai, the founding father of
On the other hand, the the Indian space programme, had
Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram noted, “We don’t have the fantasy of
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the competing with the economically-
largest Indian space establishment, advanced nations in the exploration
will take up the challenge of develop- of the moon or planets or manned
ing a space-suit for the astronauts. flights. But we are convinced that, to
Developing a space-suit, capable of play a meaningful role nationally and
withstanding the extreme conditions in the community of nations, we
in outer space, including severe radia- must be second to none in the appli-
tion, poses a stiff engineering chal- cation of advanced technologies to
lenge and the technology for develop- the real problems of man and society,
ing it is zealously guarded. which we find in our country.”
Further, the Mysore-based Defence Of course, so far, ISRO has not
Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) firmed up any specific plan for the
will be preparing the food for Indian moon-landing mission. At the same
astronauts. It may be recalled that, time, it has not totally ruled out the
between 2003 and 2007, ISRO had car- possibility of sending a human mission
ried out extensive studies to analyse to the moon. In the mean time, ISRO
the technological challenges involved will tap the human expertise, scientific
talent and technological infra-
Outside a space station and
training at Russian Centre structure available in the country
for future cosmonauts. to the fullest extent, to give a
push to the Indian manned mis-
sion.
Today, a feeling is gaining
ground that in the backdrop of
India’s emergence as an eco-
nomic and technological power,
a manned flight is a right step
in the direction of pushing the
frontiers of the Indian space
programme to a “new high”. ■
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 91
 R E S T O R AT I O N
Rebuilding Nalanda
Nalanda was spread over an area of 16 kms and it took
6 months for its library to burn down after Khilji raided the
place. It has not been able to recreate its international
flavour since then. ■ by Suraj Saraf
H
ectic activities, in the recent
past, organised by some cul-
tural activists and intellectu-
als, have resulted in the estab-
lishment of an international
consortium, the Mentor Group. Their
aim is to revive the great ancient
Indian university of Nalanda under
an Indo-China Friendship Project.
The Mentor Group is holding con-
ferences at different places, world
over, to finalise a detailed agenda to
realise this noble mission. It is hoped
that the practical work on establish-
ing the university would start soon.
According to N.K. Singh, member,
Nalanda Mentor Group, ancient
Nalanda on Indian soil was more
than Indian. Diverse disciplines,
including science and philosophy,
found a place there. It was a rare,
integrated world. Nalanda was a
confluence of cross-cultural influ-
ences between East and South Asia.
Established in the 3rd century,
Nalanda was destroyed in the 12th
century by the Khilji kings.
92
Documents carried from Nalanda to
China and Tibet have been translated
by Indian scholars, who learnt the
language, adopted Chinese names
and settled in China, he said.
The idea is to set up a centre of
educational excellence, near the site
of the original Nalanda University. It
would be an international university,
based on an international treaty with
East Asian countries as partners.
The Bihar Government has identi-
fied 500 acres of land for this purpose.
The framework of the treaty, that has
been worked out, would give joint
ownership to all these countries.
The Mentor Group has identified
the pedagogy. It would be a post-
graduate institution, a semi-
European model with a Rector
(instead of a Vice-Chancellor). The
architecture would retain the original
flavour, said N.K. Singh, giving some
details of this significant project.
According to him, the medium of
instruction would be mainly English.
The aim is to include the study of
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Asian languages, especially the dor-
mant ones like Sanskrit, Pali and
Prakrit. Pali is still one of the options
in the Indian Administrative Service
examination but few choose it.
There would also be Western
inputs in the shape of scholars in var-
Imposing ruins: But fine and intricate artwork like miniature statues and trellises are also visible here and there.
ious disciplines, including Buddhism.
At an East Asia Summit, in December,
the Founding Board considered the
infrastructural development by the
State Government, with help from the
Central Government, international
agencies and private endowments
and also help develop the Buddhist
tourism potential.
The Nalanda project would draw
equally from virtual knowledge-
banks and resident faculty; the idea is
to revive the innovative and eclectic
spirit of what was a top-class centre
for intellectual discourse, said Singh,
elaborating some more details of the
Nalanda project.
The Archaeological Survey of India
Small stupas around the campus
containing ashes of ancient monks.
(ASI) is to unearth the campus which,
in its heyday, was spread over 16
kms, going by the writings of the 7th
century Chinese scholar Xuanzang
(Miuen Tsang).
According to Dr Ravindra Panth,
Director of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara,
deemed university, “Today, we have
only 10% of Nalanda. We have to find
out remaining 90% of the campus. We
have to properly map it to rebuild it.”
Xuanzang had described Nalanda
and its major gateway to the campus,
its 8 halls, richly-adorned towers and
deep, translucent ponds, in detail. He
came to India in 650 AD, through
Central Asia. He spent 5 years at
Nalanda, as a student and teacher.
He had taken back with him 637
volumes of the sacred texts and spent
his final years in translating them.
Nalanda and its 3 libraries were
destroyed by the Khilji rulers in the
12th century. Xuanzang’s collection
and works survived in Chinese.
According to Dr Panth, China has
agreed to present Xuanzang’s
Chinese translations and some origi-
nal volumes, that he had taken with
him, to the resurrected Nalanda.
The Indo-Chinese collaboration
plan, to revive Nalanda, was mooted
in the 1950s. Founder-Director of
Nalanda Mahavihara, Ven. J. Kashyap,
had visited China and met the Chinese
Prime Minister Xhen Enlai. In 2001,
the Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall came
into being at Nalanda.
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Writing about the education scene
in ancient India, in The Wonder That
Was India, A.L. Basham observes that,
with Buddhist and Jain education
being centred not at the teacher’s
home (which was the idea under
Smritis), but at the monastery, every
monastery would give training to
postulants.
Early description
Quite early in the history of these
sects, certain establishments acquired
a special reputation as centres of
learning and some of them devel-
oped into true universities. The most
famous of these was the Buddhist
monastery of Nalanda in Bihar,
which was founded in the Gupta
period. It remained the most famous
teaching centre in medieval
Buddhism until it was pillaged by
invading Muslims.
Our knowledge of the day-to-day
life at Nalanda depends chiefly on
Heuan Tsang, who describes the
monastery in the 7th century as full
of intellectual activity. Under its aged
and saintly abbot Silbhadra, Nalanda
did not confine itself to training
novices for the Buddhist order but
also taught the Vedas, Hindu philos-
ophy, logic, grammar and medicines.
Students, other than the Buddhists,
who succeeded in passing a strict
oral examination, were admitted.
Nalanda was supported by the
93
 now difficult for the untrained eyes
to recognise its original form at any
one stage of its development.
“At the greater Buddha sites, such
as Nalanda, the groups of monastic
buildings were often surrounded like
fortress walls. In their present partial
dilapidated state, these heavy domes
Gadgets
& Gizmos
The Lenovo IdeaPad U1, a hybrid lap-
top that features a detachable slate-
style tablet screen, is on display for
sometimes seem a little forbidding.
the 2010 International Consumer
Originally, the lime-washed or plas- Electronics Show in Las Vegas,
tered stupa shone brilliantly white in Nevada.
the tropical sunlight, its pinnacles,
now generally broken, rising like a
golden spear from the ceremonial
stone umbrella on top of the dome.
Then it must have given a different
impression.”
Enjoying a day out: Nalanda is a major tourist attraction during winter.

revenue of an enormous estate of 100

villages and by the grants of many
patrons, including the great King
Harsha himself. It provided free
training to no less than 16,000 stu-
dents, who had a large staff of ser-
vants to wait on them. The
monastery consisted of a very large
complex of buildings.
From Nalanda, the missionary
Padma Sambhava went forth to con-
vert Tibet to Buddhism in the 8th cen-
tury. At the same time, pilgrims from
as far away as China and S.E. Asia,
visited Nalanda to learn the pure
doctrine, observes Basham. “Under
the patronage of kings of the Pala
line, Nalanda remained a centre of
Buddhist piety learning until the
Muslim invasion.”
Revealing past
Basham writes further, “In the
first rush of a Muslim advance down
the Ganges, Nalanda and other great
monasteries of Bihar were sacked,
libraries were burnt and monks were
put to sword. The survivors fled to
mountains of Nepal and Tibet and
Buddhism in India was dead.”
About the architectural style of
Nalanda, Basham observes, “Of later
Indian stupas, the 2 most famous are
those of Sarnath, near Benaras, and
Nalanda. Sarnath, the scene of
On study tour: Buddhist scholars visit the site in great numbers.
Buddha’s first sermon, of which now
little more than the inner core
remains, was once a most important
structure of beautifully-patterned
brick-work, with a high, cylindrical
dome rising from a lower hemispher-
ical one. and large images of Buddha
were set in gable ends at the cardinal
points. The stupa at Nalanda, 7 times
successively enlarged, in its present
ruined state gives the impression of a
brick pyramid with steps leading up
to its terraces.
“It was originally a tall shape,
raised on a high base, with a smaller
stupa at each corner. But the monu-
ment underwent so many alterations
in the Gupta and Pala times that it is
It was perfectly in the fitness of
things that now, when globalisation is
taking strong roots, shining instances
of ancient globalisation like Nalanda,
Silk Route et al, should also have
attracted deep attention to how their
model of cultural, intellectual and
personal exchanges could add to the
momentum and humane develop-
ment in modern times, when whole
world is beset with strife and tension.
Establishment of the International
Mentor Group is obviously to realise
that golden goal. Revelations about
the past are crucial to build up the
present and future as underscored by
Dr Kapila Vatsyayan, renowned
scholar of Indian heritage. ■
Panasonic unveils the world's first professional use 3D camcorder,
equipped with double lenses which can record high-definition
movie on an SD memory card, in Amagasaki Japan.
An employee of Japanese mobile communication giant NTT doco-
mo demonstrates how to buy a softdrink from a vending machine
with a mobile phone in Tokyo. NTT docomo's phones feature a
cashless payment system.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama drives an electric-powered
personal vehicle "i-Real" of Japan's
auto giant Toyota Motor at his official
residence in Tokyo.
Chairman of Olive
Telecommunication, Arun Khanna (C)
poses with models as they display
the Olive Zipbook X107H-3G comput-
er with inbuilt high speed connectivi-
ty and the Olive 7 stylish smart
mobile phone in New Delhi.

94 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 95

 S PIRIT
Marathon Running
A Growing Phenomenon
Whether it is an elite athlete aspiring to represent his country,
the fitness freak who wants continual improvement or the die-hard
veteran wanting to come first in his or her age category, marathon
running has come to stay in the country. ■ by Mobius Mukherjee
I
ndia’s grand, old marathon run- hours and 39 minutes. The Standard
ner, Ashis Roy, is nearing his goal Chartered Mumbai Marathon of
of a century of runs, slowly and January 2010 will be his 100th race.
steadily. During his 97th marathon Tanvir Kazmi has been passion-
in Washington, he was down with ately maintaining a blog for
bronchitis and an upset stomach. But marathon enthusiasts, for the past 5
a less-than-fit Roy bravely ran 42 kms years. From his Noida home, he
in 6 hours and 41 minutes. writes in detail about the major
He ran his 99th marathon in events in the country and the world.
Gurgaon. He finished the run in 6 He publishes immediate results of
the races, with pho-
tographs, as soon as they
appear on the net. Kazmi,
who is passionate about
running, shares his expe-
riences online.
He is amongst the few
to have participated in all
the 5 Delhi Half
Marathons, since the
inception of the race in
2005. He enlightens run-
ners about the domestic
Winners of Mumbai Marathon. circuit, providing details
96 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
about registration and participant
feedback.
The running bug caught Sanjai
Banerji in 2008, when he attempted to
complete his first marathon with
almost no training. He crossed the
finishing-line in a never-say-die
effort, convinced he could do far bet-
ter with proper training.
Now, with 2 half marathons and
one full marathon under his belt,
Banerji plans to celebrate his 50th
birthday in 2010, by running the Delhi
Half Marathon in under 2 hours.
Working as a Deputy General
Manager in a cement plant in Satna,
he runs thrice a week, waking up at
4.30 am. He has been bitten by a dog
and almost run over by a truck, dur-
ing his early-morning runs but he is
not one to give up!
In 2009, he persuaded his col-
leagues, friends and relatives to con-
tribute towards a corpus of Rs 25,000
for 'Astha'. This Delhi-based NGO
works to rehabilitate children suffer-
ing from autism, cerebral palsy and
learning disability.
Yes, marathon running has arrived
with a bang in the country! What
motivates these runners — some of
them in their middle age — to train
120 km to 200 km, every month?
Sometimes, they run at night, to
achieve their goals and aspirations.
Hi-tech race
The 5th Delhi Half Marathon, in
November 2009, attracted 9,000 run-
ners for the 21 km race and there were
21,000 participants for the 7 km Great
Delhi Run. The 6th edition of the
Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon
in January 2010 saw 2,000 runners par-
ticipate in the full marathon and 9,500
runners in the half marathon.
Most of the races conducted by
various professional organisations
require a lot of time and effort to
make the marathon an enjoyable
event for the participants. Most of the
runs are sponsored by various corpo-
rates. All participants, who run the 21
kms and 42 kms races within a stipu-
lated time-frame, are given medals
and participation certificates.
Then, there are special awards for
the various age categories. Additional
timing certificates are provided to
those who avail of chip-timing, where
an electronic chip is tied to the run-
ner's shoelace. Timings are recorded
against their respective bib numbers,
as they cross special mats placed at
strategic points, along the race course.
This also eliminates any unethical
practices on the race route.
The marathon craze has caught on
in non-metros as well, like Gurgaon,
Nagpur and Vadodara. In 2009, 2 races,
the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon and the
Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon
were awarded the gold and silver labels
respectively, by the International
Association of Athletics Federations,
for satisfying IAAF requirements for
world record purposes.
Both these events attract the best
long-distance runners in the world.
The top 10 runners in the men’s event
Participants in
Corporates are
in the Mumbai Marathon in 2009
were from Kenya and Ethiopia, with
Kenneth Mugara of Kenya winning in
2 hours and 11 minutes. Some of them
will be representing their countries in
Promoting sport spirit: John Abraham.
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Delhi Half
Marathon.
also getting
involved.
the forthcoming Commonwealth
Games in India.
The Mumbai Marathon started its
registration almost 6 months prior to
the race, to inculcate a sense of com-
mitment from the participants and
give them sufficient time to train for
the race.
Removing the fear
For those, who find the marathon
intimidating, there are short-distance
races, of 5 kms and 10 kms. These are
becoming increasingly popular
among fitness enthusiasts in
Bangalore and Hyderabad. For these
smaller races, the training time is
drastically reduced and there is less
tension at the home-front and work-
place of the runners.
Running for a cause has become
very popular in the half marathons and
marathons conducted in the country. In
2009, the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon
raised more than Rs 1.5 crore in the
pledges received from runners, for 75
NGOs. Over the past 5 years, the
Standard Chartered Mumbai
Marathon has raised over Rs 26 crore,
97

benefiting more
than 100 charities.
These races
also allow runners
to meet celebrities,
who come in large
numbers to cheer
the participants.
Bollywood stars
Sharukh Khan,
Ajay Devgan,
Rahul Bose and Nikhil Chinnapa
were among those who cheered the
runners during 2009. Some, like Gul
Panag and Milind Soman, are regular
half marathon runners.
Corporate icon Anil Ambani runs
in the half marathon event of the
Standard Chartered Mumbai
Marathon, every year. Prominent cit-
izen Kiran Bedi makes it a point to
participate in the shorter-distance
races. John Abraham has been select-
ed as the Event Ambassador for the
2010 Mumbai Marathon.
The Expo, held a few days prior to
the marathon, enables runners to
visit the various stalls showcasing
sports equipment, special food sup-
plements, sports apparel, running
shoes and a host of other interesting
paraphernalia.
Several game-shows are organised,
which allow the runners to be aired on
local channels on TV and radio.
Celebrities, like Shabana Azmi and
98
Attracting celebrities: Mumbai Marathon.
Rahul Bose, regularly visit the Expo to
promote their respective NGOs
The organisers provide water and
energy drinks through volunteers
during the run and have mobile toi-
lets and emergency medical facilities
at regular points along the race route.
It was a heartening sight to see
prompt medical attention being pro-
vided to runners suffering from
sprains, in the recently-concluded
Delhi Half Marathon.
A lot of preparation has to be
undertaken before attempting a
marathon for the first time. 48-year-
old Sanjai Banerji says it was a tough
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
experience. Now, he trains zealously
for 6 months in a year.
Inspite of a very hectic schedule at
office and driving 50 kms to work, he
finds time to train in the early hours of
the morning. He attributes his partici-
pation in the longer races to a very
accommodating and supportive wife,
who chose aerobics instead of running.
Banerji has been maintaining a
running log book for the past 2 years,
with details of each training run,
injuries sustained and fitness report
for the day. He daily monitors his rest-
ing heart-beat, stays hydrated by
drinking 15 glasses of water a day and
has stopped drinking tea at
the office.
Training guide
There are a number of
good books in the market,
for those aspiring to run a
marathon. They are Hal
Higdon’s Marathon: The
Ultimate Training Guide
and Runner’s World maga-
zine’s Run Less Run Faster.
Both books have been writ-
ten by well-known authori-
ties in their field . They
offer complete information on how
to train in the most economic man-
ner and can be ordered through
amazom.com.
Fitho, an Indian website on
health and fitness, provides com-
prehensive information from experts
on weight-loss, muscle-gain, health,
diet and fitness with regular forums.
There are a plethora of interesting
websites on the net, which can be
viewed by typing ‘marathon’ on
Google.
Whether it is an elite athlete aspir-
ing to represent his country, the fit-
ness freak who wants continual
improvement or the die-hard veteran
wanting to come first in his or her age
category, marathon running has
come to stay in the country. Indeed,
participation numbers have doubled
over the past 2 years. ■ will roam from shop to shop.
MEDICAL LOG
Treatment found for ‘chemobrain’
As of today, an increasing number
of women survive breast cancer, yet
survival comes at a price. Mild cogni-
tive impairment following chemother-
apy, known as “chemobrain” or
“chemofog”, is one of the most com-
monly reported post-treatment symp-
toms by cancer survivors.
Patients, who take medication for
cancer, often find themselves with a
new problem when their treatment is
over. Symptoms of chemobrain can
also include lack of concentration,
inability to organise daily activities,
mental confusion, memory loss and
decreased mental clarity.
It is estimated that chemobrain
occurs in as many as 99% of breast
and ovarian cancer patients receiving
chemotherapy or radiation treat-
ments. 61% of these patients continue
to experience fatigue and memory
problems long after their cancer
treatment has stopped.
Now, researchers led by the Dr Elyse
Male and female shopping styles are evolutionary
Ever wondered why women
spend so much time in shopping,
while men just get in and quickly get
out, with the relevant item?
According to researcher Dr Daniel
Kruger, from University of Michigan,
USA, the different shopping styles
date back to the skills that women
used for gathering plant foods and
the skills that men used for hunting
animals for food.
Foraging for food was a daily
Lower, MD, Professor of hematol-
ogy/oncology at College of Medicine,
University of Cincinnati, have reported
a possible new treatment for the prob-
lem using the drug dexmethy-
phenidate (d-MPH). She has described
the encouraging results of a 14-month,
multi-centre, Phase 2 study of d-MPH.
The 154 cancer survivors at 21 med-
ical centre showed significant reduc-
tion in fatigue and improvement in
memory, when treated with dosages of
10 mg to 50 mg of d-MPH per day,
when compared with a control group
receiving a placebo. All the patients,
who had an average age of 53 years,
had completed at least 4 cycles of
chemotherapy about 2 months before
the study began. 90% of them were
females (76% with breast cancer and
14% with ovarian cancer).
The study showed that up to 50
mg a day of d-MPH is safe and effec-
tive for relieving chemobrain in adult
cancer patients.
activity; often social, and included
young children, if necessary.
Gathering edible plants and fruits
was traditionally done by women.
When gathering food, they had to be
adept at choosing just the right
colour, texture and smell, to ensure
food safety and quality. These habits
persist even now.
In modern terms, women are much
more likely than men to know when a
specific type of item will go on sale.
They also spend much more time
choosing the perfect fabric, colour and
texture. For men, it was critical to hunt
an animal quickly and get it home as
quickly as possible. The same habit
persists even now. Men often have a
specific item in mind and want to get
in, get it and get out.
However there are variations.
There are women who behave like
men while shopping and men who
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Birth-control ring
launched in india
Making the fam-
ily-planning pro-
cedure simpler
for women, a
pharmaceutical
company has
launched a birth-
control ring that, it
claims, has no side-
effects. Launched by M/S Organon,
Nuvaring is a flexible, transparent ring,
made of inert plastics. The ring contains
hormones that enter the bloodstream
directly, thus inhibiting ovulation.
Nuvaring makes the family-plan-
ning procedure simpler for women.
Instead of taking a pill every day, the
ring needs to be inserted once every
week. Three weeks of insertion fol-
lowed by one-week ring-free interval, is
the procedure that needs to be repeated
every month for a continued family-
planning effect. Around 20% women
use family-planning devices and medi-
cines in India. The ring will be good as
it does not have any side-effects and
will not cause obstruction in any other
routine activity.
Wonder pill for cancer
Professor Alan Ashworth and a
British team of scientists have devel-
oped a promising pill, which may be
able to treat more types of cancer than
first thought. According to them, the
wonder pill can tackle 5 other forms of
the disease, in addition to the com-
mon breast cancer — prostate, skin,
ovarian, bowel and womb cancer.
As per lab tests, the drug targets
cancer cells while leaving healthy cells
relatively unaffected — meaning fewer
side-effects for patients. It belongs to a
class of PARP inhibitors. Called ola-
parib, it is already being used to treat
some hereditary forms of breast cancer.
The team found that the PARP
inhibitors killed 30% breast cancer
cells and up to 80% of prostate, skin,
womb, bowel and ovarian cancers. ■
99
 A RT
Artist of Pictorial
Thinking
My art dramatises the ill-effects of thinking of only
today, says the artist. ■ by Subhra Majumdar
It is a being that can perch on any
tree, fly in any direction, and has
plumage in colours uncountable. To
me, the bird is the symbol of all that a
human being can aspire for in life.
N
ature and art are often called You invariably include stones and
inseparable twins. In the case hills in your landscape paintings.
of artist U.R. Kanade, there is a These are dense objects. How are they
corollary to this statement. For compatible with lightweight and
him, nature enters his art as free-spirited images?
controlled vistas, with birds perched The stones and hills are signs of
on hillocks, kites in motion and even solidity, but they are also a mirror
stones within locational settings. held up to the hardships that human
A senior lecturer at Pune’s Bharti beings endure in life. The stone car-
Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts, ries the message of endurance in the
Kanade has incorporated symbolic face of difficulties. Life is not all frol-
presentation of the avian species as ic and fun; there is also a sombre side
embodiments of a free spirit. His kites to it and stones are its outer form.
are miniaturised versions of the colour-
ful experiences that life provides, while Your chosen medium is pen and
the stones and hills are reminders of a ink. Why have you chosen this medi-
steadfast resolve to overcome difficul- um over the common preference of oil
ties that dog our footsteps. colours or acrylic on canvas?
I have used colours till the end of
Excerpts from an interview: the 1980s. I realised that colours had
The bird in your paintings is a a drawback: some of them, specially
striking feature, consciously made to black, hardened quickly, leaving me
be very visible in the painting. Is there very little time to react to my
a reason behind this depiction? thought-process and express it
Ever since my school days, I have through the canvas.
been fascinated by the sight of a bird
flying in the sky. To my mind, it con- What impact did stint as a comic-
jures images of something lightweight book illustrator have on your art?
and carefree. It When I was doing illustrations for
appears to comic books, I used black colour
have no false extensively to create outlines. I
sense of ego enjoyed the fun of seeing the pen cre-
and is not sup- ate images on the white paper.
pressed by the Gradually, the thought gelled in my
weight of its mind that I should use the pen to cre-
own prob- ate images on canvas.
lems. I began by making a few paintings
100 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
using the pencil and liked the effect of
light, on the paper. When I held my
first exhibition of fine art done with a
quill pen, the public appreciated it.
The Bombay exhibition brought me
plenty of public interest. People made
enquiries about the technique. This
gave me an impetus to change over
from conventional colour work to spe-
cialised pen-and-ink canvas work.
What is the layout routine that
you follow in the preparation of an
artwork?
My canvases are undertaken after
a great deal of thought. While other
artists tend to make a rough sketch of
their idea on the canvas and begin
the work of filling in the colours, I
create a detailed sketch of my
thought process before I dip my pen
into ink making my strokes fully con-
trolled.
My sketching stage is one of pun-
ishing exactitude. Everything is
detailed in the work. I do not like to
add more strokes during the inking
stage, as that invariably shifts the bal-
ance of the artwork and it takes a great
deal of time and effort to remedy a
false move on canvas. That is why my
art has no duplicates at all.
Your recent work titled ‘Kites’ has
strong hints of colour merged within
the overall black and white. Reason?
The colour, in combination with
pen and ink, is to illustrate a philoso-
phy that my paintings showcase. It is
that kites are a sample of life, meta-
physics and art. The shapes and forms
of kites resemble the living beings.
As a painter, I see life and its many
forms in kites. The colour depicts the
happiness, mellowness and even the
sadness, that life throws up. At the
same time, a kite is not altogether a
free soul, for the flyer is the controller
of its ‘destiny’ in the sky.
In that way the kite is a symbol of
metaphysical thought, which surmis-
es that human beings are not the
makers of their own destiny com-
pletely. The turn and twist that life
takes is partially in the hands of the
Supreme Being.
At the same time, one must not
rely completely
on destiny and
work towards a
better future for
ourselves. This,
too, is indicated
by kites as they
fly as a reaction
to several factors,
such as wind
speed, expertise
of the flyer, space for flying and Has this series in any way affect-
more. ed your thought process, regarding
The colours in the kite are a mes- the use of colours?
sage held up to us, saying that if To an extent, colours have made
good deeds are performed, life can be me introspect even more. I have now
as colourful as a kite in the sky. begun to think of colours as synony-
mous with life. The mind reacts to the
sight of colours. White makes us feel
at peace, while red makes us vibrant.
The seasons of nature are ways to
see and understand colour. When
there are bright colours in our vision,
as in a flower garden or in a rangoli
pattern, at once our minds begin to
link up with thoughts of celebration.
As a nature painter, have you ever
campaigned for the environmental
protection through your art?
Undoubtedly, I have been an
activist in this field, since long. In
Pune, I participated in the Bal
Gandharv Kala Dalan organised by
the Pune Municipality, to illustrate
the effects of pollution on urban liv-
ing. At once, I painted an image,
where the trees were blackened with
smog and dust and carried the mes-
sage of reducing vehicle-usage to
control emissions and bring about a
healthy environment.
In my city, I am an active cam-
paigner for plastic-free living and no
polythene shopping-bags and carry-
bags. My art dramatises the ill-effects
of thinking of only today and leaving
the morrow neglected. Nature and its
forms are used to convey my mes-
sage. ■
Rang Art Gallery, Mob: 9811078742
Email: rang77@rediffmail.com
Life www.rangartgallery.com
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 101
 A RT

Depicting Feminine
She feels, “We are already experi-
encing the fury of nature, which is

Emotions on Canvas
The plight of nature and women saddens her,
yet she keeps her optimism alive with her bold artwork
in vibrant colours. ■ by Our Correspondent
endless admiration. All this encour-
aged her to take up art as a career.
Rupender feels that Kolkata played
a vital role in refining her artistic tal-
ent, as it is the hub of art in India. Her
father is a pilot with a commercial air-
line and, the transferable nature of his
job, made them move from city to city.
Yet, the artist pursued her art with an
art also, under the aegis of veteran
artist Bijan Paul. She regards him as
her mentor.
She says, “Bijan Paulji has guided
me to gain expertise in the finer aspects
of abstract art. I regularly interact with
him. He tells me about various art tech-
niques. I wish to imbibe as much art
knowledge from him as I can.”
nothing but an outcome of our own
actions and the ill-treatment we are
meting out to her. But the tragedy is
that no one is ready to learn. Nobody
is ready to mend his ways to protect
nature.”
Her anguish towards a deteriorat-
ing environment is overtly expressed
in colours through her brush-strokes.
Have a look at her paintings, and you
will at once know how concerned
this artist is about the fate of nature.
But it does not mean that everything
is grey for her.
Her paintings give an optimistic
message also, that all is not lost yet.
Hope still survives and things can be
set right, provided that we come
around in time.

F
or different people, perception
of art is also different. For
some, it is a way of communi-
cating with the surroundings
while, for others, it a way of
experiencing immense joy. Young
and charming artist Rupender Kaur
takes art as a means of expressing her
innermost feelings. She has made it a
medium for highlighting the plight
of common women in the society.
Kolkata-born Rupender has had a
strong inclination towards art since
childhood. During her early schooling,
her artistic talent brought her laurels in
the form of certificates, citations and
indomitable determination.
Being a self-taught artist, she
learnt the finer aspects of art with
continuous practice. Nevertheless,
she holds artist Vijendra Sharma in
high esteem. His works have
inspired her immensely.
She says, “His art is figurative and
quite realistic. Being an artist of
nature, I always feel drawn to realis-
tic paintings, as they bring the whole
world on a canvas. It was but natural
for me to see a substance in Vijendra
Sharma’s art.”
However, Rupender’s art is not
just about realism. She has started
experimenting with modern abstract
Nature fascinates her and is the
dominating theme in Rupender’s
paintings. She takes all the colours
from nature and splashes them on
her canvas. She avers she can live
amid nature for an infinite period of
time and never get bored. She says,
“Nature is an integral part of us. As
human beings, we are incomplete
without nature.”
Man’s treatment of nature, today, is
a cause of concern for Rupender. She
feels hurt by the way modern man is
destroying nature for his vested inter-
ests. He is so shortsighted that he even
fails to see that his future is closely
related to and depends on nature.
Another theme that has caught
Rupender’s fancy is the plight of
women. She is rather perplexed to
see their pitiable condition. She feels
that the life of a woman is full of
paradoxes. She is the creator of
mankind but is never accorded her
due status in the society.
She gives vent to her agony thus,
“Everybody wants the company of a
woman, a pretty woman at that. But
no one is ready to accord her the
respect that she ought to be given;
nobody is ready to regard her as a sis-
ter or mother.”
She further says, “Girls are a cheer
for the society, but people want them
to take birth in the neighbour’s
home; not in their own. In short, a
woman has to undergo great ordeals,
from birth till death, despite the fact
that she is the creator of mankind.”
About the claim of woman empow-
erment, Rupender says, “This is a
wrong type of notion coined to keep
the anger of women from erupting.
They say women are moving ahead in
every field and walks of life. But
ground realities remained unchanged.
“Even highly-educated and high-
profile women cannot move freely in
the society today. No woman can
dare to roam after dark, for danger is
lurking for her everywhere. No one
knows when a woman would be
molested, raped or even killed. And
you call it woman empowerment!”
laments Rupender.
The artist’s anguish over the
pitiable condition of women is
expressed in several of her paintings.
These paintings communicate in a
straightforward manner with the
viewers. No explanation is needed,
as the subjects speak for themselves.
Rupender feels that commerciali-
sation of art can be very beneficial for
the artists, provided that it is done in
a positive way. She herself does not
wish to use her art for commercial
purposes. She is happy with what her
artwork fetches in the market.
She says, “I am still in the learning
phase and, hence, my expectations
are not so high. Of course, I don’t
have to run from pillar to post, to sell
my paintings.”
Nevertheless, she is continuously
striving to excel in her chosen field.
Her latest paintings show a marked
difference from her initial works. ■

102 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 103

 N ET SCENE
Video-Games for
the New Year
As you get sucked into the labyrinths of this
exciting video-game, you find yourself transported
to Nazi-occupied Europe. You play the role of a
quintessential saboteur. ■ by Asit Amrevy
Uncharted 2: ters of history come to life within the
labyrinths of this game.
Among Thieves
The story takes off in 1292, when
The critically-acclaimed game of Marco Polo departed from the court
2007 is back in an advanced avatar, of Kublai Khan in China, with 14
embellished with an engrossing story- ships filled with over 600 passengers
line, new graphics and high-octane and crew. Only one ship with 18 pas-
action. Nathan Drake, a fortune- sengers survived after a voyage of 18
hunter with a shady reputation and months. In his writings, Marco Polo
an even shadier past, has embarked has not revealed what happened to
on a dangerous journey. He is out to these lost ships.
discover the real truth behind the lost As he embarks on his epic journey,
fleet of Marco Polo and the legendary the realisation dawns on Nathan
Himalayan valley of Shambhala, more Drake that Marco Polo was hiding a
commonly known as Shangri-La. much bigger secret than what histori-
Will he be able to find success in ans could have ever expected. His
his quest? That depends on your real quest was for the legendary
skills as a gamer, because you will be Cintamani Stone, the “wish-fulfilling
playing the game as Nathan Drake jewel” of Buddhist mythology, which
himself. The most mysterious chap- was rumoured to be stored in
Shambhala.
As Nathan races forward on
Marco Polo’s footsteps, he has to
contend with a determined adver-
sary. This is a rogue, paramilitary
leader, who will stop at nothing in
order to get his hands on the magical
jewel.
A creation of Sony, this thrilling
game can be played on Playstation 3.
The Saboteur
As you get sucked into the
labyrinths of this exciting video-
game, you find yourself transported
to Nazi-occupied Europe. You play
104 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
the role of a quintessential saboteur,
who will use explosive tactics to
destroy the Nazis and turn the tide of
war in favour of the Allies.
The setting is sexy, action-packed
and eminently dangerous. The
colourful cast populating this game
seems to be straight out of the World
War II era. You play in the role of
Sean Devlin, a womaniser and a
drunkard, who has fled from his
native Ireland to try his luck at race-
car driving in Grand Paris.
He ignores the Nazis around him
until Nazi soldiers kill some of his
friends. Furious at the death of his
friends, he vows revenge. He
becomes a saboteur, a man who will
stop at nothing in order to defeat his
enemies.
In his quest for revenge, Devlin is
helped by French resistance and by
British intelligence. But he does by
himself much of the work of sabo-
tage. He is an experienced brawler,
capable of killing with a single
punch. He is also an ace marksman
and an explosives expert.
When he gets going, there is sab-
otage in every direction. Zeppelins
get blown apart, trains get derailed,
bridges implode, armoured cars get
blown into bits and enemy facilities
get levelled to the ground.
Needless to say, such monumen-
tal destruction is tailor-made to
deliver excitement. Essentially, you
are a one-man army, delivering mas-
sive punishment to the Nazis and
that is going to be a lot of fun.
Published by Electronic Arts, this
game can be played on XBOX 360,
PS3, and Windows.
Dragon Age: Origins
There is certainly great joy to be
had by emulating medieval knights
and battling fire-breathing dragons.
That is exactly what you are going to
do within the labyrinths of this excit-
ing video-game.
An epic tale of violence, lust, and
betrayal, 'Dragon Age: Origins' is set
in a fantasy world, where survival of
humanity is at stake. You play as
Grey Warden, one of the last of an
ancient order of guardians, who have
defended the lands on the continent
of Thedas, throughout the centuries.
Betrayed by a trusted general in a
critical battle, you must hunt down
the traitor and bring him to justice.
As you fight your way towards the
final confrontation with an evil force,
you will face monstrous foes and
engage in epic quests to unite the dis-
parate peoples of a world at war.
Incorporated in the plot is the
character of a mysterious and seduc-
tive shape-shifter, who might hold
the key to victory. But it is also likely
that she might be a dangerous diver-
sion from the heart of your mission.
The decisions that you take as
Grey Warden are going to have a
seminal impact on the future of
mankind. There will be times when
you must display leadership quali-
ties and take ruthless decisions. You
might even be forced to sacrifice your
friends and loved ones for the greater
good of mankind. There are many
possible ways in which the game can
end, based on the choices that you
make through the game.
A creation of Electronic
Arts, this game can be
enjoyed on XBOX 360, PS3
and any Windows-powered
PC.
Bayonetta
Get ready for a mortal
combat with a string of
angelic enemies, including
small minions and gigantic
behemoths. The thin line
between good and evil gets
blurred as Bayonetta
unleashes her firepower on
supernatural forces. She is
armed with 4 enchanted
guns, known as Scarborough
Fair, and she is unstoppable.
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Needless to say, you play
Bayonetta. It is your job to send the
nefarious supernatural forces back to
the depths of hell, where they belong.
Guns are not the only weaponry that
she possesses in her arsenal. Bayonetta
is also capable of unleashing the pow-
ers of an Iron Maiden and Guillotine.
She can even charge her Magic Gauge
to send the enemy packing.
However, the most deadly power
of all, the one that gamers are going
to enjoy to the hilt, lies in her hair.
This hair is designed to deliver an
exciting dose of devastation. It
serves as a magical conduit through
which demonic beasts can be sum-
moned for aid in battle.
And that is not all. When you
play as Bayonetta, you can also
transmogrify, at a moment's notice,
into a panther, a bat and any other
form that may be suitable for hand-
ing a difficult situation.
You are allowed to retrieve
weapons from fallen enemies and use
them to enhance your own firepower.
Bayonetta is one action-thriller that
will surely deliver edge-of-the-seat
excitement to the most demanding
action aficionados.
A creation of Sega Of America,
this game can be played on XBOX
360 and PS3. ■
105
 L IFESTYLE
and hapless. But he had no other perennial hectic schedules through- home and workplace, compelling

Marriage with a
option any more. With the expansion out the year, and he had to find some new-age executives to devote little
of his organisation, his business had time for his family. From his talk, I time for leisure or personal space.
increased many times, which con- could make out that my boss was suf- Most workaholics are unable to find

workaholic
sumed all his time...
As he went on talking about his pri-
vate life, I discovered how unfortunate
he was! When, after a day’s work, he
reached home, he usually found his
wife seething in suppressed anger.
Should workaholic professionals and CEOs not plan a vacation, And being tired to the hilt, he would
be in no mood to crack jokes, or even
every 6 months, with their families? ■ by M. Shamsur Rabb Khan smile properly, while his wife wanted
fering from the loss of intimacy with a way to strike a balance between
his wife. Sexual alienation is common work and family time.
in workaholic couples, which might So, the decision of my boss to go on
lead to breakdown or divorce. a week’s vacation was not only an
The workaholic, in principle and urgent necessity to save his married
in practice, becomes married to his life, but also the essence of complete-
job. While utmost commitment to ness among humans. One's duty is to
work yields handsome pay-offs, loss look after the personal life as seriously
of commitment to the life partner as the professional one.

L
ike many professionals, I love
my boss for a few good reasons:
That he is a workaholic; that is
very disciplined; that he has a
busy schedule throughout the
year; and that he is very focused.
All these are, perhaps, the com-
mon traits among the breed called
CEOs. My boss is one of them. In 25
years, he has been able to establish
an institution that has branches in
5 foreign countries, in addition
to 7 centres in India.
At the age of 58,
he is the busiest
person in our
organisation,
or perhaps one
of most devoted
persons I have
ever seen in my
life. He
receives no less than 300 mails every-
day, and replies to most of them. In
addition, he does myriad other
works like meetings, administration,
financial control, writing articles in
newspapers and foreign tours.
We were surprised when he sent
us an all-staff mail that he was going
on a week’s vacation, as absence
from work was something not part of
in his life. He often gave us a mild
scolding whenever we asked for a
few days leave. He knew he was ask-
ing something that is not viable, but
he liked to see his persona in others.
In the evening, when I asked him
about his vacation tour, his answer
was short: He was off for some days
with wife, to Shimla.
In spite of working with him for
more than 5 years, I have not been
able to decipher how things were
between him and his wife. I did won-
der how he coped with the conjugal
relationship while working even on
Sundays.
I say this because, whenever I am
called on a Saturday to do urgent
work, my wife gets angry. She does
not like our weekends or holidays —
which are not many in private firms
— to be consumed by office or any
other assignments. And a happy
wife is essential for a happy life.
Seeing me a little confused at his
decision, he asked me to sit down.
After a brief pause and a few puffs
at a cigar, he said that his was the
most stressful life. As he had no time
to devote to his wife, he felt helpless
to talk about sundry things and issues.
He did realise that women love to
be with their husbands in advanced
age and that he had not been able to
provide company to his wife.
“You know, she cites the example
of our neighbour – the Transport
Commissioner. How he maintains his
official duties and how he comes
home by evening and plays with chil-
dren,” my boss laughed a bitter laugh.
I could understand what he meant.
The difference between Government
officials and entrepreneurs is the dif-
ference of a sense of ownership.
Pragmatic decision
Without doubt, busy men’s wives
are not happy. And if the husbands
happen to be young CEOs, they have
bigger reasons for worry. Suspicion of
involvement with the private secre-
tary can lead to mental agony for the
women, who are waiting at home. In
case of young women bosses, things
can be all the more precarious.
It is, however, not always illicit
relationship or occasional sexual rela-
tionship that is the sole concern of
wives and husbands; it is the general
worry of living in a big, of unexpect-
ed incidents like blasts and accidents
and stress-related to work that add to
concerns.
Coming back to my boss’ miserable
conjugal life, he was rather tense that
day. He seemed to have realised, per-
haps for the first time, that he had to
do something to save his personal life.
His wife was not happy with his
comes in the form of the biggest loss.
Loss of humour and the ability to
Important things
be in a playful mood was also visible.
Since the loss of energy and vitality is Thus, we have examples of
so huge among workaholics, they authors, scientists and explorers,
hardly like to speak a word when they who had been so engrossed in their
enter their residential premises. As a artistic pursuit that they had to part
result, life becomes overly serious, with their spouses, or their married
melancholic and empty of life failed miserably.
Without doubt, busy
meaning. The studies on worka-
men’s wives are not
While the workaholic happy. And if the holism came to the lime-
– either husband or wife husbands happen to light with the publication
– would prefer a calm be young CEOs, of 'Work Addiction Risk
and quiet environment at they have bigger Test' by B. E. Robinson in
home, the other half and reasons for worry. 1999, which is detailed in
the children would love Suspicion of his famous book Chained
to talk and play since that involvement with to the Desk: A Guidebook for
is the time the family is the private secretary Workaholics, Their Partners
together. Irritation at can lead to mental and Children, and the
once takes over a weary agony. Clinicians Who Treat Them.
man or woman once the However, in 2006, S.J.
kids try to hug him or her Vodanovich and C.
and they are brushed Piotrowski, in their
aside with slight anger. research, showed that
If this continues for a workaholism could
long time, it is highly like- impact diverse areas of
ly that relations with chil- human functioning, such
dren will also become as individual, family,
sour. Much of the organisational, and soci-
alienation among etal levels. Researchers
the teenagers, that have concluded that work
we witness today, addiction is identical to
is due to the an addiction to alcohol,
utter negligence which leads to unman-
of parents, who ageable life, family dis-
love their work more than integration, serious
their kids. health problems, etc.
Increasing work pres- Other maladies
sure and a too-busy sched- include obsessive-com-
ule can gradually blur the pulsiveness, perfec-
thin line between one's tionism, and typical

ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 107


world. Just as delaying
an important meeting
is critical for your pro-
fessional growth,
delay in reaching
home for a family out-
ing or dinner would, if
it was promised, is
equally serious.
Meeting a profes-
sional deadline is as
important as fulfilling
Spouse of a workaholic should adopt a personal obligations.
sympathetic attitude.
Both – husband and
behaviour. The most common after- wife – need to sit and chalk out a plan
effects of workaholism can be rapid of action as to how to get the time out
health deterioation, job stress, work- of the busy schedule, rather than
family conflict, teamwork problems adopt an approach that could lead
(as not all employees would follow conflict and confrontation.
the workaholic), job performance, Some professionals do serious
aloofness from family interactions, work, finish the day’s work as per
problems in communication, lack of plan, but like to spend some time with
enjoyment of life and leisure time. friends at some restaurant for refresh-
The busiest of men on earth must ment. This is asking for problems.
keep in mind that there are more And equally undesirable is the
important things than money in this behaviour of a wife if she starts blam-
ing her husband once he enters the
home premises. Nagging or blaming
your spouse for not finding time for
you may make it even more difficult
to move towards a comprehensible
solution.
The conversation should not focus
on the spouse's failure to strike a bal-
ance between work and family, but
on the desired attention and family
time. In Delhi, as in other metros,
working men do often come home
late, but it is not advisable to bring
the office into home premises. A
workaholic, like my boss, reaches
home and still talks about office on
the phone or opens up the laptop for
replying mails.
As I was grappling with how my
boss had faced life, I knew our
Director was moving in the right
direction by going on a week’s leave
to the Himalayas. And in his last mail
he wrote thus: ”Please no calls, no
mails and no communication, except
in extreme emergency.” ■ viduals, and the one who
L EGAL
ISSuicide a Crime?
It would not be just and fair to inflict additional legal
punishment on a person who has already suffered agony
and ignominy. ■ by P. V. V. Satyanarayana
T
here are a few Sections
in the Indian Penal
Code, that have
become irrelevant in
modern society, war-
ranting amendment or total
repeal. One such Section is
309 IPC, which deals with
suicide cases, making the
‘attempt to suicide’ a crimi-
nal offense. Its avowed aim is
to prevent suicides by indi-
survives the attempt is pun-
ishable with 1-year imprisonment or
fine or both.
However, the statistics of suicides
reel out a different story. There was
an over-30% increase in the number
of suicides during 1996 to 2006,
despite the Section, thus refuting the
claim that the penal Section is meant
to check the suicide rate.
As one analyses the pros and cons
of the need for continuation or other-
wise of Section 309, the cons would
undoubtedly outweigh the pros. Life
is so beautiful and precious that no
one would like to voluntarily termi-
nate it, for no reason. A person is dri-
ven to end his/her life due to acute
mental depression, born out of cir-
cumstances that make it miserable to
continue. It has got to do with one’s
mental strength (or the lack of it) to
withstand the severity of adversities.
While sympathising with those
who succeed in their attempts, it is
cruel to punish those who survive. It
would only amount to punishing
them for their inability to succeed in
dying! It would subject the person to
greater depression.
Further, in many a case, the State’s
responsibility for the plight of the
victims cannot be overlooked.
He/she is the victim (and not a crim-
inal) of the circumstances that have
driven him/her to resort to the
extreme step, and deserves to be
treated with sympathy and compas-
sion. What the survivor deserves is
proper counselling by experts and
rehabilitation – and not punishment.
He/she is not a threat to the society.
Anachronic law
As the Delhi High Court had
rightly observed, Section 309 is “an
anachronism, unworthy of human
society.” There has been an all-round
resentment against continuation of
this Section and a strong plea to
repeal it, since long.
Thus, Section 309 IPC becomes
illogical and meaningless, and it is
high time that the same is repealed.
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
However, the provision deal-
ing with the punishment for
abetting suicide should
remain in force.
The argument that, “by
declaring attempted suicide a
penal offense, the IPC
upholds the dignity of
human life,” appears to be
misplaced and out-dated. If
one cannot live with dignity,
for whatever reason, the very
meaning of life would be lost.
It is against this back-
ground, that the Law Commission of
India has urged the Government to
remove Section 309 of the IPC, describ-
ing an attempt to suicide as a “mani-
festation of a diseased condition of
mind.” It adds that, “it would not be
just and fair to inflict additional legal
punishment on a person who has
already suffered agony and ignominy
in his failure to commit suicide.”
In fact, in the late 1970s, the Centre
did make an attempt to do away with
the Section by introducing a Bill, but
unfortunately, by the time it could be
passed, the Parliament got dissolved. It
must, however, be mentioned, giving
due credit to the Government, that
though the attempt to suicide is an
offense, the Section is seldom used.
And even where cases are booked, they
remain on records as mere statistics.
It is hoped that the Centre would
seriously consider the progressive and
well-intentioned recommendations of
the Law Commission. It should soon
bring out a Bill suitably amending the
IPC to repeal the contriving Section. ■
109
 S OFT CORNER

WOMEN
The 16 female German contestants pose during the Miss Germany beauty pageant in Listow,
northern Germany. Cathrin Durakovic (6th L) won the Miss Germany title.

All the way

A new PETA ad with US country singer Carrie Underwood
(L), US First Lady Michelle Obama (2nd-L), with television
talk show hosts Oprah Winfrey (2nd-R) and Tyra Banks (R),
all who avoid the wearing of fur.

Desperate to collect funds for the Society for Prevention

of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), 12 women ‘bared’ it all for
a tasteful calendar that went on sale during Christmas.

Indonesian cheer leaders dance as French prisoners Celine(L) and

they attend a ceremony to Sarah walk free thanks to a
welcome the FIFA World Cup presidential pardon after 18
Trophy Tour to Jakarta. months jail for drug smuggling.

Actress Katherine
Boecher arrives
at the the
premiere "The
Spy Next Door"
in Los Angeles.
Second runner up in the Miss Belgium Swimmers, many wearing costumes,
contest, Binta Telemans (L) Miss A model wears mobile phones on her take part in an annual swim in the cold
Belgium 2010 Cilou Annys (C) and First belt covered in Ed Hardy cases, at the waters off the coast of Usedom Island amid
runner up Lien Aernouts celebrate on Ed Hardy booth at the 2010 heavy snowfall that was forecast to
at the Miss Belgium election evening at International Consumer Electronics intensify into the New Year.
the casino in Knokke. Show, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

110 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 111

 C O N S E R VAT I O N
alone or in pairs, delighting us all.

The These aquatic souls swim a long

distance, from Sri Lankan shores to

Olive Ridley Turtles

the Bay of Bengal, every winter, to lay
their eggs on quiet, unspoilt beaches.
Bhitarkanika's Nasi Island, Wheeler's
Island, Ekakulanasi, and Gahirmatha

of Rishikulya
have been their favourites for long.
Then, they were spotted in Satabhaya
beach at the mouth of the Devi river
in Puri and at Rishikulya in Ganjam.
They come for mass nesting, which
is called arribada — following an
inborn instinct. And they lay 80 to 150
eggs within 2 hours, digging up large,
conical holes in the sand. And then,
with their flippers, they shroud them in
the sand and go back to the sea — to
return only after a year. There, these
eggs incubate for around 45 days under
the hot sun, till hatching takes place.
At river Rishikulya, the turtles were discovered
barely 8 years ago and, with sincere and committed Evading predators
The tiny turtles, barely 4 inches
volunteers, they are being protected zealously. long, crawl towards the sea after
■ by by Mona Lisa Jena dusk. They emerge in groups at night
Increasing human interference is hampering the survival of turtles.
rough-skinned, listening to the sea
with single-minded direction and
crawling towards the foam now crest-
ed with flint glow that flickers like
fire. When they come out of their
holes, they are exposed to the vagaries
of nature. Fishing birds, crows and
eagles hunt them from the sky; there
are jackals and dogs, who savour even
the eggs from the rookery.
Tragically, large fishing-trawlers,
with their sprawl-
ing nets, kill the
carcasses stink for miles together. It is
a ghastly sight. But, at Rishikulya, the
turtles were discovered barely 8 years
ago and, with sincere and committed
volunteers, they are being protected
zealously.
At Gokharkuda village, the fisher-
men community regard the turtles as
their friends. These turtles eat jelly-
fish, which are very poisonous in
nature. If the jelly-fish stings a
human, it causes
writhing pain in the

E
agerly, I accompanied my
squad to Rishikulya Beach at
Rambha in Orissa. Here, the
Rishikulya river flows into the
Bay of Bengal and the lake of
Chilika begins. From Bhubaneswar,
Rambha is hardly 135 kilometres
away and it takes about 2 hours
along NH 5 to reach the place. The
April sun was searing on our skin but
our spirits were high for we were
going to have a rare glimpse of Olive
Ridleys in their infancy...
We stopped at the picturesque
Rambha rest-house on the
shore of Chilika Lake. After
lunch, we headed for
Ghokarkuda village, some 17
km away via Huma, where
miles of spectacular salt
mounds appeared like white
tents pitched on a small hill
range. Fishermen were har-
vesting salt just like one har-
vests paddy.
Peter Michael, Director,
WWF's Orissa Chapter, was there to
receive us in the village of
Gokharkuda. It is a small fishing vil-
lage with a population of 450 to 500.
It has a primary school too. The vil-
lagers are both proud and vigilant of
their winter guests, the endangered
species of the Olive Ridleys. They are
aware of their presence and would
do everything to protect them.
Peter is in his early 40s and is
quite an inspiration for the young
boys, who volunteer to help. The lat-
ter, hailing from the fishermen com-
Preparation for new life: Copulating turtles.
munity, are quite well-informed
about the aquatic life here. For days
and nights at length, they keep vigil
as though on a pilgrimage!
We walked about a kilometre, till
we could see the sea pounding the
sand. It was a delightful scene. On
the sandy beach were lots of bed
tewa creepers, with large, pink flow-
ers. The sturdy fibre of the creeper is
used as a rope by the fishermen.
There was a narrow band of blue
water and sandy bars and we could
see the great Olive Ridley turtles frol-
icking in the water, so close to
us! As if they could sense our
presence, they would peek
from the water and quickly
plunge back. In the mild, set-
ting sun, their lovely heads
shimmered like gold and the
deep-bluish wings splattered
like the tails of a whale. There
were lots of them — at least
250 — if one could make a
rough guess. They swam
and instinctively make a dash
towards the sea, navigating towards
the horizon. By emerging at night,
the baby turtles evade predators and
the scorching daytime sand.
There they were — tiny-tots hardly
weighing 10/20 gm — dark and
New born turtles are being released into their natural habitat.
large, lovely Olive entire body and it is
Ridleys, when hard to cure. And,
they either come when it is time for the
towards the beach fish to breed, a jelly-
or go back after fish's contact can ruin
laying the eggs. A the entire sack of eggs.
large number of The salty water,
clean atmosphere and
pleasantly warm cli-
mate suit the brown-
ish-green, olive-shaped
Olive Ridleys. These
are the smallest of the species of turtles
found here and weigh upto 41 kg. They
mate in water and, by February, con-
gregate within 2 - 3 kms off the shore,
to breed. After sunset, the turtles dig a
pit, one-and-a half feet deep, with their
fleshy feet. Then the egg-laying begins.
WWF volunteers have been keep-
ing a vigil on a beach area of 2 km,
since the past 5 years. Young boys
from the village are the guardian
angels. WWF has fenced a 3-sq-km
area of the rookery, to keep off land
predators like dogs, jackals, hyenas
and jungle cats.

112 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 113


Religious activities are also increasing around the habitat of turtles.
Last year, the egg-laying took
place from 15 February. Around 2.5
lakh turtles had come ashore to lay
their eggs. The beach was so densely
populated by them that the boys had
to jump over their backs to get across!
The hatching took place from 4 April
and continued till 11 April.
There were lots of brahminy kites
(sankhachila), brown fishing kites
and hawks at the shore. So were sea-
gulls and crows. But, inside the
fenced area of the WWF-protected
beach, the birds could not land
because they were driven away by
the vigilant boys.
Soft sand
They asked us to walk softly and,
at times, our feet would sink unex-
pectedly in the porous mixture of
earth and sand, which keeps their
nests ventilated and moist. As if it
was shifting sand! These are the nests
of the turtles, they said.
We saw the new-born turtles
emerging from their nests and saun-
tering towards the sea. They left a
mosaic with their feet, on the sand
and the trail was lovely as a picture.
Soon, there were hundreds of them.
When the waves lapped at the beach,
they flung themselves into the surf
and were whisked away to their far-
off destination.
114
Cattle visiting Rishikulya often frighten turtles away.
The volunteers at the beach
roamed with baskets in their glove-
covered hands, picking them and
leaving them at the shore as a protec-
tive measure. However, hardly one in
a thousand of hatchlings entering the
sea manage to survive. And only
when they turn 15 and above, do they
become mature enough to breed. That
is why it is pertinent to protect them.
For millions of years, they have
countered threats from man and
nature and, now, man's greed and
high technology have brought them
to the verge of extinction. Countless
turtles drown in trawler nets.
Promotion of tourism also takes away
their privacy. They often abandon the
beaches for such reasons. Like the
migrating birds in winter, that flock to
Chilika Lake in lakhs, Olive Ridleys
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
also come here every year.
After walking around for about 4
kms, we sat on the sandy bed, admir-
ing nature's beauty in that moonlit
night, watching the shafts of light
shooting through the blue turf and
glowing on the waves. It was a treat
to be here and adore nature's won-
der; an unforgettable experience.
As the silver orb of a glowing
moon inched its away up, we headed
back to Rambha. Rambha happens to
be the extreme end of Chilika Lake.
Here lies Ghantashila hill. The stones
here sound like a ghanta or metal bell.
Beyond it, are the famous islands —
Breakfast island, Honeymoon island,
Sipakuda (formed by shells dropped
by the birds), and Chadheihaga
(bird's droppings).
In winter, large numbers of migra-
tory birds can be seen here. The area
is largely dominated by fishermen,
who make a living from the sea and
its crabs, shrimps, and fish. They
need no other occupation. But they
rue that restrictions on fishing in the
lake has ruined them. They are sell-
ing off their boats and opting to work
in Goa and other such fishing areas.
Rambha is lovely, with a few
places of interest, like Nirmaljhar and
Narayani cave, nearby. Though there
is a small railway station, most of the
fast trains do not stop here. So, one
can travel up to Berhampur or
Balugaon and hire an autorickshaw
or taxi to reach here. ■ Northern India Body-Building
O CCASION
B ody
uilders’ day out
E
ver wondered what body-
building is all about? It entails
much more than just bulging
biceps and flaunting muscles.
From following a strict regimen
to taking a diet rich in fat and protein,
a body-builder has to go through a
daily, hours-long, strenuous, sweat-it-
out regimen, to get a perfect shape. But
due to lack of Government support,
hundreds of body-builders all over the
country have to live an obscure life,
like any unsung champion.
Sunder Lal, 30, a lad from
Sonepat, Haryana, is a dismal case of
Government apathy. Notwithstanding,
he is still struggling on his own to
earn a name at international venues.
His stuffed biceps and broad chest
may not have earned him money, but
they have definitely brought adequate
pride to his family, back home. Lal, a
body-builder for 6 years, is content
with that. And, he feels, with no finan-
cial support or training facilities from
the Government, many body-builders
like him pursue their passion without
expecting much in return.
Lal and about 160 other body-
builders from 10 States in north India
got a chance to flex and flaunt their
muscles at Delhi University, recently.
The event was the 49th edition of Mr
At the end of the day,
all shared a common
grudge against the
Government about
lack of support for
body-builders.
■ by Ramesh Kumar Raja
Championship organised by Delhi
State Board and Fitness Association,
in collaboration with Delhi
University Students’ Union (DUSU).
Said Lal, “Such competitions give
us a platform to showcase our
achievements. There is hardly any
money involved in the field of body-
building but it feels nice when the
medals start coming. My family ini-
tially tried hard to convince me that
body-building was meant for goons
and not people like us. But they also
like it now, as it has earned me abun-
dant reputation. Many kids in my vil-
lage, who want to have a good body,
come to me for assistance.”
For survival sake
Lal came to attend the competi-
tion after bagging the title of Mr
Haryana, held earlier in 2009. “There
are enough such competitions to get
us noticed. Body-builders can even
get jobs with the Railways or the
Indian Air Force. But that happens
only if you have some support and
sponsorship,’‘ Lal lamented.
In the pageant at DU, Lal won the
title of Mr Northern India in the 65-70
kg category, while Yatender Pawar
from Uttar Pradesh became the over-
all winner. The pageant was divided
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
into 5 categories of different weight
brackets. All the body-builders posed
with enthusiasm on the ramp.
Behind the scenes, however, they
all shared a common complaint
against the lack of support for body-
builders. “So much medical and sci-
entific research goes into body-build-
ing in foreign countries. That’s why
their body-builders win medals at
international events. In India, it is dif-
ficult to even find sponsors,” said 18-
year-old Shubhankar, who is pursu-
ing BBA alongside body-building.
According to him, body-building
deserves a better deal, considering
the hard work they put in daily.
Concurred 21-year-old Virender
Mahajan from Pathankot, “I work out
for at least 4 hours in a day. I have
also given up on fast food and eat a
diet rich in protein. It’s not at all easy
to be muscular.”
The concerned authorities, too,
could not hide their disappointment
over this kind of neglect to the body-
builders, who mostly have to be self-
dependant for their survival. The
officials of the agency, that organised
the contest, said they were trying to
do more for the body-builders. “We
will definitely look into their needs,”
said Darshan Singh, executive chair-
person of the event and agency. ■
115
 N E W A R R I VA L
The Rediscovery of India
Author: Meghnad Desai
Publisher: Allen Lane
Price: Rs 699
Pages: 498
Blame it on Meghnad Desai’s
umpteen TV appearances and the
resultant celebrity status, that the title
of his book has now turned into a
gigantic cliche. How can
this gentleman with a
funny-looking hairstyle
have the presumptuous-
ness to rediscover India,
when the country has
already been discovered
in a book written by
India’s tallest leader,
Jawaharlal Nehru?
Recently, Rahul
Gandhi did try to discov-
er India during his famous “Discover
India” tour. His tour was mostly about
the quality of life in certain, rural pock-
ets of the country. Meghnad Desai has
taken on his shoulders the cumber-
some task of tracing the path through
which modern India has evolved.
There are elitists, who cannot tol-
erate a middle-class bourgeoisie
showing the temerity of rediscover-
ing the country during the course of a
book of 498 pages. If someone from
the political class had used this title,
then that might not have raised as
many eyebrows.
Leaving the title aside, there is a
lot that is of interest in the book.
Meghnad Desai begins with a short
preface, in which he discusses his
interaction with the book that has
had a seminal influence on him.
“I read Nehru’s The Discovery of
India when in my teens. It gave us the
basic story, beautifully recounted by
a masterful writer.”
A paragraph later, in the same
preface, he writes, “This seamless
story was shattered during the 1950s
itself. The agitation for linguistic
States took a popular anti-Congress
form in Bombay, where I was growing
116
up, and we could see that, despite
Nehru’s reluctance to grant the
demands, linguistic States were pop-
ular. What followed in 1959 was
much more serious. The publication
of Maulana Azad’s India Wins Freedom
shattered the accepted story of India’s
independence.”
It is clear that Desai’s target of
attack is Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic
book, The Discovery of India. Nehru had
portrayed the idea of the Indian
nationhood as a seamless
evolution, over the ages,
through various cultures and
political systems. However,
this is only a case of different
writers tending to see history
through the prism of their own
personal experiences and
reaching completely different
conclusions.
Desai does not agree that the
history of India ended at 1947. In fact,
the flow of the narrative is such that,
1947 seems like nothing more than a
blip in India’s long history. The story of
India still goes on and there are many
more good and bad times that people
of this country are going to see.
The task that Desai has taken on
himself, while writing this book, is to
discover modern India. How did
India end up becoming a functioning
democracy in a part of world that is
infamous for being a playground of
military dictators? He seems to be
asking this question continuously
throughout his book.
That is probably why he chooses
to name the first chapter The Vasco Da
Gama Moment. According to him,
more than anything else, it is the
arrival of Europeans that
has shaped the culture of
modern India. Desai
tends to dwell on a lot of
hypothetical situations,
where he speculates
what could have been
the fate of the country,
had the British not won
certain decisive battles.
He writes, “Tamil
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Nadu could have been French-speak-
ing and Bengal either Dutch or
English-speaking. Maharashtra may
have been Portuguese-speaking…”
The essence of the book is that the
Indian nation, that exists today, is only
one of many possible futures, which
could have transpired. The element of
chance had a big role to play. The bor-
ders of any country in the world have
never been sacrosanct in history and
the same is the case with India.
The book is interesting to read and
it does offer a different way of looking
at our history. Primarily because of its
presumptuous title and the celebrity
status of its author, it will certainly
manage to sell quite a few copies.
Desilicious
Edited by: Masala Trois Collective
Publisher: Orient Publishing
Price: Rs 295
Pages: 175
Desi is a slightly pejorative term,
that probably refers to Indians who
lack an international outlook towards
life. But, when the desi decides to turn
salacious, then he or she can churn out
a Desilicious kind of erotic literature.
It is easy to get enticed by stories
that evoke the quintessentially sub-
versive ideas of transgressive sexual
acts, that are forbidden by society.
Nothing is taboo for the group of
venturesome writers, whose contri-
butions are a part of this seductive
and alluring collection of erotica, that
aims to stimulate the mind as well as
the body, and succeeds.
Contemporary erotica is often
found to be sexist, but
Desilicious cannot be
accused of that. The sto-
ries are exceedingly liber-
al and they conjure a feel-
ing as welcome as that of a
mountain breeze fanning
you with butterfly wings.
The book does not have
a foreword. What it has is
an imaginatively titled,
‘Foreplay’, in which these lines occur
to explain the leitmotif of Desilicious:
“Numerous crude caricatures and
sexist stereotypes of South Asian sex-
ualities linger stubbornly in our post-
colonial zeitgeist: South Asians con-
tinue to be represented, frequently,
either as repressed victims of sexless
arranged marriages, or as hypersexu-
al inheritors of the Kama Sutra.
Selections in Desilicious subversively
sample and remix several ‘familiar’
narratives of South Asian sexuality,
creatively exploring the range of
desires thriving between these
polarised stereotypes.”
The stories are extremely irrever-
ent and, in their own subtle way, they
manage to lodge their protest against
some of the familiar cultural and legal
shibboleths in society.
The book begins with Tanuja Desai
Hidier’s sensual story Tiger, Tiger. This
is an engrossing, coming-of-age story,
set in a world where sexual norms are
in a state of constant flux. “She could
not, however, bring herself to take
these new boys quite all the way inside
her, turn them into men in the baffling
factory of her body, as she never felt
she’d completely expelled him from
her, regained her space and balance.”
The poems by Shompaballi Dutta
are purposefully vague, to let the
readers imagine what could be,
rather than what is.
Sunil Narayan and Amber Nasrulla
come up with stories that are full of
angst of identity.
The Reluctant Voyer by Rashmi
Choksey takes the reader on a roller-
coaster ride into the world of fantasy,
before bringing him back to reality,
where the ceiling is leaking and the
VCR is whirring.
There is Aziza Ahmed in the story
Metal Pleasure, who flamboyantly
declares, “It’s psychological. It’s reli-
gious. It’s the desi, tight cunt syndrome,
that prevents you from laughing dur-
ing sex. That prevents you from letting
yourself get as loose as you want.”
It is lines like these that are geared
to make the pulse beat a notch faster,
and make the blood rush to the groin.
The prose pieces are incisive, mature,
confident, and savvy.
A Tale of Two Revolts
Author: Rajmohan Gandhi
Publisher: Penguin
Price: Rs 599
Pages: 402
In the eyes of most people, globali-
sation might be a relatively recent phe-
nomenon, but Rajmohan Gandhi
comes up with the amazing idea that,
even in the 1850s, the world was inter-
connected. He finds some obvious
connections between 2 of the most
famous revolts in history, that
occurred in different parts of the world
— the 1857 Revolt in India and the
American Civil War. Britain, of course,
was a common link between the 2
events, as were invocations to religion,
race and notions of governance.
While the Indian uprising aroused
significant interest in America, and
was considered a confirmation of
Indian perfidy, the Indian
elite of the time unequivo-
cally supported Abraham
Lincoln’s Unionists and
the abolition of slavery.
Gandhi prefers to use
the vehicle of biography to
get his message across. In
the beginning of the book,
the readers get introduced
to William Howard
Russell, the first, modern war-corre-
spondent, who was there to cover the
revolts in India and in the USA.
According to the author, there was
considerable American interest in
India’s 1857 Revolt. In fact, the situa-
tion then was quite the reverse of what
it is today, when more Indians know
about the American Civil War than
Americans do about the Sepoy Mutiny.
One of the merits of Gandhi’s
study is that, when compared with
the American Civil War, it becomes all
too clear that the Mutiny of 1857 was
not India’s “first war of indepen-
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
dence”, as some nationalist historians
have seen it. It broke out not over a
grand issue or contested principle,
but over suddenly-provoked caste
and religious sensitivities.
It was the alleged presence of pig fat
in the casing of cartridges, used by
sepoys in the Indian army, that sparked
the mutiny. Even if it did bring the
Hindus and Muslims together against
the British, this alliance “seemed to
require the glue of rage, and it lacked
the promise of permanence.”
Large sections of contemporary
Indian opinion chose to side with the
British rather than with the rebels
because their interests seemed more
closely aligned with the former.
Neither the dotard Bahadur Shah
Zafar nor the scheming Nanasaheb
inspired confidence as alternatives to
British rule.
In addition to Russell’s biography,
there are biographies of 5 different
Indians — Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay, Sir Syed Ahmad
Khan, Jyotiba Phule, Ishwarchand
Vidyasagar and A.O. Hume. Through
these personalities, the
events leading up to the
1857 uprising are traced.
We also come to know
about the wider Indian
reactions to British rule,
the revolt and the nature
of social and intellectual
exchange between the
British and the Indians.
For good measure, there
are biographies of Karl Marx
and Leo Tolstoy, that allow a panoram-
ic sweep of the 19th century and show
how events of the time continue to
impact our lives. However, while the
enterprise to compare 1857 and the
American Civil War is certainly
admirable, it also leads to strange jux-
tapositions, where Abraham Lincoln
stands alongside Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar, and the African-American
reformer Frederick Douglass suddenly
gives way to the Muslim thinker,
Sayyed Ahmed Khan.
— Anoop Verma ■
117
 S LUG

G
Concept car from

littering
Honda for economy
and efficiency.

Automobiles
Like previous occasion, this time
too carmakers from around the globe
took India’s Auto Expo 2010 by Concept car from Toyota
storm. It was India’s first auto show that will run on fuel cells
after the world is showing the signs to ensure total
environment protection.
of recovery from recession. Not
surprisingly, car-makers presented a
number of models yet to be
launched in India as well as concept A truly
world class car
car models. Thrust was, however, on
from Tata.
environment conservation. In line of
this, there were many ‘green’ car
models also, which will soon be
launched in India. Glimpses...

Brand new
launch of
world’s most
favourite
Jaguar in India
after it was
taken over by
Tata Motors.

The all new

Chevrolet Cruzz is
here to give you
cruising
experience.

This new
version from
Toyota will set
new driving
etiquette on
roads.

118 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 119

 X6M and Z4
sDrive: Two
powerful
saloon cars
from BMW for
comfortable
and safe ride.

Yet another
concept e-car in
E-vehicle from waiting.
event sponsors
Chevrolet.

Electric Indica
for clean Tata brings
atmosphere. world class
Range Rover in
India.
Yeti from luxury car maker Skoda.

Cars for all:

Small car
model Beat
from
Chevrolet for
high end
market
segment.

New variant of Jazz sport for the lovers of sport cars.

Fabia from Skoda
for D-segment
customers.

120 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 121

 New CBR from Honda for speed thrillers. Royal Enfield Bullet that has stood for power and endurance.

Flirtatious bike for flirting men.

Ninza for easy biking.

Renault’s comfort
scooty with ample
room for two.

Innovative electric
scooter from Mahindra.

Rs 22,50,000, 1700 CC bike from Honda. Real challenge for Indian men.

122 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 123

 S LUG

Classic motors
Fascinating
BMW Isetta: really a gem
from olden days.

vintage cars that missed the

Auto-Expo lime light...
Photos by Nishit Nath

A sports car that

blazed the track
during its prime time.

Vintage Rolls Royce: Still carrying an air of royalty. 1934 Lagonda.

Some more
enticing
models of
vintage cars
from Ford and
Mercedes.

1953 Chevrolet Belair Sedan. A vintage Mercedes that ruled the road in yesteryears.

124 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 125

And some vintage bikes...

ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010 127

 R EFORMS
Samacheer
Equitable Standard Education
The main roadblock is the fear, that in the name of
equitable education, standards will be compromised;
the good standard of education now available in certain schools
may no longer be available. ■ by Sudha Chandrasekaran
S
oon after attaining indepen-
dence, our country took a deci-
sion to provide education for
all up to class 8. When this was
contemplated, it was under-
stood that access to quality education
for all will be the aim. “Education for
all” meant good education for all and
every school in the country was
expected to maintain standards and
parents would admit their children in
the neighbourhood schools. That is, a
common school system will prevail.
More recently, the Tamil Nadu
Government has called this system
Equitable Standard Education or
Samacheer Kalvi (in Tamil language
samacheer means ‘equitable stan-
dard’ and kalvi refers to education).
Samacheer Kalvi is a new scheme of
the Tamil Nadu Government to pro-
vide a uniform and quality education
to all children. This system is being
brought in to ensure that students in
rural schools also have the same stan-
dard of education as students in city
schools.
128
In spite of the fact that this is being
talked about for several decades, it
has not fructified. The main road-
block is the fear, that in the name of
equitable education, standards will
be compromised; the good standard
of education now available in certain
schools may no longer be available.
Finally, in August 2009, the State
CM M. Karunanidhi
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
Government announced its decision
to implement the equitable education
system and this has been lauded by
many. “Samacheer Kalvi is a revolu-
tion in the history of the State,” says
Vice-Chairman of State Planning
Commission, M. Naganathan.
Initially, the new education policy
is to have a single-board system and
will be implemented in the academic
year (2010-2011) for classes 1 to 6 and
in 2011-2012 it will be extended to
other classes. “It is a historic decision
by the Chief Minister, in response to a
long-pending demand,” said School
Education Minister Thangam
Thennarasu.
The State Government has decided
to create a Common Board by merg-
ing all boards of education prevalent
in the State of Tamil Nadu. As for the
medium of instruction, besides Tamil,
other languages now being used
would continue. Unlike in other
States, currently, 4 streams of school
systems are being followed in Tamil
Nadu: State Board, Matriculation,
Anglo-Indian and Oriental.
The new education policy was first
discussed by the DMK party in the
2006 elections. The party had promised
to introduce equitable standard school
education, if voted to power. Once the
goal was achieved, the Government
appointed a committee headed by Dr
S. Muthukumaran, former Vice-
Chancellor of Bharathidasan
University, to study the possibilities of
introducing equitable standard educa-
tion in schools. Muthukumaran sub-
mitted his report in 2007.
Dr S. Muthukumaran, Chairman
of the Samacheer Kalvi Committee,
explains that Equitable Standard
Education (ESE) refers to the com-
mon school system, neighbourhood
schools and education for all. He fur-
ther added that quality education for
all is a must to ensure a country’s
prosperity and also that a country
will gain if the individual gains.
Quality education can be guaranteed
only if all schools are good. ESE
would be implemented only in a
phased manner.
Cautious approach
Minister of School Education
Thangam Thennarasu said that the
State Government was bringing in
Samacheer Kalvi because “economic
disparities started reflecting in school
education and that should not come
in the way of quality education for all
sections of students. Uniform quality
education cannot be denied because
of economic conditions of people.”
He further added that the State
Government’s decision to implement
equitable standard school education
by merging all Boards was not a
“unilateral decision.” All the stake-
holders involved were consulted
before arriving at the decision. “This
decision was lauded by them as it is a
step towards ensuring equitable stan-
dard education.”
But some experts caution that, as
long as the infrastructure and the
number of teachers are not increased,
equitable education will be a far-off
dream. Also, they caution that the
difference in the medium of educa-
tion may cause disparities. Initially,
the recommendations were wel-
comed with apprehension. Some pri-
vate schools opposed it. But the
Government claims that all con-
tentious issues have been resolved.
All told, some private schools are
still resisting this move. They are
planning to challenge the
Government’s decision in the court.
Even as the matriculation schools
are resisting the uniform syllabi intro-
A few comments on the introduction of Samacheer
A few people feel it is deleterious for
students of minority communities to be
forced to learn Tamil as a 2nd language
as it will severely impact their marks in
class 10. They suggest that Tamil be taught
as a compulsory 3rd language for those
who do not opt for it as a 2nd language.
It can be taught from class 1 to class 8.
This will give all students a working
knowledge of the language, which is
absolutely essential, and simultaneously
allow them to choose a 2nd language
they will be more comfortable learning,
say Hindi or French. This will also not
affect their class 10 aggregate marks.
Moreover, Tamil Nadu is the only State
in India, where a 3-language formula is
not followed. As a result, the minorities are
suffering and they are pushed back. No
doubt, Tamil is the regional language and
is a must for seeking employment in Tamil
Nadu but, for that, ample opportunities
are there to learn the language.
Sadly, the Government is silent on
the issue of making basic Hindi a com-
pulsory language. People seeking jobs
outside Tamil Nadu find themselves in a
ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
duced by the State Government,
experts of the Central Institute of
Indian Languages (CIIL) have sug-
gested ways to implement the same
without any resistance. Deputy
Director of CIIL, Dr Pon Subbiah,
who heads the Central-funded
National Testing Service (NTS), a
nationwide project for researching
“testing and evaluation” in the educa-
tion sector, said a core syllabi could be
formed by taking salient features of
the 4 existing Boards and provide it to
people who are willing to adopt it.
“People resisting the uniform syl-
real soup, without a working knowl-
edge of Hindi.
There are others who feel that the suc-
cess of this system depends on how the
Government implements this programme.
Just as it was careful before arriving at
this decision so also it needs to be careful
in implementing it. In its over-anxiety, the
matriculation standard should not be low-
ered and the student community should
not be adversely affected.
Concerned over the State
Government’s move for a uniform syl-
labus, dozens of matriculation schools in
the State are now opting for affiliation
with the CBSE. The schools fear that,
once a uniform syllabus is implemented,
they would be forced to close down as
the same syllabus would be offered by
other State Board schools, depriving
them of their exclusivity to provide a bet-
ter standard of education. They feel that
the CBSE system of education will give
them more flexibility in terms of choice
of subjects and textbooks.
Some parents, who can afford it,
are already enrolling their wards in
public and international schools.
Welcoming the Government’s pro-
posed equitable standard school educa-
tion with caution, Union Home Minister
P. Chidambaram added the caveat that
the prescribed standards should be
more of a “minimum benchmark,” and
not put a ceiling on the academic
achievement of students.
129

Demanding quality: Public protest against shortcomings of Samacheer.
labi would be lured to adopt the core
syllabi that would be better than all
the 4 Boards,” Dr Subbiah observed.
Books for Samacheer
After presiding over a meeting to
review the implementation of the
Government’s latest policy decision
in education, Thangam Thennarasu,
School Education Minister, asserted
that the decision-making process
would be completely transparent.
The best features of the present syl-
labi of the existing 4 streams — State
Board, Matriculation, Oriental and
Anglo-Indian — would be incorpo-
rated. Teachers of private institutions,
if they desired so, would be involved
in the preparation of text-books.
He told The Hindu that “we are
keen on enhancing the overall quality
of text-books in terms of content,
printing quality and visual appeal.”--
He further said, “We will also use
the NCERT text-books as a model
and look at incorporating some of
their features. Text-books would,
hence, include a lot of pictures and
other visual elements.” Decisions
would be taken on the syllabus and
text-books in a transparent manner.
On questions regarding the 2-lan-
guage formula, Thennarasu said that
there would be no change in the posi-
tion that Tamil, as a language, would
have to be learnt compulsorily (up to
class 10). Besides Tamil, steps would
be taken to continue with the present
practice of permitting other lan-
guages as a medium of instruction.
130
The implementation of this new
system would also require the teacher-
training system to be enhanced and all
efforts will be taken to prepare the
teachers for this system. However, the
teaching fraternity is apprehensive
about the designing of the curriculum.
Apart from the fact that the new syl-
labus requires teachers to play a more
challenging role, schools will have to
plan such a framework so that teach-
ers have enough on their plate with
integrated subjects.
“The proposed uniform education
system for a common syllabus in the
State would be implemented only
after proper discussions with educa-
tionists and public,” said Minister for
Higher Education Dr K. Ponmudi.
Expressions of skepticism about
HUMAN GRACE
Poor girl’s honesty
Recently, I had been to a labour-
ing centre nearby. While coming out
I found to my dismay that my new
chappal I had kept outside was
missing. There was another pair
identical to mine. Presumably some-
body had taken away my pair mis-
taking it for hers as it was dark.
The one left behind was an old
one with lots of stitches in it.
Anyway, I wore it as I could not
walk barefeet. Next day, I went to
Send your entry written neatly on white paper to: ALIVE
Delhi Press, E-3, Jhandewala Estate, New Delhi-110 055.
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ALIVE ■ FEBRUARY 2010
any new initiative are not uncom-
mon, and so the voicing of apprehen-
sions being witnessed over the pro-
posed implementation of the system
in Tamil Nadu from next academic
year (for class 1 to 6 ) is not unusual.
Before introducing a uniform
stream of education throughout the
State, the policy-makers should take
into consideration the fact that it is
not possible for all students, who
pass out of colleges in Tamil Nadu, to
get suitable employment within the
State. In this regard, we see that, in
order to face global competition,
China has changed its education to
include English language courses.
In India, especially Tamil Nadu, the
Matriculation and CBSE schools are
functioning well, and the products of
these schools have qualified for higher
studies more easily than those who
studied in the State Board syllabus. It
would prove disastrous to the youth,
if, in the name of providing a uniform
syllabus, the Government fails to pro-
vide the type of education needed to
face the global competition. Further,
the ability of the teachers to teach well
is most important in order to improve
the standard of education in the
schools and improve the learning lev-
els of the students studying therein. ■
the centre and reported the matter
to the gentleman there. I was in for a
surprise. He told me that a
seemingle poor girl had given him a
pair of new chappals with a request
to find out the owner of the same.
She said she took it by mistake. I
was happy to see that it was mine
and accepted it. Needless to say, I
gave the old pair to the man there to
be handed over to the poor girl.
Nevertheless, inwardly I thanked
the poor girl for her honesty.
— Savithri Viswanathan