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FROM THE EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DESK

Printed and Published by Sanjay Hans, Owned by Sri jagannath Publications Pvt. Ltd and Printed at M/S Laxmi Printex, 442, Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Dist: Khurda, Orissa and Publised at 4th floor, Lalchand Market Complex, Satation Square, Unit-3, Bhubaneswar-1, Orissa, India. Editor: Sanjay Hans Content, Design & Production IANS Publishing www.ianspublishing.com

rissa borders on the Bay of Bengal. The eastern part, close to the sea is more prosperous, with a lot of tourist locations and religious places. The western part is a hilly and forested area, generally drought prone. It is a predominantly tribal belt. However, the western part of the state contains enormous volumes of iron ore and other minerals that promises to herald a major industrialisation of the state. It is a culturally rich state. The Bhubaneswar-Puri-Konark golden triangle is the pride of the state. Traditionally, Orissa descended from the historical kingdom of Kalinga. The script for the Oriya language derives from the Kalinga script which is one of the descendants of the Brahmi script. Orissa is well-known for handicrafts. Sambalpuri and Kataki sarees in handspun cotton and silk or tussar, have traditional Hindu and Buddhist designs on them. There is filigree work in silver that you will find in Kataka. You will also find fine tribal work in brass and other metal-wire. Pattachitra is traditional painting on palm-leaf or raw silk. Eat the rasagullas from the dhabas or the little snack stores set in freeways, it comes in yellow white and brown color and are very delicious. Taste chena pod, another traditional sweet-meat from Orissa. If you enjoy spicy food and used to Indian cuisine, you can try out the local Oriya cuisin made out of Sea food (like Fish, tiger prawns and crab curry prepared with exotic spices). Its a foodie's paradise. There are several good hotels in Bhubaneswar, such as Trident Hilton, Hotel Mayfair, and Hotel Swosti Plaza. You can also get decent accommodation at the [OTDC] hotels all over the state in tourist locations. In the smaller towns, try and stay in the Forest Bungalows or Inspection Bungalows, mostly run for government officials on tour, but provided to others when vacant. The people of Orissa are known for their hospitality. It is largely peaceful( Till date, their has never been any large scale violence on communal grounds), and the society is very tolerant and accepting towards other cultures. However, the State, for reasons historical, economic and political,has remained isolated from the country's mainstream and hence has not been able to take in it's stride the tremendrous progress the Indian people have achieved in all spheres, including those the social sphere.

(Sanjay Hans)

2 India First | April 4- April 10, 2009 3

contents

In 1995, then Orissa Chief Minister Biju Patnaik severed the alliance with the Left and lost the Assembly election to the Congress. Son Navin too has severed ties with partner BJP. Will he go his father’s way in paving the way for a Congress rule?

50 Jagannath’s Muezzin

Famour Oriya musician and singer Sikander Alam believes in the purity of music — untouched by the cacophony of communalism, he still sings devotional songs in praise of Lord Jagannath CAREERS:

26 Celluloid dreams

cricket’s 54 Orissa talent tapper Coach Kishore Mania is working hard to turn the state into a hub of cricketing talent, hoping that Orissa can make it big one day. The man behind stylish opener Shiv Sunder Das is grooming young talents

18 NANO’S HERE BUSINESS:

Tata Motors finally unveils the Tata Nano — its already legendary Rs 1-lakh car

38 Queen of sea FEATURE:

Twenty-eight-year old Chaitanya Datla becomes the first civilian woman to sail on an Indian warship

Like father like son?

India First | April 4- April 10, 2009

Filmmaking is a highly competitive career option that provides a lot of employment opportunities.If one has artistic and technical skills and at the same time an ability to express ideas, this is the right career. CINEMA:

44 Kylie’s shopping spree in Mumbai Kylie Minogue went on a shopping spree in Mumbai and ended up being grossly overcharged!

AND MUCH MORE ORISSA SCAN 16 BUSINESS CAPSULE 20 TRAVEL 58 ASTROLOGY 61 BOOKS & IDEAS 57 SCIENCE AND HEALTH 42 NEWSMAKERS 62

MAIL OF THE WEEK With the breaking of the BJP-BJD alliance, the future of our poverty-stricken state is uncertain. The CM has played a big gamble. Rabindra Sahoo, Bhubaneswar

Not a sudden death Your cover story Death of an Alliance (Mar 21) traces the BJD’s parting of ways with the BJP a long way back to a BJP leader voicing his opposition to the state government’s deal with POSCO and the Kandhamal riots. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well-written, fascinating account. —Abhinav Anand, Bhubaneswar

If Saturn was just exalted, one would always take the easy way out and be more diplomatic in general. Retrograde Saturn is a little more skeptical and slow and gains more through obstacles/disruption rather than a building process. Retrograde exalted Saturn is a strong placement but it gives slow results over a longer period of time, in comparison to a direct exalted Saturn. Saturn will work more strongly in one's advanced. —Amith Rahul, Kattak, Orissa

Whenever I see the games Pakistan and the US play vis-a-vis terrorism in India, I think of a Kannada proverb—”Nee sattante maadu, naa attante maadteeni ( You pretend like dead, I pretend like crying).” —Ram Shankar Sha, Chala

Saturn’s Navamsa placement in Capricorn gives it a rigid spine and strong material inclinations. It makes it a worldly planet. In a way it can be seen as a corporate placement. Saturn is in Cancer with Ketu in the Nakshatramsha and gives it a soft under belly from a pastlife, dedicated to homely/maternal issues. It works by being receptive to other’s needs. Saturn is in a

Shashtiamsha called Lakshmisha meaning Lord of Laxmi (wealth). This makes it a good financial planet which promises financial gains in its periods. —Ram Shankar Sha, Kattak

If you read my book on the Lunar Nodes you will find that even though Rahu is debilitated in Saggitarius it has the capacity to give good results because Rahu never does in Jupiter's sign. —Ram Shankar Sha, Bhubaneswar

Try to mix the pada lords with the Nakshatra lords like you would mix the energies of two planets in conjunction. For example if Venus is in fourth pada of Ardra, than RahuJupiter (Pisces mode) conjunction sort of energy would be relayed by Venus will make things work in a better way. —Harshita Choudhary, Mukthimarg

If you read my book on the Lunar Nodes you will find that even though Rahu is debilitated in Saggitarius it has the capacity to give good results because Rahu never does in Jupiter’s sign.

“

A period of retreat is coming to an end. If you have been able to get way from it all much the better but if you have.

“

COVER STORY:

—Amith Rahul, Cuttack, Orissa

—Ram Shankar Sha, Bhubaneswar

We should also remember that it was his rath yatra that started the marginalising of the Muslim community, starting with the attack on the Babri Masjid in 1992. As home minister, he did not inspire much confidence. Instead of lposign those questions, he should be answering them himself —SN Iyear, Bhubaneswar

Send in your feedback to: Editor Indian First Bhubaneswar, Orissa email:indiafirsteditor@ians.in

India First | April 4- April 10, 2009 5

KNOW YOUR STATE | SUBHA STAMBHA

TOWER OF STRENGTH By Upendra Panda

UPENDRA PANDA

oing by historians’ conjectures and local legends, in the 11th century, when a victorious Somavamshi king Yajati I conceived the Subha Stambha, it was more than just a 11-metre tall and a metre-wide pillar. A Garuda postioned at the top adorned the pillar. It might be stripped of its beauty — like a statue without the head — but still stands near the famous Vijaja Temple in Jajpur, having weathered the storms of history with its engravings intact to tell a story. Also known as Chandeswar pillar, it resembles Puri’s Sun pillar and stands on a pedestal carved out of a three-piece stone block. Made of chlorite stone, the pillar has a square base. An octagonal section rests on it and the length of

the pillar has 16 sides. The plain, unfinished look of its base still baffles historians. The local legends though explain both the unfinished look and the missing Garuda. The Garuda, atop the pillar, was uprooted in the 16th century by Kalapahad, the Muslim invader, who had come to plunder Puri’s Jagannath Temple. His elephants were then deployed to uproot the pillar, but they only succeeded in defacing it. The historians are yet to ascertain its place in their scheme of things, but the District Collector (DM) of Jajpur is confident that facts surrounding the pillar will unfold. It just has to stand. The DM has sought the assistance of the Archaeological Survey of India to preserve what could be the remnant of a historical monument.

MILESTONES ON BJP’S SIDE

NCP STATE CHIEF

DANCER HONOURED

Former state minister Bijay Mohapatra, who resigned as president of the Odisha State unit of the Nationalist Congress Party on March 19, is all set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mohapatra met LK Advani in New Delhi on March 22 and discussed about the position that he would be given in the party. Mohapatra will formally join the BJP in Bhubaneswar before the party finalises the list of its candidates for the second phase of elections in the state.

Former minister Prashanta Nanda has been elected State president of Sharad Pawar led Nationalistic Congress Party (NCP). The actorturned-politician Nanda succeeds Bijaya Mohapatra. Prashanata, a veteran actor who became a minister while he was in the Bharatiya Janata Party, had joined the NCP after quitting BJP. In 1962, he won the National Film Award for best actor for for his debut film Nua Bou

The First Bharatmuni Award will be awarded to famous classical dancer Thankamani Kutty in a function to be held in Jayadev Bhawan on December 21. The award is presented by a leading cultural organisation that was founded several years ago. Instituted by Kalingayana Tourya Trikam in 2008, the Bharatmuni Award is conferred on an artist every year for contribution to conservation and promotion of performing arts.

India First | April 4- April 10, 2009

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COVER STORY

1995 Once More? Biju Patnaik severed an enduring alliance and lost an election. Is his son about to make the same mistake? By Jatindra Dash

he year: 1995. The legendary Biju Patnaik, Orissa’s tallest leader, is nearing the end of his first full term in office. Elections to the Assembly are round the corner. His popularity among the people is at a high. The opposition Congress party is in disarray, its cadres dispirited. Along with his allies, the Left parties, Biju has successfully united the antiCongress vote. A return to power for his Janata Dal is almost inevitable. As the countdown to the polls begin, the Left springs a surprise, demand-

BJD chief Naveen Patnaik with his flock of MLAs. In his father’s footsteps

8 India First | March 28-April 3, 2009

ing a greater share of seats. Irked by the demand, the imperious Biju summarily severs the alliance and contests the elections on his own. In the multi-polar contests that ensue, the Congress returns to power with a slender margin, surprising itself the most. In the Lok Sabha elections that follow a year later, the party walks away with 16 of the 21 seats, leaving the Janata Dal with a paltry four. Cut to 2009. Switch the father for the son, current Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and change the allies from the Left parties to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The

only constant: a moribund Congress. Patnaik junior, much like his father, is riding high in the popularity ratings, and looks set for a record third term in office. But irked by his 11-year-long ally’s role in the Kandhamal riots just months before the elections, he summarily severs the partnership and decides to go it alone. Are we looking at history repeating itself as tragedy for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)? Is the Congress set to surprise itself again? Whatever the answer, there is no doubt that the 63-year-old socialiteturned-politician is walking into the

toughest electoral battle of his 12year-old political career. His biggest plus is his image. “The middle class adores his honesty, and the poor consider him a saviour for providing rice at Rs 2 a kilo,” says Damodar Rout, the BJD secretary general. Always clad in crumpled white kurta and pyjama, Patnaik junior gives the impression of being an austere politician. He draws applause when he mumbles a few words in Oriya, and then tells people in Hindi that he has no encumbrances and that the people of the state are his family. His bachelordom comes handy in creating the image of a selfless politician. The image assiduously built by him naturally goes down well in a state known for its backwardness and poverty. The question, however, is: Will Patnaik’s image alone will do the trick for him in the forthcoming elections, bringing him back to

LIKE FATHER, UNLIKE SON aveen Patnaik may be as charismatic as his father, and as popular with the people. But the two have strikingly different personalities. And this difference may prove crucial if the son is to not repeat the mistake his father made. Biju courted and loved controversies, flaunted money power in politics and acquired a larger than life image. Naveen, on the other hand, has successfully built an image of an honest and frugal leader who does not tolerate corruption. Biju was open and large-hearted, even towards his bitterest critics. Those who know Naveen say that, in contrast, no one quite knows what he is thinking. Biju was impetuous, Naveen is ruthless. He has sacrificed people who could sully his image or pose a threat to his leadership within the party. Biju was impulsive, while Naveen is perceived to be a cold, shrewd and calculating. The father was passionately ideological. His hatred and contempt for communal politics is well known. He assiduously kept the saffron parivar at bay. Though secular, Naveen does not share his father’s dislike for the BJP. In his bid for power, he embraced the party — and in the process helped it enlarge its political space in the state. And that could cost him in this election.

PCC Chief KP Singh Deo with Ghulam Nabi Azad. In with a chance.

power in the state and making him a kingmaker at the Centre? Considering electoral statistics and the ground-level political reality, it is going to be an uphill task for Patnaik. “ I believe he has underestimated the BJP’s ability to pay spoilsport,” says political analyst Ashok Mohapatra. Until 1999, as part of a national strategy, the BJP concentrated on the tribal dominated areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand. In Orissa, its hold over the electorate was marginal in these areas. Politically, it thus suited Patnaik to forge an alliance with the BJP under Atal Behari Vajpayee. The BJP, then a party with a negligible presence in the state, was given nine of the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 63 of the 147 Assembly seats. In 1999, the BJP opened its account from Orissa in the Lok Sabha, winning all the nine seats allocated to it. It also secured 38 seats in the Assembly. In the subsequent polls in 2004, it won seven Lok Sabha seats and 32 Assembly seats. During the last 11 years, the BJP, its mother organization, the RSS, and its various offshoots have expanded their network, particularly in the areas where it contested Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. In

India First | March 28-April 03, 2009 9

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The BJP could play spoiler for BJD

the coastal belt, the BJD had been calling the shots, barring in a few seats. There is has been a blurring of the distinction between the grassroots workers of the two parties in many areas of the state as they have worked together for over a decade. In overall percentage terms, during the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJD and BJP together accounted for 49.03 percent of the total votes polled; 30.02 percent going to the BJP and 19.3 percent to the BJP. Against this, the Congress had a little over 40 percent of the popular votes. But one must remember that the victory margins in 14 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats was around 10 percent or less of the votes polled. Of the constituencies that saw closely fought contests, six seats went to the BJD, five to the BJP, two to the Congress and one to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). With the abrupt ending of the BJD-BJP alliance, the outcome of the battle in

these and other constituencies in the state would be largely determined by the extent to which the anti-Congress vote gets split between the two former allies. In the Assembly, the story is a little different. The difference between the BJP and the Congress was a little less than 2 per cent in the 63 seats that they directly fought against each other. On the other hand, the difference between the BJD and the Congress, essentially in coastal and central Orissa, was nearly 9 percent. In a no-holds-barred contest between the two estranged partners, the Congress obviously does have an edge. To overcome its disadvantage in the coastal belt, the BJP has roped in Patnaik’s bete noire and inveterate party hopper, Bijoy Mohapatra. Mohapatra, was one of the key founders of BJD had been a vociferous supporter of the alliance with the BJP in 1999. He may not be a tall enough leader to change the political dynamics in the state in the BJP’s

favour, but he has the potential to damage the BJD’s prospects in the coastal belt. BJP believed it could expand its base in the state through alliance politics, as it had done in Rajasthan and Gujarat, eventually gobbling up the anti-Congress space. The basic strategy remains the same. The party’s managers feel that if Patnaik is defeated, he would have no stomach for the street-level opposition politics and would be forced to concede space to the BJP in the long run. As the BJP drums up its campaign in the state, lining up star campaigners, including its highest billed attraction Narendra Modi, it is working with a long-term vision, where it expects the BJD to wither away. Patnaik, who is on a high after his recent victories in the local civic elections in Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack, has opened channels with other marginal non-Congress players like the Left, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the JMM.

Ambitious leader that he is, it is highly unlikely that he would concede the exaggerated space that is being claimed by these nonCongress parties. It is entirely possible that these alliances will not come through and that would result in the further splitting of the non-Congress vote, a possibility which would hit Patnaik the hardest. Although the BJD-BJP divorce has invigorated the Congress machinery in the state, the party, whose virtual dysfunctionality had helped Patnaik emerge as a strong leader, does not appear to have a collective or clear strategy to take on the BJD. The state leadership is busy in its own intraparty games which revolve around shadow tussles between octogenarian leader JB Patnaik and newly appointed working president KP Singh Deo – the former, an over-thehill discredited personality, and the latter, though well regarded, lacking in experience or a base in the state. If the Congress does come to power, the credit will go to the BJP.

in the civic polls. 2004: BJD’s Prasanna Patsani had defeated JB Patnaik’s son-in-law Soumya Ranjan Patnaik by 1,12,279 votes.

Gomango will be hoping for a perfect 10. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had emerged as a third force in the last election. 2004: Gomango defeated BJD’s P Mutika by 43,267 votes.

Swatantra Party in Parliament in 1962 and 1971-75. 2004: Deo’s son BK Deo of the BJP defeated the Congress’ Bhakta Charan Das by 34,122 votes.

thrice in a row. 2004: BJD’s Prasanna Acharya defeated Congress’ Sanjay Bhoi by 14,770 votes.

Nawarangpur (ST)

An interesting constituency that is held by the BJP but where all the Assembly seats are represented by the BJD. It recorded the highest victory margin in in the state in the last election. 2004: BJP’s Kharbela Swain defeated the Congress’ Niranjan Panda by a margin of 2,36,000 votes.

BATTLEGROUND CONSTITUENCIES

he delimitation has affected all the constituencies in the state. Two Lok Sabha constituencies -- Phulbani and Deogarh -- have been erased from the electoral map. And two other -- Bargarh and Kandhamal – have been created. Jagatsinghpur, in the coastal region, has become a reserved seat, while the newly-created Kandhamal (earlier a part of the Phulbani seat that was reserved for scheduled castes) is now a general seat. The constituencies to watch out for are:

Kendrapara Except for 1952, Kendrapara has never returned a Congress candidate to the Lok Sabha. It is considered a citadel of Biju Patnaik and now Naveen. High-profile industrialist-turnedpolitician and Rajya Sabha member Jay Panda is expected to be the BJD candidate. The Congresss may pit cricketer Ranjib Biswal against him. Both are

10 India First | March 28-April 3, 2009

2004: BJD”s Archana Nayak defeated Congress’ Srikant Jena by 86,843 votes.

Cuttack

Aska

Represented by Harekrushna Mahtab and JB Patnaik. Although the Cuttack city (Assembly) is held by the BJP’s Sameer Dey, the party was routed in the civic polls here. The BJD will be hoping to retain this seat. 2004: BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab defeated Jayanti Patnaik by 1,73,198 votes.

Bhubaneswar It’s the only seat in Orissa which has been won by the CPI-M for three terms. The city (Assembly seat) is represented by BJP’s veteran leader BB Harichandan. The party was routed

Represented in the past by Biju Patnaik and Naveen Patnaik (he became Union Steel and Mines Minister in the Vajpayee government). His Assembly constituency is part of this Lok Sabha seat. 2004: Harihar Swain of the BJD and defeated Congress’ Ramakrushna Patnaik by 1,32,602 votes.

Koraput (ST) Represented by former Chief Minister Giridhar Gomango since 1977. The seat has never been won by a nonCongress party. Nine-time winner

Khagapati Pradhani of the Congress has had the distinction of winning the seat eight times in a row since 1967. But the BJP influence is now showing. The BSP polled a significant 85,640 votes and could play spoiler for the Congress. 2004: BJP’s Parshuram Majhi defeated CS Majhi of Congress by 24,890 votes.

Kalahandi: A traditional nonCongress bastion. Represented by former ruler Pratap K Deo who was the leader of

Balasore

Sambalpur What Cuttack is to coastal Orissa, Sambalpur is to Western Orissa. No fixed loyalties, it recorded the the lowest victory margin in the last election. The seat has been won by the BJD

Sundargarh (ST) The constituency of former Union Minister and BJP’s strongman Jual Oram, who has scored a hattrick here and is hoping for a fourth win. But without the BJD support, will he make it? 2004: Oram defeated Frida Topno of the Congress by 39,676 votes.

Dhenkanal Seat of PCC President KP Singh Deo, who had represented it in 1967 for the Swatantra Party. Minister in Indira and Rajiv governments, he has won several times from this seat. 2004: Singh lost to former Chief Minister Nandini Satpathy’s son Tathagat Satpathy by 1,22,882 votes.

India First | March 28-April 3, 2009 11

NATIONAL POLITICS

Third Stimulus Is the Great Indian Election the next big stimulus for the economy? Probably. What with Rs. 10,000 crore set to be spent in six weeks By Darshan Desai

t is billed as the “greatest democratic exercise in the world”, with over 714 million people voting in five phases over a onemonth period. There will be 8,28,804 polling booths across the country, manned by an estimated 4 million officials and protected by 2.1 million police and paramilitary personnel. Some 6,000 candidates are expected to spend money on everything from renting private planes and helicopters, to buying individual votes. All this also makes it one of the most expensive democratic exercises in the world. By the time the votes are counted on May 16, an estimated Rs. 10,000 crore, or about $2 billion, is expected to have been spent on the jamboree, next only to the United States, which saw $5.3 billion being spent during its staggered, year-long election. This is a conservative estimate, thrown up by a survey conducted by the New Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies (CMS). Others like former finance secretary S. Narayan believe the actual spend could be “four or five times” this figure, comfortably making it a more expensive election than the one that brought Barack Obama to power. Of the Rs. 10,000 crore, the Election Commission, which conducts this mammoth exercise, is expected to spend Rs. 1,300 crore. Another Rs. 700 crore is expected to be spent by the central and state governments. The remaining Rs. 8,000 crore will be spent by political parties and candidates. With elections scheduled to be held in 540 seats, that’s about Rs. 15 crore per constituency. That’s 60 times the amount – Rs. 25 lakh – permitted per candidate by the Election

12 India First | March 28-April 3, 2009

Commission. And much of it will be spent in cash. So where does all this money go? Which are the sectors that will benefit? Here’s a short list: NEWS MEDIA: Over the next six weeks, the media – print, television, Internet and radio -- will forget the downturn, the price of newsprint and exhorbitant carriage fees. All national political parties, and even their regional counterparts, will open up their purse-strings as the campaign gathers steam, placing advertisements in newspapers, TV channels and websites. The largesse – expected to be upwards of Rs. 600 crore – will not be limited to the large, English-language “national” newspapers and TV stations. In a general election, even small, regional “language” papers can be expected to receive ads from political parties and candidates. Radio, though not a news medium as yet, will also be a beneficiary. The BJP is particularly focused on this medium, and the Congress can be expected to follow suit. FM radio stations are today estimated to have a broadcast footprint that extends across 280 of the 545 parliamentary constituencies in the country.

Spiralling Costs The first Lok Sabha elections (1952) the cost to the exchequer was a measly Rs.10.5 crore. It has since been spiralling. 1991:

Rs. 359 crore.

1996:

Rs. 597 crore.

1998:

Rs. 666 crore.

1999:

Rs. 880 crore

2004:

Rs. 950 crore

2009:

Rs. 1,300 crore* * Estimated

ADVERTISING FIRMS: This is a related field. Ad firms have already raked it in, having conceived and designed the print, TV and out-ofhome campaigns of the major parties. As also posters and pamphlets. But as electioneering hots up, there could be more work as parties seek to parry new campaign thrusts by rivals. There will be downstream business for those in the business of making cut-outs and selling hoarding space. The Congress party has hired three firms for its print and TV campaign – JWT, Crayons and Percept – while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has Frank Simoes and TAG in its corner. The BJP, which is also focusing a big way on the Net like Obama, has hired experts to advise it on selling its prime ministerial candidate. The 81-year-old L.K. Advani, to the predominantly youthful electorate. MUSIC COMPANIES: The music company floated by the late Gulshan Kumar has reportedly been paid Rs. 1 crore by the Congress party to secure the exclusive right to use the

Rs. 8,000 crore will be spent by political parties and candidates. With elections scheduled to be held in 540 seats, that’s about Rs. 15 crore per constituency.

Oscar-winning song from Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman’s Jai Ho. Several documentary film makers have been roped in by both major parties to make 30 second to 2 minute clips for the campaign. Each of these could anywhere between Rs. 2 lakh and 5 lakh. TELECOM OPERATORS: In a country with 376.12 million (at the end of February) mobile phone subscribers, political parties can ignore this segment at their own peril. In 2004, the BJP was the first party to use this medium to communicate

its message. Its SMSes and the recorded message by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee – the brainchild of the late Pramod Mahajan -- were hailed as innovative. Though it did not win the party the election, the BJP is again first off the block on this front. Though no figures are available, political watchers expect “millions” of SMSes and calls to be made to the electorate. PRIVATE AVIATION FIRMS: For the two main parties, making sure its top leaders are able to cover large parts of India’s 2.97 million square kilometer area means a huge cost. Most hire helicopters within states so that the leaders address as many public meetings in a day as possible, given the campaign period is now limited to two weeks. Larger aircraft are hired for cross-country trips. Take just one example. Hi Flying Aviation, which claims to be India’s oldest air charter firm, has said it has rented out its entire fleet of helicopters and executive jets to campaigners at prices of between Rs. 75,000 rupees and Rs. 1,50,000 an hour. “There’s a huge demand for helicopters and political parties don’t mind the cost,” R. Puri, the head of Air Charters India, another plane rental firm, has been quoted as saying in news reports. SMALL BUSINESSES: Printers who print posters, cloth merchants who churn out cloth for party flags, transporters who hire out buses, trucks and SUVs for the campaign, those who make masks and other party merchandise – all these people stand to benefit. AAM AADMI: Finally, the aam aadmi, especially in the rural belt and the urban shanties, will also benefit. We have already seen visuals on TV of Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh distributing cash to people who came to pay respects to him on Holi. There were similar visuals from BJP leader Varun Gandhi’s Pilibhit constituency. Election-eve is usually a time for celebration in the slums and villages in the hinterland, as candidates ensure voters receive cash and, perhaps, some intoxicants to put them

State Funding? State funding of elections, regarded by many as the perfect pill to cleanse the country’s electoral system of the influence of black money, remains a far cry. ◆ Six committees have discussed the issue in past 25 years. ◆UPA government finally introduced the State Funding of Elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies Bill in December 2004. ◆No consensus over bill as funding meant only for national and state parties recognised by the Election Commission. Critics said state funding would work if there was a two-party system. ◆In coalition era, regional and unregistered parties blocked the bill.

“If state funding is restricted only to the national parties, the regional parties would protest. And if all have to funded by the state, what is the limit we fix on the spending?” —Manish Tewari, Congress party “State funding is not happening because this is a coalition era where there are many regional and unregistered parties who cannot be financed. If the government starts funding everyone, it will involve a huge cost.” —Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP in a mood to push the electronic voting machine button in their favour in the polling booths. Of course, the Election Commission will be keeping a keen eye on all this. “We have told our observers to track surrogate ads and advertisements masquerading as news items, and to keep an eye on mass weddings, birthday parties and mass-feeding programmes,” Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswamy has said. “Our emphasis will be on controlling the money power in elections.” And that, as we know, is easier said than done.

India First | March 28-April 3, 2009 13

POLL POURRI

Of sense and nonsense Oh! God, we want good governance

told the cheering crowd. Kanyadaan is a gift given to a daughter by her family during marriage.

Varun freed Gandhis of their sins: DRM

esperate for some good and clean governance, a group of senior citizens in Ranchi, Jharkhand, decided to appease the Gods for it. Around 50 people performed a fire ritual, praying for good political representatives in the Lok Sabha elections. In the backdrop, loomed a picture of US President Barack Obama. “We are fed up with the nature of politics.... We are left with no option but to seek the blessings of God,” said Mukhtar Singh, President of the Retired Employees Association.

‘Birthday terrorism’: Ajit’s swipe at Maya Most birthdays are happy occasions. But one can’t be too sure in Uttar Pradesh, especially if it’s the birthday of Chief Minister Mayawati, says Rashtriya Lok Dal’s chief Ajit Singh. Singh said at a rally that the state has “a different sort of terrorism — birthday terrorism”. “Everyone has to gift something to ‘behenji’ on her birthday,” Singh said. “Imagine what will happen if behenji gets married — you will die paying kanyadaan,” he

The Dharma Raksha Manch (DRM), a Hindu group affiliated to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has said that the Gandhi family has been absolved of all its “sins” by the alleged anti-Muslim speech given by estranged member Varun Gandhi. Referring to Varun’s speech in Pilibhit, DRM co-convener Hans Das said at a programme organised in Lucknow, “Varun has freed Gandhis from all sins.”

Parties woo enfant terrible of Karnataka He is an ageing star, suffered a shock defeat in the Assembly poll, rarely attends Lok Sabha and did not answer a single question in the House while he was an Union minister. But MH Ambareesh, who belongs to the Vokkaliga caste, is being sought

after by the Congress (to which he belongs) as well as the JD-S (from which he crossed over some years ago) and the BJP. The Congress wants to renominate him from Mandya, Karnataka’s sugar belt and stronghold of Vokkaliga caste. BJP’s first Chief Minister in Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa and his JD-S predecessor HD Kumarasawamy are also wooing the ‘sulking’ filmstar to be their candidate from a choice of consitituencies — Mandya, Bangalore Rural or Mysore, all which have a sizeable Vokkaliga vote. But the actor-politician is keeping up the suspense.

Now, the blind can vote without help t aims to give the blind voter dignity and secrecy. For the first time, Braille-facilitated electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being introduced on a large scale for the 15th Lok Sabha polls. “A total of 1.05 million EVMs are being used, of which 450,000 are Braille-enabled. These EVMs are spread across the country in many states,” an Election Commission (EC) official told India First. “Now, the blind persons can cast their vote without any help.” The facilities provided by the poll panel have not come easily. The EC was petitioned by activists and NGOs working in the disability sector to create the infrastructure for disabled people, including the sizeable blind population.

I’M NOT LAUNCHING PASWAN’S SON AS ACTOR: PRAKASH JHA By Subhash K Jha

am Vilas Paswan’s son Chirag is all set to enter Bollywood and there were rumours that filmmaker Prakash Jha, who is to contest the Lok Sabha polls on the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ticket from Bihar, is launching the youngster. The director has rubbished the reports, but said that the newcomer

14 India First | March 28-April 3, 2009

had all the qualities of a good hero. “Chirag is a very gifted boy. He’s tall and good-looking and ideal hero material. He has also been training

hard for a career. So, as a filmmaker from Bihar, I do feel duty-bound to do something with Chirag. However, I’m not launching Chirag. Do I look like the kind of person who’d give in to such arm-twisting tactics?” said Jha. Known for his hard-hitting movies set in Bihar, Jha clarified that Chirag was being launched in a film by producer Anuj Saxena.

FEATURE

NANO CAR NAMA

Specifications Power Plant: 2 cylinder SOHC petrol Bosch multipoint fuel injection (MPFI single injector) all aluminium 623 cc (38 cu in) 2 cylinder petrol with Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 33 horsepower (25 kW) 624 cc (38 cu in)

How has Tata managed to hold down the cost of the Nano? An IF primer.

Engine: The rear-engine, rearwheel drive format eliminates the driveshaft and saves money. Two- cylinders instead of usual 4cylinders.

Hatch: The non-opening hatch means no costs in terms of beading, hinges and locks.

Single Mirror: Only right wing Mirror.

Wiper: The designers at IDea cut the wiper count to one.

Compression Ratio: 9.5:1 Bore: 73.5 mm (2.9 in) × 73.5 mm (2.9 in) Power: 33 PS (33 hp/24 kW) @ 5500 rpm[61] Torque: 48 N·m (35 ft·lbf) @ 2500 rpm Transmission: 4-speed manual transmission Acceleration: 0-70 km/h (43 mph): 14 seconds

Instruments Pannel: Central meter set eliminates need to adapt plastic assembly for right- and lefthand drive markets. ECU: Tata worked with Bosch to dramatically cut the Engine Control Unit (ECU) price. One solution employed was to halve the number of sensors used by the ECU.

Wheels: Small tubeless and lighter tyres positively impact economy, performance and ride quality. The wheels were mounted with only three nuts, instead of four.

NOW PLAYING The Nano will be available in three trim levels -Nano Standard (Base) -Nano Deluxe (CX) -Nano Luxury (LX)

18 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

Suspension, Tires & Brakes: ! Transmission(s) 4 speed synchromesh with overdrive in 4th ! Wheelbase 2,230 mm (87.8 in) ! Length 3100 mm (122 in) ! Width 1500 mm (59.1 in) ! Height 1600 mm (63 in) ! Kerb weight 580 kg (1,300 lb)-600 kg (1,300 lb) ! Fuel capacity 15 L (4 US gal; 3 imp gal) ! Designer Girish Wagh, Justin Norek of Trilix, Pierre Castinel

ORISSA SANDMAN’S TRIBUTE

Body: A light gauge metal body and the production process aims for minimum wastage.

COMING SOON DIESEL NANO In technical collaboration with diesel engine specialist FEV, Tata Motors is developing a 684 cc diesel engine for Nano. The diesel variant will be available by September 2009 and will cost Rs. 2 lakh.

Fuel Cap: Located under the nose, so the body does not need a hole.

BIO-NANO?

E-NANO

Tata may produce an eco-friendly Nano that will run on bio-diesel.

Tata is also believed to be working on an electric version of the Nano, called the E-Nano. The electric car will come equipped with solar panels on the roof top and a durable battery that will power the motor.

HYBRID NANO A hybrid version of Nano is likely to hit the tarmac. It is not clear, whether the electric motor will be paired with a gasoline or diesel engine.

Where to Book Your Nano Samal Motors Banarpal, Angul Swapna Motors Pvt. Ltd Mancheswar Industrial Estate, Bhubaneswar

Shree Bharat Motors Ltd Plot No.1, Laxmisagar, Bhubaneswar Shree Bharat Motors Ltd Link Road, Madhupatna, Cuttack-753010

The sale of application forms and acceptance of booking amount at all SBI branches will start from April 9, 2009 till April 25, 2009.

India First | March 28- April 3, 2009 19

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NEWS CAPSULE | BUSINESS

SHORT TAKES

A file photo shows then Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran with former US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns (centre) and former ambassador David C Mulford in New Delhi

Diamonds to add more lustre to India-Africa ties

nies”. If India maintains its current level of defence spending to achieve its medium and long-term goals of force upgradation, then a growing part of the expected 10-year plan of $120 billion could be reoriented towards the US supplies, he said.

‘ALLOW DUAL-USE ITEMS’ By Arun Kumar | Washington ndia has asked the United States to lift the ban on sale of dual-use items, noting that besides $150 billion business for American nuclear power reactors, it could lead to another $120 billion in defence sales. “With the opening up of nuclear commerce with India, there is a need now to review and remove these unnecessary restrictions on international trade in dualuse item and technology,” observed Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on nuclear issues Shyam Saran this week. “As India’s economy matures and its industry moves into higher-end manufacturing, the demand for high technology goods and services is destined for a major boost,” he said in a keynote speech at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank on “Indo-US civil nuclear agreement: Expectations and Consequences”.

Saran added, “And the US, of course, remains preferred source of such goods and services,” expressing the hope that “the socalled Entity List, which still prohibits sale of US technology and services to a number of Indian high-tech companies, will be scrapped sooner than later. Hit by the global economic crisis, India’s growth rate is likely to go down 2 or 3 percentage points in the next couple of years, but energy and defence will remain at the top of India’s national agenda, Saran said. “This should encourage the US to look at India as a welcome source of demand for its goods and services, even as the global economy contracts,” he said. Saran, who played a key role in negotiating the nuclear deal, said India’s offer to buy upto 10,000 megawatts of US nuclear power reactors “may translate into $150 billion worth of projects with significant business opportunities and potential collaboration for both Indian and US compa-

BHEL SIGNS DEAL FOR N-REACTORS uclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) inked two separate deals with GE-Hitachi to build nuclear reactors for power generation in the country last week. Under the agreement, GE-Hitachi along with the Indian companies will begin planning for the necessary resources in manufacturing and construction management for a potential multiple-unit advanced boiling water reactor nuclear power station. “We are delighted at having signed these agreements and see it as a great opportunity to extend our existing footprint in nuclear energy in India,” Kishore Jayaraman, Chief Executive of GE Energy India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, said in a statement. The Mumbai-based NPCIL has already signed a Rs 600-billion agreement with France’s Areva for the supply of nuclear reactors.

FACEBOOK USERS REVOLT AGAINST SITE REDESIGNING ore than 1.7 million Facebook users have joined the protest against another redesign of the popular social networking site in one of the biggest consumer revolts seen in the online world. As of March 23, the Facebook group called “Petition Against the New Facebook” had 1,727,394 disgruntled members while a Facebook-sponsored poll on the redesign had received more than 1.2 million votes with just 75,000 approving the new look. The redesign was foisted on the site’s 175 million worldwide users late last week in a bid by Facebook to

better compete with microblogging sites such as Twitter while also making its pages more advertiser friendly. Opponents of the new design say it clutters their home page with updates from people they did not care about while also limiting the number of features available to users. Facebook has acknowledged the criticism. “The new Facebook home page is one step in the continued evolution of the site, designed to give people more ways to share and filter all types of content such as status updates, photos, videos, notes and more.... We are listening carefully to what people are saying,” the company said in a statement.

JET FARES NOSEDIVE eading private carrier Jet Airways announced special fares last week starting from Rs 1,722 on 30-day advance purchases, which — according to the company — is as low as the railway AC two-tier tickets. “Air travellers who purchase tickets in the domestic sector 30 days in advance would now enjoy low fares, starting from Rs 2,071 for Jet Airways and Rs 1,722 for JetLite,” the company said. JetLite is Jet Airways’ low-cost carrier. These fares include fuel surcharges (which generally is between Rs 2,000-2,700 on long routes) but exclude airport development and passenger service fee components, it said. Promotional charges will also be added with the offered prices. JetLite passengers will have to pay an additional transaction fee also, the airline said, adding that the new fares were almost equal to the AC two-tier railway tickets, booked under the Tatkal scheme. Jet Airways and JetLite carried 846,000 passengers last month while its rival Kingfisher Airlines emerged as the dominant player for the second consecutive month, flying 904,000 passengers. State-run Air India (domestic) flew 574,000 passengers in February. Last year, Jet Airways and JetLite enjoyed a market share of 25.4 per cent while Kingfisher captured a 27.6 per cent share. This comes in the wake of discounts being offered on international flights by foreign airlines. KLM offers the Delhi-London flight for Rs 9,900 excluding taxes while Emirates charges Rs 19,880 for the Mumbai-Dubai-London route. The airlines are struggling to meet expenses with reduced travelling due to the global recession.

In a step that is set to add extra shine to bilateral ties and help the African diamond industry, India is to set up diamond cutting and polishing institutes to train Africans. In the India-Africa Project conclave held in New Delhi this week, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that the move was “part of our philosophy of sharing our knowledge with others and in pursuance of our policy to increase capacity building in Africa.” India is the world’s largest importer of rough diamonds.

CII Green Business Centre wins global award The Hyderabad-based CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre has won the 2009 international Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Awards in the NGO category. The award is given for contributing to increasing renewable energy generation, increasing efficiency, achieving radical price reductions or developing new green markets in developing countries.

SKELETON FEELS THE HEAT 150-million-year-old complete and mounted skeleton of a dinosaur has failed to sell at a New York auction. There are only two skeletons of its kind in the world — the other Dryosaurus skeleton in existence is on display at the Carnegie Museum in Philadelphia, the IM Chait Gallery said in a statement before its Natural History Auction. The 2.7-metre long, 0.9-metre wide skeleton of the Jurassic Age planteating dinosaur was discovered in Wyoming in 1993 and was expected to sell for between $440,000 to $500,000. Although two US museums expressed interest in the dinosaur skeleton, they could not afford the minimum bid, broadcaster CNN reported this week. The fossil was dug up by Western Paleontological Laboratories in Lehi, Utah, and it had taken them two years to reconstruct the skeleton. Several other remnants of bygone beasts did sell at the auction though for less than expected. A roughly 20,000-year-old fossil of a young woolly mammoth, 7 feet tall and 15 feet-long, sold for $55,000. The skeleton of a 16-foot-long giant marine lizard called a mosasaur sold for $67,000. According to a director of the gallery, the items might have fetched up to ten times as much in a recession-free last year.

—Compiled by Aninda Dey 20 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

India First | March 28- April 3, 2009 21

The Indira Gandhi Park, a top favourite with the young

URBAN ARCADIA

HANGOUT ZONES with an office colleague. Come sunset and the place is thronged by youngsters and hostelers who buy hand woven clothes or handicraft.

Where do the young of Bhubaneswar seek privacy and create a world of their own? Away from the reach of prying eyes or the moral police, young lovers, newly-weds and collegians find their gardens of Eden within the city

Rendezvous Bhubaneswar By Prashant K Nanda and Byomkesh Biswal

anagement student Rashmi Singh looks forward to catching some private moments with her boyfriend Samir in cozier settings than their Bhubaneshwar hostels where a romantic rendezvous is anyway taboo. So Rashmi and Samir look out for places to hang out in the evenings every weekend. And where do those in love in Bhubaneswar spend time in quiet communion with each other? “Samir and I visit the Science Park

22 India First | March 28-April 3, 2009

and Ekamra Haat almost every day. After a long day in college and at work, we want to unwind and these spots are just right,” say Rashmi, who hails from Ranchi in Jharkhand. “Under the blue sky we spend some quality time with each other without wasting money. Though we work part time, we can’t afford to shell out a lot of money at a hotel for a weekend evening. So, we visit Ekamra Haat where you can sit for sometime in peace and before leaving for our hostels, eat something within our budget. It’s a replica of Delhi Haat,” says Rashmi. Samir

blushes in agreement. Indira Gandhi Park, Ekamra Kanan, and the Khandagiri Hills seem to be some of the other “hangout favs” of Bhubaneswar’s young. “Spending time in lush green parks here is great fun without burning a hole in your wallet,” says Sruti, a post-graduate student at Utkal University. Besides those in the first flush of romance, newly-weds, students and a growing mass of young executives throng these getaways for some discreet time together. As Bhubaneswar has a number of educational institutions with a large

number of students from outside Orissa, these gardens and walkabouts are their perfect time-out zones. “What do you want — a cosy setting, cheap but good food and some shopping — these hangout zones give you almost everything. An increasing number of malls, well-maintained parks and a specially designed handicraft market with proper food outlets, all let us chill out every weekend,” says Rajiv Mishra, a software professional in the city. Subasis Samal, an engineering student, says he prefers

Photo : India First

Science Park The thick plantation inside the Regional Science Centre, popularly known as Science Park, is a happy love spot. Despite a couple of invasions by the moral police, it remains one of the more beloved destinations for youngsters. There are plenty of garden chairs besides. Its proximity to most educational institutions and a no-frills atmosphere make it a favourite among college-goers. Ekamra Haat Ekamra Haat offers everything you want. Slip in and you can get the local delicacy ‘pakhal’ packaged for executives who come in hordes. After a sumptuous desi meal, the lush garden is the best place to enjoy an after-lunch break, especially

Shopping Arcades While the traditional hangout zones still attract many love birds, a growing number of shopping arcades are giving tough competition to them. Racy music and airconditioned window-shopping zones have turned them into a youngster’s paradise. Pal Heights, Big Bazar, Pantaloons Mall, and the Market Building Shopping Complex are some of the favourite hangouts. “Though the gardens continue to attract youngsters, an increasing number of people hang around shopping malls. From clothes to books, from foods to bars — arcades are proving to be a good mix of fun and work,” says Namita Nayak, a young lecturer. “I come here along with my husband every weekend. The atmosphere is changing and stealing a kiss or holding hands no longer attract attention. The crowd is also great,” Nayak adds. “Let there be love,” she chuckles, as she caresses her husband’s hands.

Photo : India First

Indira Gandhi Park The picture perfect park with a lush green topping, just in front of the state legislative assembly, offers an idyllic setting to chill out. Lover, collegian or executive, all can find an escape in this retreat even though it lies at the heart of the city. With lush trees providing great canopies, one can choose any corner of the park where the civic authorities have rather thoughtfully set up cozy, wrought iron seats!

Khandagiri and Udaygiri The historical caves on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, which were once carved out for Jain monks by Emperor Kharavela, has now become a favourite hangout for many. Tourists throng the place through the year while youngsters from Bhubaneswar often head out to the historic hillock in large numbers for fun.

Big Bazar

India First | March 28-April 3, 2009 23

URBAN ARCADIA Photo : India First

Have audacity, become your own podcaster Technology Made Easy

Ekamra Kanan

Nandankanan Botanical Garden as it is far from the city. “We can spend the entire evening together without being spotted,” he says. Increasing loneliness in cities, a crumbling joint family system, and shrinking space force people to seek out “private” spaces in public areas, sociologists say. “Young boys and girls are increasingly becoming dependent on each other — this could be due to lack of family support or perhaps diminishing attention from their parents. It could also be because of the nature of their jobs or profession. Even the visual media exerts an influence. All these mean that personal lives go public,” says Anuradha Mohanty, a sociologist. “Where is the space now for recreation? Hence the rise of the hangout zones,” Mohanty adds. “Ours is a joint family, comprising

24 India First | March 28-April 3, 2009

my old parents and a number of other close relations staying with us. We hardly find any time together and hence we come here under the pretext of shopping or some other work,” says a newly-wed couple in Ekamra Kanan. On the other hand, any expression of affection in a public place attracts attention and many couples believe that these hangout zones give them necessary privacy. “We can’t stop people from ogling at us. We can’t stop those popping eyes. But you also don’t want to be ogled at when you are spending some hard-won private moments together. So it is better to look out for a place where we can spend some moments of unfettered togetherness,” say a couple, snuggling at the Science Park. “This place is very good to get up close and personal with the person

you hang out with. Far away from probing family and friends, one gets to find a place where one can be at ease with the person one loves,” the couple says, on condition of anonymity. But as the “moral police” fume and fret, many celebrities believe social mores should be free of regressive diktats. “Though I don’t go out to parks, I love hanging out in shopping malls. It’s a free country and everyone is free to lead a life as per their wish,” says Leslie Tripathy, a noted Oriya album actor. “Hangout zones rejuvenate one’s spirits. And at a time where traditional modes of recreation are fast disappearing, there is no harm in exploring hangout zones to spend some quality time with a friend, relative or some one close to you, she adds.

udio content can easily be labelled as the orphan of the Internet. It has never come close to text that was By SUNIL SAXENA the undisputed content king in the pre-dotcom bubble era or video that has emerged as the favoured content king in the post-dotcom bubble era. There are reasons why this has happened. Audio content did not enthuse publishers in the early days of the net because there was not enough bandwidth to transfer heavy files. Publishers had difficulty pushing text on low bandwidth connections. They could not think of loading users with files that only buffered, and never downloaded. The post-bubble era witnessed You can start your the rise of YouTube.com. Users could not only watch videos with podcasting journey ease, but also could create and by downloading publish their own videos. It was a giant leap forward. Audacity, a free The transformation was so software that enables sudden that audio was relegated to a poor third, even though the you to create your technology to create and transown MP3 files. The mit audio files had improved by 2003. However, software is amazingly dramatically this does not mean that audio easy to use. You need content has been a complete washout on the net. It still has a no tutor, only comloyal audience, and there are mon sense. If you get many who swear by the power of audio. stuck, you can use Most important, there are tools available on the net that the help file allow you to create your own audio files, popularly known as podcasts. These enable you to record your songs and host them on the net; create entertaining programmes based on jokes, witticisms, quotes etc; or even create your own talk shows where you can given your take on IPL going out of India or on the way media is covering Election 2009. The possibilities are endless. What’s most important is that the entry costs are negligible. You can start your podcasting journey by downloading Audacity, a free software that enables you to create your own MP3

files. The software is amazingly easy to use. You need no tutor, only common sense. If you get stuck, you can use the help file. Besides Audacity, you need a microphone to record your song. You can buy it at any computer store for prices ranging from Rs 200 at the low end to Rs 2,000 at the high end. You don’t have to worry about the sound editor or mixer. Both these applications are part of Audacity. Yes. You will have to practise a few times as to how to edit your sound file. Initially, you may find it a little difficult. But then you will realise it is as easy as text editing. What’s more you cam import audio files and add them to your base file. If you have your own website then you can host the podcasts like the text or image files. If not, then you can use blogs as a podcasting platform. Wordpress blogs are especially popular among podcasters; so, get a free blog from Wordpress.org. The question that arises is: How do you make your podcasts popular? Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about it now. Wordpress allows your podcasts to be communicated to millions of users through RSS feeds. So, what are you waiting for? Download Audacity from http:// audacity. sourceforge.net/, and start podcasting. Who knows you may build your own fan following on the net. (The writer can be reached at sunil.s@ians.in)

India First | March 28- April 3, 2009 25

CAREERS | FILMMAKING

Creating celluloid dreams Filmmaking needs close coordination of various skilled individuals, says Anindya Rai Verman

ilmmaking is a highly competitive career option that provides a lot of employment opportunities especially in India, which releases a large number of films every year. If one has artistic and technical skills and at the same time an ability to express ideas, this is the right career. Even for acting and directing, which are basically creative fields that require inherent talent, training helps to hone one’s skills. In areas like cinematography, sound engineering and editing, professional training is essential. Teamwork is central to filmmaking and requires close coordination with an array of specialists. It involves acting, directing, producing, script writing, cinematography, sound recording, visual mixing, editing and so on. A filmmaker is a creative entrepreneur, looking at all these aspects of filmmaking. He has to begin with raising capital for the film and be involved with all facets of its production, distribution and screening. The genre of cinema includes feature films, documentaries, news-

OPPORTUNITIES Candidates can find employment with film studios, production companies, advertising agencies, and government departments which make films, or start their own venture as editors, producers, directors, cameramen, soundmen, lighting crews, assistants and so on. Earnings in the film industry vary, depending on one’s skills, creativity, education and experience.

reels, promotional films, TV commercials and music videos. Earnings in the film industry vary, depending on one’s skills, creativity, education and experience.

The genre of cinema includes feature films, newsreels, documentaries, promotional films, TV commercials and music videos

Academy 18, Kalkaji, New Delhi Tel: 022-26225901-06

Academy of Animation Art and Technology, Kolkata; Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Tel: 033-30231113/ 4 Kolkata, website: www.srfti.gov.in, Institute of Mass Communication Tel: 033-24328355 Film and Television Studies, Kolkata Tel: 033-24222160 / 7940 Asian Academy of Film & TV, Marwah Studios Complex, Film City, Convergence Institute of Media, Noida, UP Website: www.aaft.com Tel: 95120-2515254, 2515255, 2515256. Management and Information Technology Studies, Bangalore website: www.commits.edu.in Editworks School of Mass Tel: 080-25530923, 25503127 Communication, Noida, UP National Institute of Creative website:www.editworksindia.com; Communication, Kalyan Nagar, Tel: 0120-2404073, 6512430

26 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

alyan Sarkar, Dean, Asian Academy of Film and Television, spoke to Anindya Rai Verman of India First on filmmaking as a career. Excerpts:

Why do you think filmmaking has become a popular career option for today’s youth? The Indian film industry has been popular from its formative years. In its infancy, not too many educated youth took it up as a career. Now, filmmaking has emerged as a lucrative career option. But the film industry is also intensely competitive. On the brighter side, lots of talented young people have taken it up as a career. Good films are being produced and that, in turn, is attracting many talented youth who are ready to

face challenges. Since filmmaking is a complex process involving script writing, acting, directing, cinematography, sound recording, visual mixing and editing, any specific area you would recommend as a career option.All the disciplines of filmmaking are equally important. Depending on an individual’s liking and aptitude, he/she could take up any particular aspect of filmmaking. Is a degree or certificate needed? Many great names in the field never had any degree to boast of. However, today, when specialisation is the norm, newcomers with a degree or certificate from a reputed institution are preferred. The days of learning on the job are over as there are many waiting for an opportunity. What could take many years to learn on the job could take a year or so in a

good institution. What are the necessary skills? Does one need deep pockets? It is a myth that you need deep pockets. In fact, no other field can boast of so many rags-to-riches stories. One must have a passion for filmmaking and the necessary aptitude. Do you think the film/entertainment industry is recession-proof? The fate of the film industry is linked to alternate cycles of recession and boom. We need not worry about the current recession as things would bounce back soon. Tell us about pay packages? There is no fixed pay package in the field. Market demand can raise your worth, name and fame.

‘Truly international in scope’ achin Singh, Director, Editworks School of Mass Communication, spoke to Anindya Rai Verman of India First on filmmaking as a career. Excerpts: What has made filmmaking a competitive career option? Filmmaking is a highly competitive field and it has tremendous scope for employment in our country, where we have a full-fledged film industry as well as a television industry. Indians are extremely good in creative fields and are equally good at technology. This combination is suitable for this industry. Recent international recognition for our artistes and techies is proof of that.

WHERE TO STUDY Film and Television Institute of India, Pune; website: www.ftiindia.com; E-mail: ftii@vsnl.com; Tel: 020-25431817, 25433016, 25430017

‘A lucrative career option’

Karnataka; Tel: 080-65337001/2 Sumeru Academy of Digital Arts, Pune, Maharashtra; Tel: 020-65003944 / 45 Jamia Millia Islamia, A.J. Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre, Delhi, website: www.jmi.nic.in Tel: 011-26987285

Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai; Tel: 044-2352212

As filmmaking encompasses acting, directing, producing, script writing, cinematography, sound recording, visual mixing and editing, any specific function you would recommend and why? It depends upon the individual and his or her aspirations. For a newcomer aspiring to become a director, it is always better to start with editing. Editing gives one the opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes.

Amrita School of Applied Arts and Sciences, Ernakulam, Kerala Tel: 0484-2801965, 2801489, 2802511

Is it mandatory to hold a degree or certificate? In areas like cinematography, sound engineering and editing,

Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai, website: www.xaviercomm.org, Tel: 022-2621639, 2620930

professional training is essential. Even for acting and directing that require some inherent talent, training helps to hone one’s skills. There are diplomas, post-diplomas and even certificate courses. Areas of specialisation include production, direction, editing, cinematography, film processing, animation, acting, sound engineering, make-up, photography and so on. What are the necessary skills? Does one need to have deep pockets to enter filmmaking? One needs to have a creative mind, an artistic sense, the ability to handle pressure, a good visual sense and good communication skills. If one wants to be a director or producer, one needs to have leadership and administrative skills and the ability to tap talent in others. Typical compensation packages? Earnings for workers in the film and video production industry vary, depending on experience, type of work and duration of employment. In the film industry, payments are higher as they are purely on project-to-project basis. Directors seldom get a set salary; instead, they get a percentage of a show’s earnings or ticket sales. However, in television, especially in news channels, fixed salaries are paid.

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URBAN TRENDS

Gizmo widows More than technology insinuating itself into our relationships, we have let it take away quality time from our lives, says Radhika Bhirani

aman Kapoor, a 35-year-old businessman, used to head to work religiously at nine in the morning everyday. Even before his wife could serve him a fulfilling breakfast, his phone would start ringing. Carrying a sandwich or part of his breakfast to his car became routine. What’s more, he would often forget to say even a cursory bye to his wife. His pre-occupation in office never allowed him to call his wife and check up on her and the kids and by the time he got back home, it used to be too late. His wife complained of being neglected all the time. Soon, he began bringing work to home as well and then the relationship began falling apart... Such is the plight of most couples in India. It often happens that just when you are sitting down for a quiet dinner with your husband, the phone rings and you are forced to say, “Oh, not again”! With laptops finding a comfortable perch on beds and mobile phones becoming a constant companion, many couples in Indian cities today are battling technology to keep romance alive. “It’s so hard to find quality time for ourselves nowadays. Even if we go out for a quiet dinner, my husband’s phone never stops ringing. So we end up having a lousy time and soon we would be fighting,” says Maneka Singh, a 29-year-old housewife.

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Many men and women complain of their partner’s pre-occupation with mobiles, laptops, MP3 players, iPods, videogame consoles and other hi-tech gizmos. But which one is the bigger culprit? Samir Parikh, head of the Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Science at Max Healthcare, says: “Any gizmo can be a distraction for an individual and it would be difficult to typify any one as the cause of more, or less discord. Each individual has his or her own likes and dislikes and any particular technology may cause them to be preoccupied with it more, thus taking away from time they could spend in communicating with their partners and even friends and family in general.” Indore-based Roshni Wadhwani, who has been married for nine years, says: “My husband checks the talk time on my mobile. We always fight when he ‘questions’ me about why the balance is low because he has to refill it. It is very irritating.” In cases like these, suspicion often takes centrestage in the relationship. But Parikh says it would need much more than just excessive usage of a gadget for a person to turn suspicious about

My mobile would start ringing when I am hanging out with friends... There too you get disturbed. At times I feel like doing away with it. The land phone is the best — Oriya actor Leslie Tripathi

his or her partner. “Causes for distrust can stem from numerous sources. However, the inability to spend significant time with one’s partner, in part owing to engagement with other things, can become a source of distress, ultimately leading to suspicions in the relationship. But this need not necessarily hold true in all cases. There could be many other factors that could play a

X-boxed out ahul Sapru, a 32-year-old investment banking executive, has been married to Sangeeta, a homemaker, for the past two-and-a-half years. Though their’s was an arranged marriage, the two were much in love, spending “quality time” together. Rahul would often take time out to take his wife to the movies and the malls. It was a dream come true for Sangeeta. But soon, the chinks began showing. The “euphoria” diminished rapidly as Sangeeta discovered that Rahul was a gizmo addict. And not quite a closet addict. He would return from his demanding and stressful job and switch on his X-box 360,

spending hours playing his favourite games — ‘Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation’ and ‘Dead or Alive Xtreme 2’. Or he would plonk himself in front of the TV.

large role,” he said. Apart from married couples, even teenagers and youngsters in relationships fight on technologyrelated issues. Aditya Kumar, 22, says his girlfriend nags him about his “excessive” use of the cell phone, laptop and Playstation. “My girlfriend forever fights on these issues. ‘Who were you talking to?’ ‘Why couldn’t you call me instead?’ ‘Why are you on the laptop?’ ‘Don’t work on it while talking to me’ — these are just some I get to hear from her almost everyday. “At times, she goes so crazy that she starts making comparisons between my laptop and herself and asks me who I love more. It’s insane,” Kumar says. On the other hand, his girlfriend Sanjana Kapoor says she does so because she wants to feel “most important” for him. “I fight with him because I want to feel wanted. When he is on the phone, working on his laptop or playing games, he just forgets about me. Even if I call him a zillion times, he doesn’t bother about me. He doesn’t understand that I need time to talk to him because otherwise our busy schedules don’t allow us to meet everyday,” she says.

After a while, Sangeeta began complaining, leading to flaming rows that affected their intimacy and causing a further breakdown in communication. A persistent Sangeeta, however, finally managed to persuade Rahul to visit a psychiatrist. It took many sessions, but the psychiatrist was able to help the couple accept and respect each other’s perspective, learning to give each other time and space. Both agreed that there are times during the week when they would engage in mutually desirable activities and keep each other involved in their lives. Today, the two are back in a healthy relationship, with Rahul having gained control over his addiction to his gizmo of choice.

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According to leading psychiatrist Sanjay Chugh, many couples approach him with similar problems. “Many a time, partners complain that the other person loves his or her laptop or cell phone more than him or her. Or that the technical equipment is his or her first love!” Chugh tells India First. “They feel unattended and unimportant as the partner spends most of his or her time on the gadget. This becomes a source of distress for the other person, leaving him or her to feel discontented and dissatisfied,” explains Chugh. Parikh agrees. “Fights happen when one partner ends up substituting personal or social time with technology or work,” Parikh says. Nikita Sharma, another home-

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maker, says she gets really upset when her husband can’t take out time for her, even at breakfast, as he gets busy taking official calls from 9 am. “The calls begin early in the morning and during the course of the day he doesn’t want me to call him because he gets disturbed. By the time he comes back home he is either so tired and exhausted that he just wants to crash out, or he simply turns on the computer to finish pending projects. There is hardly any quality conversation between us,” she says. “Laptops and mobile phones are a nuisance in a relationship. You are talking to your friends, or you are in a romantic mood with your beloved... and then suddenly you have your mobile playing the spoilsport,” says Sudhanshu Jena, a

young 30-something from Bhubaneswar. “Personal life is no more private. Technology might be helping us in office, but at home it’s a great headache. Like it or not, a mobile phone or a laptop brings home your office,” he says. Debesh Mishra is a worried man these days. And a mobile phone is the cause. “My wife shouts at me once the mobile phone starts ringing. After working for 10-12 hours, I return home and catch that rare romantic moment when the mobile rings and we end up fighting.” “Calls from mobile service providers are increasingly becoming a regular nuisance in Bhubaneswar. Here you are having dinner or watching TV and suddenly you have someone calling. The caller inevitably turns out to be a mobile

‘Important to have space to communicate’ Samir Parikh, head of the Mental Health and Behavioural Science Department at Max Healthcare, New Delhi, tells Radhika Bhirani why technology is affecting modern relationships Q: In what ways has the use of technology hampered relationships? Relationships, to a large extent, require a strong and significant pattern of interaction between the couple. The growing use of various technologies takes away from time that individuals can possibly use to spend on one-on-one interactions. Q: What cause the most discord -mobile phones, laptops, computers or playstations? And what is the main reason for the discord? Any gizmo can be a distraction for an individual and it would be difficult to typify any one as the cause of more or less discord. Each individual has his or her own likes and dislikes and any particular technology may cause them to be preoccupied with it more, thus taking away from time they could spend in communi-

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The growing use of various technologies or gizmos takes away from time that individuals can possibly use to spend on one-on-one interactions with partners, friends and family cating with their partners, friends and family. Q: Has increasing use of technology prevented people from lending a personal touch to their expressions of sentiment? There has been a change in the way people express their love or senti-

ments. When once people used love letters now they would use emails. In fact, for want of time they would probably send text messages to each other. Of course this is not to say that the old fashioned means of expression have disappeared altogether. Q: Does it create more room for suspicion between spouses? Causes for distrust can stem from numerous sources. However, the inability to spend significant time with one’s partner, in part owing to engagement with other things, can become a source of distress, ultimately leading to suspicions in the relationship. But this need not necessarily hold true in all cases. There could be many other factors that could play a large role. Q: How can fights over technology use be curbed to make peace in the relationships? It is important to have the space to be able to communicate and express one’s feelings. When that space is available to both the individuals in the relationship it becomes easier to bring about change.

All a-Twitter hey were a celebrity couple. She a Hollywood actress, and he a rock star. And what came in between them was not another woman or man, but a social networking site. Actress Jennifer Aniston, the vivacious, if slightly confused, Rachel of the hit serial ‘Friends’ recently dumped her boyfriend, the rocker John Mayer, when she found that while he had little time for her, he found enough to keep posting updates on networking and blogging site Twitter. Aniston, popularly known as Jen, had a complaint. Mayer would not spend enough time with her. He would not call, or even

service provider, or a bank executive offering you a home loan. This is very irritating,” he adds. Experts suggest that to resolve such technology-related relationship issues, partners must be able and willing to spend quality time with each other, share thoughts and feelings and also take regular breaks together. “Making each other feel loved and cared for are essential ingredients that can keep couples strong enough to live through the rough phases of life — related or unrelated to technology,” says Chugh. That’s just what 32-year-old Meenakshi Dua did. “My husband could never find time for me because of his work. He started bringing his work home. Earlier, he would bring some papers, then he began bringing his laptop. I am also a working woman, so I did understand his position. We decided that we should take a bi-annual holiday somewhere where we would not carry professional assignments or office related tensions along with us. Both of us chose to put it in perspective and that has made our lives easier and happier,” she says. Parikh suggests that like Dua, one needs to give priority to personal time and also use technology to improve his or her relationship. “As long as it (technology) is utilised to

return her calls. His excuse was that he was too busy. Aniston would perhaps have lived with this, but for the fact that she discovered that Mayer was regularly updating his page on the website. “Jen was fuming. There he was, telling her he didn’t have time for her and yet his page was filled with updates! Every few hours, sometimes minutes, he’d update with some stupid line. She was like, ‘He has time for all this Twittering, but he can’t send me a text, an e-mail, make a call?’” a friend of Aniston’s revealed. Mayer did not deny the charge. The Twitter obsession was something he could not get over. “So when she ended things, he just said OK,” the friend said. “He said he was sorry it didn’t work out.”

Personal life is no more private. Technology might be helping us in office but at home it’s a great headache. Like it or not, a mobile phone or a laptop brings home your office — Sudhanshu Jena, Bhubaneswar

the best in a relationship, it’s not a problem. So SMS your spouse the joke you would forward to a friend,” he quips. Earlier, when access to and use of technology was not so ubiquitous, couples used to make each other feel special through frequent calls, personal greeting cards, and letters. However, the trend is fast diminishing thanks to e-cards, e-mails and SMSes, giving partners yet another reason to complain. “I always prefer a handwritten

The celebrity couple began dating in 2008, and the film media were soon full of rumours that they would marry soon. But technology played havoc in their relationship.

letter — it’s so romantic! But my boyfriend, who lives in Mumbai, always sends SMSs and e-mails. It’s quick, but there is something else about real cards.” People must try and balance the time they devote to their professional and personal lives. That’s the mantra of keeping the romance in a relationship alive, say experts. Conversely, one also needn’t look at technology as his or her enemy. Rajani Nandakumar, relationship counsellor, Bharatmatrimony.com, says: “Everyone knows the benefit of technology. Staying in constant touch can take away the anger from technology. A mobile phone makes distances shrink — something which was not possible earlier. When a spouse went abroad, one had to wait for a trunk call or an ISD to make contact. It is no longer necessary to wait and be anxious. When used properly, technology can bring people closer,” she says. “Use the phone to call up one another twice or thrice a day before you meet up at home. This helps you stay connected and makes you feel that you are part of each other even when physically not together. You can use a television show to dedicate a song for your beloved on his or her birthday or any special day. Try out the FM as well to send a romantic message,” Nandakumar says.

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FASHION WEEK

Dazzling Deepika works her magic on the audience ctress Deepika Padukone sashayed down the ramp for top designers Rana Gill and Rina Dhaka. The theme of the show, sponsored by Fiama Di Wills, was ‘Nature Meets Science’. Deepika also sported a Tarun Talhiani dress to work her magic on the audience. While Rana was inspired by rich colours, Rina’s work symbolised technology and science, bringing together different motifs and textures in her range. Deepika donned a light pink printed gown with a corset top for Rana’s show while for Rana’s collection, the model-turned-actress sported a short cream dress, showing off her long legs. Elaborating on her collection, Rana said that the real inspiration behind her line were peacock colours. “This time, I have tried to do some experimentation and do some thing different. Even though my signature prints are very prominent here, I have used loads of solids this time,” Rana said. “I have also used a lot of peacock colours like emerald green, wine berry and medieval blues.” The fabrics she used were suede, silk and velvet. The line comprised long dresses, draped dresses, overcoats and fluid pants with little embroidery. Rina’s collection focused mainly on technology to create new textures. Science, according to her, has changed everything and one can easily forget traditional designs. For Rina, it is time to reinterpret old fashion. Her collection was a mix of dresses, coats, short dresses and the colour palette ranged from black to brown and from white to cream. Rina is best known for her theme collections — sheer trousers, crochet, stretch jersey, woollens and spider web motifs. Her forte remains western wear and she prides on the fact that her pieces can be worn as separates. Designing, for her, is basically a lot of fun. She loves to give shape to her inner feelings and she believes in being true to her creativity. She has also opened a studio in Hauz Khas Village for Lycra.

Jamboree of style and jazz The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week last week offered a heady mix of splendour and elegance with designers and film stars working their magic on the audience

lamour, pizzazz, beauty, colours and elegance… the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) oozed it all. With the fashion czars dressing up the sexiest and the most stylish models and actresses in their most elegant and weirdest fabrics, the fashion jamboree was the favourite haunt of the rich and powerful. If JJ Valaya portrayed a kingdom’s story from gloom to glory wherein

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models donned black and white coats, dresses and jackets to change finally to brighter tones like red, brown and orange, Manish Malhotra offered a dizzy cocktail of glamour and sports with cricket players and actresses. With a bevy of the most talented designers — Satya Paul, Manish Arora, Rana Gill, Rina Dhaka and Tarun Talhiani — and Bollywood’s sexy lasses, including Deepika Padukone, the event was another

feather in the cap of the fashion industry even under the grinding of the economic slowdown. Known for reviving India’s rich crafts and designs, designer Ritu Kumar’s sensibilities are very classical while her son’s collection has a modern and urbane feel to it. Together, they bring out an interesting mix of a classical, yet fresh and youthful range. Kumar has been in this business for the past 40 years and was designing under the ‘Ritu Kumar’ label till she was joined by Amrish in 2002 when they launched their sub-line ‘Ritu Kumar Label’,

Deepika Padukone walks the ramp for Tarun Talhiani

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budge from the head of the ramp. They happily obliged the shutterbugs even as the audience kept waiting for them to finish feeling like the ultimate stars of the show. They stood still until designer duo Ashima-Leena Singh, for whom they walked the ramp, led them away. Intricate chikankari, zardozi, muqaish and tukdi — it is such traditional crafts and embroideries of the Awadh region that Lucknowbased designer Asma Hussain revived through her modern motifs and western silhouettes as well as by way of creating job opportunities for skilled artisans. “Over the years, the authenticity of the traditional crafts of Awadh and Lucknow has been diminishing. I have been trying to revive it all by giving it an international look while retaining the essence and elegance of the art form,” she said. Two young guns made an impression as well. Their perfectly cut silhouettes, and creativity and fusion ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ actors Azhar and Rubina walk the ramp for designers Ashima-Leena at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhi

which is aimed at the young, global Indian woman with a contemporary lifestyle. The mother-son duo showcased the ‘Urbane Folklore’ theme, which had influences from Islamic and Japanese designs to Uzbek prints. Manish Arora’s show on the ‘Jungle’ theme had the audience getting into arguments over the seating arrangement. The organisers had to tackle the audience for at least half-an-hour before some of them vacated the seats they were illegally occupying. Top designers Rana Gill and Rina Dhaka made heads turn when actress Deepika Padukone sashayed down the ramp for them. While Rana was inspired by rich colours, Rina’s work symbolised technology and science. Deepika also sported a Talhiani dress to mesmerise the audience completely. The tall lass was not just alone to represent the movie industry for Fashion actress Mugdha Godse hit the ramp

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for label Satya Paul’s designer Puneet Nanda. Dressed in a colourful sequined sari with dazzling blouse and flashing red lipstick with confidence, Mughda looked her glamorous best. “It feels great to be back on ramp after Fashion. I love colours and Puneet has just given me a dash of every colour. The outfit is just perfect,” she said. The collection was named Maya and was inspired by the illusionary world which was represented by a melange of colours and fabrics. “The collection is all about colours. It is a collage of various fabrics and colours which are churned into beautiful saris and dresses that represent a fantasy world,” explained Puneet. With wide smiles, immense confidence and effortless twirls, Rubina Ali Qureshi and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, the child stars of Slumdog Millionaire also walked ramp and performed a jig on the film’s hit song Jai ho. The audience was left mesmerised as the two children from the shanties of Mumbai entered the show area with gleam in their eyes and literally refused to

of Indian heritage with modernity impressed the full house. Nitin Bal’s collection “Conditions Apply Part II” was inspired by the flip-side of urbania and he showcased the dark realities of our life like suicides, drug intake and accidents. Samant’s autumn-winter fashion line was created out of Bhagalpur silk, a handloom from Bihar. Some famous designers are trying to expand into other profitable areas. For example, Manav Gangwani is to introduce his eyewear collection in the Indian market while bridal wear design queen Kumar is launching her own perfume line called ‘The Tree of Life’. Raghavendra Rathore, whose collection was well received and who has spread his wings to areas like jewellery and software, said, “Designers should focus on different avenues. They should move beyond fashion and think of utilising their creativity in the best possible manner. We

Designers should focus on different avenues. They should move beyond fashion and think of utilising their creativity in the best possible manner. We should break away from the cliche of stereotype designing

Manish serves dizzy cocktail ith cricketers Aakash Chopra and Murali Kartik sashaying down the ramp, and Bollywood beauties Amrita Rao and Sophie Chaudhary supporting him, designer Manish Malhotra served the audience a cocktail of sports and glamour. There was a lot of speculation before the show that Amrita and Sophie would be walking the ramp for Malhotra along with the two cricketers, but the designer took the audience by surprise when only Kartik and Chopra — members of the Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders — strutted down the ramp. At the post show conference, the designer was accompanied by the gorgeous ladies, who were wearing mini dresses and made it clear that they were present just to support their friend. “We are here as a friend and not as the showstoppers. It is just our way of showing support for him. We are acting as morale boosters for him,” Sophie said. Mumbai-based Malhotra is designing the look of Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders for the second consecu-

tive year and his autumn-winter collection at the WIFW was inspired by them. “The line has a perfect mix of sports and the glamour of Bollywood. This is a very new concept for me and is inspired by Shah Rukh’s team,” Malhotra said. “The collection has saris with racer backs, fashionable jumpers, track pants, trench coats and off shoulder dresses. We are looking at a new dimension of introducing sports wear with elegant evening wear,” he added. Like last year, the collection is mainly in black and gold but two new colour combination — grey and white — have been introduced this year. While the women wore chic and elegant saris of chiffon, silk and georgettes, the men sported sleek trousers, trench coats, casual t-shirts and shorts with either a golden helmet or golden shoes. A model walking the ramp for designer Manish Malhotra, who is designing the look of Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders for the second consecutive year

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King Valaya’s Kingdom of Love e kept his guests, buyers and the media waiting for a maddening two hours at the grand finale of the WIFW. But couture czar JJ Valaya proved that his show was worth the wait as Bollywood veterans Kabir Bedi and Dimple Kapadia walked the ramp. A kingdom’s story from gloom to glory — that was the transformation that Valaya attempted to showcase through his collection. Fallen pillars, dull lighting, a leafless tree — the first setting of the finale indicated gloom, despair and destruction as models sashayed down the ramp wearing black and white coats, dresses and jackets. This was followed by a phase when the

The collection is all about colours. It is a collage of various fabrics and colours which are churned into beautiful saris and dresses that represent a fantasy world. Every theme requires a lot of research

Bollywood actress Mugdha Godse walks the ramp for designer label Satya Paul

Law of the ‘Jungle’ as Manish Arora goes wild t was not the grand finale of the WIFW, yet the audience was fighting and getting into arguments over the seating arrangements for flamboyant designer Manish Arora’s show on the ‘Jungle’ theme. Just like the grand finale of the springsummer edition of WIFW last year, the designer managed to draw a full house sans any celebrity and got a huge round of applause from the audience. It took the organisers at least half-an-hour to settle the audience down as many people were sitting on other’s seats and were reluctant to move. The jam-packed show area was proof of the popularity of this maverick designer, who is undoubtedly loved by everyone. The backdrop for the show was spooky, with vampire cut-outs on the top and animal cut-out at both sides of the stage with multi-coloured rays creating an eerie ambiance. “It is my way of presenting life

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in a jungle in a futuristic way and bring out various fantasies associated with the place. This is my perception about the jungle,” Arora said after the show. The show started with the popular number Oh Saiya, from the movie Slumdog Millionaire, and closed with the Jai Ho song, from the same movie. Not only Indians, even the international buyers too were enjoying the show. The models walked the ramp in colourful knee-length jackets, high-waist trousers, sharp pencil skirts with the colour palette ranging from green to brown, from pink to yellow in fabrics like silk, satin, velvet and leather. Suzy Menkes, the fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune, said: “It was a good show.” A model presents Manish Arora’s ‘jungle’ creation

veil of darkness lifted and the ambience changed from black and white to dull yellow. There were bubbles all over the hall before the models walked in clothes in brighter tones like red, brown and orange. This culminated into an all gold and glitter collection that suggested glamour and celebration in the kingdom. The attire ranged from jackets, jodhpurs and tops matched with skirts and dresses along with exquisite and elaborate jewellery by studio Amrapali. The show reached its apogee when Kabir and Dimple appeared on the T-point of the ramp, looking ethereal in their white and cream attire and bewitching jewels. As the “King and Queen” of Valaya’s “Kingdom Of Love” (the name of his collection), they walked the ramp with panache. The spectators cheered as the two walked further down and Kabir kissed Dimple’s hand. When Valaya took a proud walk on the stage, the audience gave him a standing ovation after which he stood along with his models and showstoppers while flakes of gold fell over them. “If you look around, there is just depression, negativity and violence... my line showcases the bright side of life,” Valaya said. The front row saw Mohammed Azharuddin, actor Jas Arora and Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Choudhary

should break away from the cliche of stereotype designing and think of reaching to the common man.” As many as 13 commercial partners and 103 designers participated in the event, which concluded on March 22. The new addition to the list include designers Anamika Khanna, Rathore, Rocky S, Malhotra, Priyadarshani Rao, Puja Nayyar and many more. “We do not believe in the term recession. With our commercial partners giving us continuous support, we have beaten the recession blues and are all geared up for this complete business-tobusiness event,” Fashion Design Council of India President Sunil Sethi had told the media. But as expected, recession took its toll with buyers playing safe and sticking to their regular designers and experimenting less with the new ones. Sethi said that the premier businessto-business show had thrown up a mixed bag for everyone.

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IANS PHOTO

WOMEN POWER

Triumph over turbulence

Proving that Indian women can achieve the impossible, 28-year-old Chaitanya Datla becomes the first civilian woman to sail on an Indian warship

haitanya Datla, a 28-year old executive from Bangalore, is all set to create history by becoming the first civilian woman to sail on an Indian Navy warship. Chaitanya was chosen the winner of National Geographic Channel’s “Mission Navy: Lehron Ke Sartaj” from over 50,000 civilians who participated in the landmark docureality series. About her achievement, Chaitanya says: “I have always aspired to be a part of the armed forces and Nat Geo’s Mission Navy helped me realise this dream that was unfulfilled till recently. I also feel that this is a triumph for Indian women, for whom nothing is impossible.” From the entries received, five finalists, including three women, were selected for the mission after a series of physical and mental tests conducted by the Navy. Chaitanya

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in beaching operations, got to perform the difficult jack stay, underwent a G-Force test, amongst other tasks,” the statement added. At the end of the series, Chaitanya “proved to be the most resilient, deserving and valiant of the five finalists”, the statement said, adding: “The decision by the Indian Navy was based on various exercises, tests and experiences the participants

and the other finalists got the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the Indian Navy for over a month. “It all started from being introduced to the academy life and undergoing basic training to setting their first step ever on board an Indian naval ship,” a Nat Geo statement said. “She not only got to learn the science behind submarines and other warships, but was also trained

Chaitanya Datla, winner of the National Geographic ‘Mission Navy’ challenge, will spend a month on an Indian Navy warship, the first civilian woman to do so

went through during the month long training period.” Chaitanya had also participated in Nat Geo’s “Mission Udaan: Inside the Indian Air Force”, but was unable to make it to the final five. “A true nature lover, she likes music — instrumental and western classical. Interested in philosophy and psy-

chology, she likes getting into the depth of understanding human nature and behaviour,” the statement said. On its part, “Mission Navy” showcased the hitherto uncharted world of the Indian Navy, replete with warships, submarines, missiles and much more.

FASCINATING JOURNEY INSIDE THE INDIAN NAVY ational Geographic Channel showcased the uncharted world of the Indian Navy, replete with warships, submarines, missiles and much more. Nat Geo’s Mission Navy: Lehron Ke Sartaj, which premiered on February 2, Monday nights at 9 pm, took viewers on a fascinating journey inside the Indian Navy. The series had seven visually stunning episodes which gave an insight into the lives of

the brave men who patrol and protect the country. With this initiative, Nat Geo provided five civilians, including three women, the unique opportunity to be a part of the Navy, training and imbuing them with the courage, grit and determination synonymous with the Indian Navy. With over 50,000 entries from across India, only 15 semi-finalists were selected after a

series of physical and mental tests conducted by the Navy. The semi-finalists then underwent gruelling selection tests in Mumbai to reach the final five, including 23-year old Arjun R Shetty from Bengaluru, 21-year old Sudhanshu Budakoty from Mysore, 20-year old Sakshi Havanoor from Pune, 28-year old Chaitanya Datla and 25-year old Suranjani H R from Bengaluru.

They were part of the Indian Navy for over a month. After basic training, they set foot for the first time on a Naval vessel. Some of them not only got to learn the science behind submarines, but also a chance to train in one. They were also trained in beaching operations and the difficult jack stay amongst other tasks.

I have always aspired to be a part of the armed forces and Nat Geo’s Mission Navy helped me realise this dream. I also feel that this is a triumph for Indian women. It says: Nothing is impossible

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GADGETS

CREATIVE AND CHIC eople may have their opinions on technology and the practicality of implementing a 7.1 sound card. But, an avid gamer or a movie freak will always swear by the need of those surround effects and surely prefer Creative’s 7.1 sound systems. The new rectangular sub-woofer and the satellites retain the traditional Creative looks. The all-black hard plastic satellites with the thin removable black grill on top look elegant. The T7700 speaker system boasts of 92 watts total RMS power — 8 watts RMS for each of the satellites, 20 watts for the centre and 24 watts for the sub-woofer. The Creative Inspire T7700 is a value 7.1 speaker system.

Price: Rs 5,000

SHOOT UNDER WATER hough not for scuba divers, Pentax’s W60 is designed keeping in mind the requirements of amateur photographers and beachgoers. The waterproof digicam is the successor to Pentax’s W30 and takes some decent pictures for good measure. The new model sports features that compare well with other recent high-spec compacts, including a 10 megapixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom lens with a 28 mm-equivalent wide-angle setting and a 2.5inch 230k monitor. It is capable of operating underwater to a depth of four metres for up to two hours and can survive temperatures of minus 10 degrees Celsius.

Price: Rs 12,000

SMARTEST OF SMARTPHONES fter the market success of its Omnia brand touchscreen smartphone in India, Korean cell phone major Samsung takes ecoresponsible products to a new level with the Blue Earth solar-powered mobile phone. The Blue Earth phone and its charger are made of recycled materials. The solar cells, which occupy most of the back of the phone, provide enough power to maintain the existing charge on the lithium battery during a call even if the battery is almost dead (provided there is sufficient light). The phone also contains an application called Eco Walk, which calculates how many trees the user saved in a day. This information is based on data supplied by the built-in pedometer and the average amount of carbon dioxide the user’s vehicle produces over the same distance.

Price not available

— Compiled by Bijaya Kumar Das India First | February 28-March 6, 2009 00 40 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

HEALTH

ROMANCE PIPS PASSION

Missing favourite soaps? Catch them on your cell ant to watch your favourite TV serial or news programme while on the move? It is no longer a dream, thanks to Entriq, a new business solution launched by digital content solution provider Irdeto. The Amsterdam-based company says that Entriq would enable customers around the world to view most of the Indian TV programmes on their cell phones and personal computers (PC). “The idea is to take the television content to new platforms — mobile and personal computers,” Irdeto India country manager and head of South Asia operations Sanjiv Kainth told India First. Indian broadcasters can now tie up with Irdeto and telecom operators to roll out these services. “The technology... is making illegal downloading of content legal with due government approval,” he added. Most of the TV shows, including serials, news programmes and cricket matches, will be available on cell phones, Kainth said. Also, the user cannot record the programmes and will have to watch them when they are aired by the broadcaster. Kainth said that the company was already in discussions with a leading content provider in India for launching its services abroad. The company has also tied up with Videocon to provide end-to-end solutions for its direct-to-home services D2H, which will be launched in April this year.

omantic love can last a lifetime and lead to happier, healthier relations, according to a new study. “Many believe that romantic love is the same as passionate love,” said lead researcher Bianca P Acevedo, then at Stony Brook University (currently at University of California, Santa Barbara). “It isn’t.” “Romantic love has the intensity, engagement and sexual chemistry that passionate love has, minus the obsessive component. Passionate or obsessive love includes feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. This kind of love helps drive the shorter relationships but not the longer ones,” Bianca added. Bianca and co-researcher Arthur Aron reviewed 25 studies with 6,070 individuals in short- and long-term relationships to find out whether romantic love is associated with

more satisfaction. To determine this, they classified the relationships in each of the studies as romantic, passionate (romantic with obsession) or friendship-like love and categorised them as long- or short-term. The review found that those who reported greater romantic love were more satisfied in both the short- and long-term relationships. And those who reported greater passionate love in their relationships were more satisfied in the short term compared to the long term. Feeling that a partner is “there for you” makes for a good relationship, Acevedo said, and facilitates feelings of romantic love. On the other hand, “feelings of insecurity are generally associated with lower satisfaction, and in some cases may spark conflict in the relationship. This can manifest into obsessive love”, she said.

Fall in love with Dell’s ultra-thin laptop ell has officially launched a high-end laptop computer which the company says is the thinnest in the world. The laptop is the first product under Dell’s Adamo brand. Adamo is derived from the Latin word meaning “to fall in love”. With a thickness of 0.65 inches and available in onyx and pearl colours, the new Adamo laptop is thinner than Apple’s MacBook Air. Adamo will “serve as a flagship in a line of products created to disrupt the personal computing space with the combination of new design aesthetics, personalisation choices and sought-after technologies”, Dell said in a statement.

IN SHORT

42 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

IE8 arrives with extra features fter two beta tests and a soft release, Microsoft Corp officially launched its latest internet browser this week. IE8 can be freely downloaded in 25 languages from Microsoft’s website, the company said. The browser includes features like “accelerators”, which allow users to highlight text on a website and choose from a variety of functions, including search engines, language translation or map displays.

HOW YOUR HIV ANTIBODIES FIGHT AIDS

ome individuals are known to control HIV infection without medication as they produce antibodies that are able to neutralise diverse strains of the disease. Until now, scientists were hampered in studying the way effective HIV-neutralising antibodies arise during natural HIV infection because they lacked the tools to obtain more than a few HIV-specific antibodies from any given individual. A new research endeavour has assembled a group of state-of-the-art techniques for the first time to study the phenomenon of natural antibody-mediated HIV neutralisation. The project demonstrates how this system can isolate dozens of HIVspecific antibodies from a single HIVinfected individual, something never accomplished before. Applied prospectively to a large group of HIV-infected individuals, the system will enable scientists to identify and define the diverse set of neutralising antibodies that arise during natural HIV infection, information that may prove important in vaccine development. John R Mascola, Richard T Wyatt and Mark Connors, all of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), US, part of the National Institutes of Health, participated in the research. Michel C Nussenzweig of The Rockefeller University led the team of 22 co-investigators in this collaboration, said a NIAID release.

HAVE HAART, WILL TACKLE HIV ighly active anti-retroviral therapy or HAART has emerged as a highly potent HIV treatment, a study has revealed. However, HAART can never truly eradicate the viruses as some of them always remain dormant in cells. But a chemical called suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), recently approved as leukemia drug, has now been shown to ‘turn on’ latent HIV, making it visible and easy to target that HAART misses. Matija Peterlin at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and colleagues found that SAHA could indeed stimulate latent HIV to begin replicating, which exposes the infected cell to HAART drugs, said a UCSF release. SAHA could activate HIV in both lab cells as well as from blood samples taken from HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.

DIG INTO YOGURT, GET VACCINATED WITHOUT PAIN nstead of dreaded injections, getting vaccinated against disease may become as tasty as drinking a yogurt smoothie. A researcher from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, US, has developed a new oral vaccine using probiotics, the healthy bacteria found in dairy products like yogurt and cheese. He has successfully used the approach in a pre-clinical study to create immunity to anthrax exposure. He also is using the method to develop a breast cancer vaccine and vaccines for various infectious diseases. This new generation vaccine has big bene-

fits beyond eliminating the pain factor. Delivering the vaccine to the gut — rather than injecting it into a muscle — harnesses the full power of the body’s primary immune force, which is located in the small intestine. There are other advantages to the new oral vaccine. Probiotics, which are natural immune stimulators, eliminate the need for a chemical in traditional vaccines that inflames the immune system and triggers a local immune response. Probiotic vaccines also are inexpensive to produce. — Compiled by Shudip Talukdar

India First | March 27- April 3, 2009 43

SILVER SCREEN | BOLLYWOOD

‘I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY AUDREY HEPBURN’

Aishwarya has busy year ahead

By Madhusree Chatterjee

By Subhash K Jha

ishwarya Rai sure has a crowded year ahead, having signed movies with filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj, Rituparno Ghosh, Abhinay Deo and Vipul Shah. And the actress says each of these films is equally challenging and “special” to her. The former Miss World has something unique to say about each movie and filmmaker. “Ritu-da and I have agreed to work together again after Chokher Bali and Raincoat. Our next film together is a bilingual and very challenging,” said Aishwarya. “As for Abhinay Deo’s film, it’s got me and Abhishek in it. But it covers a territory very different from what audiences have seen in Guru, Dhoom 2 and Sarkar Raj. Abhinay’s film is also very different from Mani Ratnam’s Raavan. It’s a special challenge to work with my husband because we’ve to make sure we don’t repeat ourselves,” the Bachchan daughter-in-law added. The ‘super-busy’ star is also looking forward to working with Akshay Kumar after a long time in Vipul Shah’s next movie. “It’s something that Vipul, Akshay and I haven’t done before. The last time Akshay and I came together in Khakee, we played almost antagonists. This time, we’ll hopefully play a more compatible couple,” Aishwarya laughed. So why the sudden flurry of activity this year? “These are projects with directors whom I’ve wanted to work with for a long time. To say ‘no’ to them when we both are so keen to work with one another seems inappropriate,” she explained. A project her fans are eagerly waiting for is the one wherein Aishwarya teams up with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj for the first time. “Vishal and I have wanted to work together ever since he was the music composer on a project that got shelved. We had promised one another that I’d star in his film whenever he turned director.”

leggy beauty. Deepika is now looking forward to begin work for newcomer Vijay Lalwani’s Kartik Calling Kartik, eepika Padukone has had a dream-run in Bollywood with just three releases, which also stars actor-director Farhan Akhtar and but the model-turned-actress says her Boman Irani. “It is an offbeat movie, a psychologidream is to play the elegant Audrey cal thriller. But I am not going to talk much about Hepburn, her style icon. it,” she said. “I would like to play Audrey Hepburn, my The actress admits she has a soft corner for style icon, in movies like Breakfast at Tiffany’s or action movies though all genres appeal to her. “An Roman Holiday,” Deepika said on the sidelines of action movie is something I have always wanted to do, but I cannot specify any real genre that appeals the Wills India Fashion Week, where she walked to me. Cinema today is changing. And as an actor, I the ramp for Ranna Gill and Rina Dhaka’s collecwill never throw my hands up... will never be happy tions sponsored by luxury brand Fiama Di saying this is the best character I have portrayed. I Wills. am critical of myself, rarely happy,” said Deepika. After debuting opposite Shah Rukh As Indian cinema changes to adapt new formats Khan in 2007 hit Om Shanti Om and and contents, Deepika feels the role of women in doing Chandni Chowk To China cinema is also changing. with Akshay Kumar, Deepika’s “It is becoming more challenging. Even in the next is Love Aaj Kal alongside Saif past, there were movies where women did not Ali Khan. And she is all praise for have to run around trees. An actress could opt to filmmaker Imtiaz Ali of Jab We Met show off her talent.” fame. People, she explained, have this strange notion “I enjoyed working with Imtiaz Ali in that if a woman wears make-up, she cannot be his movie Love Aaj Kal, where he cast me opposite Saif. It was a dream work- taken seriously. “Take off your make-up and only then you can do serious cinema. But glamorous ing for a sensitive director like him. Imtiaz just seemed to know the kind roles and a glamorous screen presence do not of person we were and brought out make one a non-actor. The content of cinema is also changing, evolving... it is no longer the regular boy the best in us. He guided all meets girl,” the actress said. through the movie,” said the

‘AA DEKHEN ZARA’ NOT COPY OF FREEZE FRAME: NEIL By Joginder Tuteja s the forthcoming film Aa Dekhen Zara very similar to British movie Freeze Frame? This question, now being asked in Bollywood, gains significance because the Neil Nitin Mukesh-Bipasha Basu starrer was earlier titled Freeze. But the lead actor maintains the two are very different. “What nonsense! I will reaffirm that Aa Dekhen Zara is an absolutely original film based on a completely original concept. It’s not at all a copy of any film. There is not a single element in the film that has been copied,” Neil said. Freeze Frame, a 2004 film starring Lee Evans in a lead role, was about an ultra-paranoid murder suspect who takes to filming himself round-the-clock to provide an alibi just in case he’s ever accused of another crime. Directed by Jehangir Surti, Aa Dekhen Zara tells the story of a man who gets a camera that can tell the future. “Just because the two films have a camera in the middle of it, you doesn’t classify one as an original and other as a copy. You can’t bring two and two together and make it 22. Once you see the film, you will realise that Aa Dekhen Zara has nothing to do with Freeze Frame,” Neil said.

44 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

WHEN KYLIE WENT SHOPPING IN MUMBAI ustralian pop superstar Kylie Minogue, who was in India to shoot a song for her first Bollywood venture Blue, went on a shopping spree in Mumbai for Indian goodies — and ended up being grossly overcharged! Kylie, 40, went shopping a day after her arrival on the roadside market and showrooms at Linking Road — from Santa Cruz to Khar — to pick up Indian stuff she had on her list and paid 20 times more than the price. “Kylie was very excited about shopping here. She had a list of items she keenly wanted to take back from India like Osho sandals, silver jewellery and a Pashmina shawl,” a source from Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd., the producer of Blue, said. “However, she sure paid the price of being an international celebrity when she purchased a pair of chappals that cost just Rs 75 for Rs 1,500 from a roadside shop. Anyway, she was happy after purchasing the pair, but she didn’t get a shawl though,” the source added. The diva, who reportedly demanded special dishes from the head chef of the Renaissance Hotel, where she was staying, also became a fan of coconut water during her stay.

India First | March 21-27, 2009 45

STYLE ICONS

MIRROR MIR ROR ON THE WALL...

SHAHRUKH KHAN Right from his Fauji days, this Delhiite has been stylish. While DDLJ made him a romantic heartthrob, Karan Johar’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai elevated him to a style icon. The young Shahrukh wearing Gap and Abercrombie brought western wear to Bollywood men. Shahrukh’s style has always created news whether it was his pink shirt and tie in Don or his six-pack abs in Om Shanti Om or his ponytail at IPL.

AMITABH BACHCHAN

At 64, Big B’s fashion sense on screen is at times as garish as it is conservative in real life; yet he daringly carries off whatever costume his designers dress him up in with considerable elan. Be it the supposed ‘Jack Sparrow meets Pied Piper’ look in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, ‘Sexy Sam’s debonair’ look in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna or the chef’s special — his ponytail — in Cheeni Kum.

KAREENA KAPOOR Our very own Victoria Beckham. For someone who was a plump kid to turn into a size zero is admirable. Kareena is not considered stylish and edgy by the fashionistas, but the youth love her. Whether it was her jackets as ‘Poo’ or her t-shirt salwar look in Jab We Met, girls all over have copy her style.

2 HRITHIK ROSHAN

Saif has a great sense of mix-and-match style and dresses unlike a movie star. He has put his bad hair days (Ashiq Awara, Parampara) behind him and has got it right finally. Influenced largely by his stylish father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, he possesses an impeccable wardrobe — slick Cartier watches, regally cut achkans and sherwanis, great jackets, suits from Hugo Boss, Zegna and Giorgio Armani, and printed and white kurtas.

JOHN ABRAHAM What makes John really a style icon is the cool casualness associated with him. His personal style is grungy and laidback: blue jeans and white ganjis or a jacket with a shirt and jeans have never looked better than on his lean frame.

AISHWARYA RAI She is the ‘perfect beauty’ for an eight-year-old boy to an 80-yearold man. From her skin-tight skirts in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya to her overload of jewellery in Jodha Akbar — Ash is known for her ‘dignified’ style of dressing, on and off the screen. She prefers dressing down. She has not had many stylish outings except at Cannes this year. In a sea of black and white, Ash stood out in a gorgeous pink gown.

PRIYANKA CHOPRA

How this woman has evolved! From a stylechallenged star to a true style maven — Priyanka has made critics eat their hat with her style evolution. She has become more ecstatic like Venus, the goddess of beauty and sensuality.

Hrithik’s style is casual and an athletic body and his Greek god looks make him look stylish in whatever he wears. With Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar, he has taken his style one step forward.

SAIF ALI KHAN

46 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

Bollywood actors are trendsetters. Their style and clothes are copied in India and the Diaspora. India First brings to you the top five stars — both male and female — who are the style icons of the nation

PREITY ZINTA Always appropriately dressed whether it be jeans and t-shirt at IPL games, wearing a business suit while bidding for an IPL team, a dress and a hat at the race track or a beautiful blue gown at Cannes, Preity’s tastes are almost impeccable — whether it’s her boy candy Ness Wadia or her collection of Birkins.

KATRINA KAIF In a world of actresses trying to achieve size zero, Katrina’s curvaceous body is her plus point. Born and brought up in a western culture, she always carries western clothes with élan. Bur she surprised everyone by not only looking gorgeous, but also carrying herself well in a sari. India First | March 28- April 3, 2009 47

HOLLYWOOD MARRIAGES

Jeremy Thomas in 1994 lasted only 30 days. Her second marriage to Tom Green lasted five times longer-or five months before they divorced in 2001. Catherine Oxenberg, known for her portrayal of Amanda Carrington in Dynasty, also has a remarkably short marriage in her history. Her first marriage to producer Robert Evans lasted only nine days before it was annulled. Of course, they didn’t really know each other considering that the marriage took place only four days after they had met. The record for the most marriages as well as one of the shortest marriages actually goes to Zsa Zsa Gabor. Zsa Zsa Gabor and Felipe De Alba, a Mexican actor, were married only for one day before it was annulled. She has been married nine times. Her longest marriage is her current one to Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt, who recently made headlines when he announced that he might be the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby. Gabor and Anhalt were married in 1986. As stated earlier, Taylor has been married eight times. Lana Turner also married eight times and married Stephen Crane

Knots that were too loose India First takes a look at the shortest marriages in the American movie industry By Nandini Banerjee

Hollywood marriage originally meant a marriage between Hollywood celebrities. However, the term has grown to strong connotations of a marriage that is of short duration and quickly ends in separation or divorce, that is, a wedlock that is the exact opposite of a fairytale marriage. More sympathetic views of Hollywood marriages emphasise that overexposure from intense media coverage, paparazzi shadowing and the demanding schedules of fast-moving careers put unusual stress on such marriages. Rates of separation or divorce may also seem to be higher than they actually are due to the heavy publicity given to such events simply because they involve celebrities. More negative views of Hollywood marriages

attribute high divorce rates to the usage of weddings as publicity stunts and high rates of infidelity or promiscuity. Elizabeth Taylor might be famous for having married eight times and Britney Spears might be famous for having been married for a mere 55 hours, but these are far from a record considering some other Hollywood marriages. Take for example Rudolph Valentino and Jean Acker. They were married in November, 1919. Although their divorce wasn’t official till 1922, their marriage was over just after six hours when Acker locked Valentino out of the honeymoon suite. Unable to woo his way back inside, Valentino gave up and went home. Robin Givens is more famous for her short marriage to Mike Tyson —they were divorced a year to the day after they were married — but it is not her shortest

Thornton and Billy Bob Angelina Jolie

tt and Lyle Love Julia Roberts

Crane twice. Stephen Crane not only marand Stephen Lana Turner ried eight times, twice to Lana Turner, but he also married Helen DeMaree twice. Jazz musician and composer Artie Shaw was also married eight times, but he only married Lana Turner ! Drew Barrymore and Tom Green (2001) once. Confused? Perhaps ! Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton (2000-02) that’s why Mickey Rooney ! Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock (2006) kept things simpler. Sure, ! Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney (2005) he married eight times ! Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey (2002-2006) but to eight different ! Ali Landry and Mario López (2004) women — and none of ! Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett (1993-1995) them were Lana Turner or ! Mike Tyson and Robin Givens (1988-1989) Elizabeth Taylor. ! Liza Minnelli and David Gest (2002-2003) ! Shannen Doherty and Ashley Hamilton (1993-94) ! Uma Thurman and Gary Oldman (1990-1992) ! Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley (2002) ! Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley (1994-96) ! Jim Carrey and Lauren Holly !Helen Hunt and Hank Azaria (1999-2000) !Paula Abdul and Emilio Estevez (1992-1994) !Dennis Hopper and Michelle Phillips !Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman (1998-99) !Ernest Borgnine and Ethel Merman !Cher and Gregg Allman (1975-1977) !Selma Blair and and Kid Rock Ahmet Zappa on rs de An a el Pam (2004-2007) !Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee (1995-1998)

dd z and Cris Ju Jennifer Lope

ns d Robin Give Mike Tyson an

48 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

marriage. No, that honour goes to her marriage to her tennis instructor Syetozar Marinkovic. The two were married on August 22, 1997. Wedding bliss was fleeting for the couple considering that they separated that same day. The marriage between actor Dennis Hopper and singer Michelle Phillips last slightly longer, but not much. Their marriage survived only eight days, during which Hopper admits he was in “a fog of drugs and alcohol”, in 1970. Cher spontaneously decided to marry her beau Gregg Allman. The two flew to Vegas in a Lear Jet. The marriage soon came crashing down and she filed for divorce nine days later. The experience apparently hasn’t turned Allman off marriage though since he has been married at least six times. Drew Barrymore also has a couple record-breaking marriages under her belt. Her first marriage to

ore and Drew Barrym

Tom Green

SHORTEST MARRIAGES

Chesney er and Kenny Renee Zellweg

India First | March 28-April 3, 2009 49

MUSICIAN WITH MISSION INDIA FIRST PHOTOS

Jagannath’s Muezzin Sikander Alam believes in the purity of music — untouched by the cacophony of communalism and the discordant notes of caste and creed By Byomakesh Biswal and Prashant K Nanda

ith Sikander Alam, music stakes a claim on the extra-universal. A Muslim by birth, the legendary playback singer of over hundred films and several albums still sings devotional songs of Lord Jagannath. Alam’s music brings together beliefs — the different ways in which we seek out for what exists outside this universe. In Orissa, the imagery of the Bush, Murphy and Phillips radios from yesteryears — be it in homes or at street shops — has become inseparable from Alam. He has been mesmerising his listeners with his love songs and devotional numbers with unrivaled intensity since the 1950s. “I bow before God for bestowing talent upon me. I love singing Jagannath Janana (eulogies),” he says while reciting parts of a devotional song he had sung two decades ago. One of his songs was also played in the Bharat Darshan programme on BBC London — a unique achievement for an Oriya. Among the countless scores he has crooned, Je Nayan Rangahara Saje... is closest to his heart. The massive popularity and fan following are attributed to Alam’s diligence and assiduousness, particularly a thorough training in classical music. Naturally, the crooner feels “dejected” when the young generation takes to singing “without any classical grounding”. “Proliferation of singers without any classical training is counterproductive for the survival of pure music,” he adds. It is a dejection that a few understand. A minute follower of tonal grammar, he does much more than speak to his audience with his music.

50 India First | March 28-April 03, 2009

Through the years, he has developed this uncanny ability to gauge the impact of his songs on his listeners. He strives to connect with his audience at a far deeper level than most people in his trade. “For me, the appreciation of the audience is the best inspiration,” says Alam, who is widely acclaimed for his Oriya songs invoking the Almighty. When Alam sang for his first movie Laxmi in 1960, he had already established a rapport with thousands of fans through his performances on the All India Radio (AIR). The warbler laments that “mod-

ern songs fail to engage the listener as instantly as the old numbers”. “There have been immortal songs; they are evergreen, liked by several generations. Of late, songs are losing their shelf life; they only titillate, don’t soothe. A majority of singers today is downright trash.” Alam blames the technology as well for the “degradation of music”. “Now, songs are recorded in parts. The mukhda is recorded one day, the antara the next. How then you expect the song

HIS MASTER’S VOICE All-TIME HITS !Ea Ranga Rahiba Nahin !Eka Au Eka Misi Hue Dui Ganita Pathare, !Bhaina! Tikina! Bhaina Tike SunaNa, !Kanhiki Chalucha Mathei Mathei !Talachera Gaadi Pari !Kene Gheni Jaucha Jagannathanku, !Jagabandu He Gosain !Srikrusna ra Bansi Swana AWARDS !Chitrapuri Award, 1969 !Soor Sagar Title from Sri Khetra Kala !Prakashika, Puri, 1981 !Orissa Society of America, 1983 !Santok Singh Award For National Integration, 1991 !Odisha State Film Award, 1990 !Cine Critic Award For Best Playback Singer, 1991 !Salabeg Samman by Salbeg Sanskrutik Parishad, !Puri, 1995 !Chinta-O-Chetana Samman, 1999 !Saraswati Samman from Balakrushna Das !Foundation, 2000 !Sangeet Shree Samman from West Bengal, 2003 !Rajiv Gandhi Sadvabana Award, 2003 !Chalachitra Sahasrabadi Award, 2000 !Bani Chitra Award, 2004 !Akashavani Abasara Binodana Kendra Award, 2001 !Akashya Mohanty Award, 2004 !Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy Award, 20000

One of Sikander Alam’s songs was played in the ‘Bharat Darshan’ programme on BBC London several years ago

to strike a chord with the audience?” While communal fissures crisscross the country, Alam’s lines for the Supreme are above such faults and take the followers of Lord Jagannath on an unforgettable journey. “I have no reservations in singing devotional songs of Lord Jagannath despite being a Muslim,” says the modernday Salabega. Incidentally, Salabega, the son of a Mughal warrior, was the most famous Muslim devotee of Lord Jagannath. Today, no one

sings Salabega’s numbers better than Alam. The noted artist had a tough time managing his father, who was dead against any family member pursuing music. But one song played by the AIR changed the patriarch’s decision and Alam turned to music full time. Now, his daughter Nazia, already a noted classical singer, has stepped into her father’s shoes. And the father is confident that his daughter will continue to do what he has been doing all these years — maintain music’s purity and its refreshingly unworldly quality.

I bow before God for bestowing talent upon me. I love singing Jagannath Janana (eulogies). I have no reservations in singing devotional songs despite being a Muslim

India First | March 28-April 03, 2009 51

SPORTS | JEEV MILKHA SINGH IANS PHOTOS

Indian Master Jeev Milkha Singh is the first Indian to break into the world Top 30. He could be the first Asian to win a WGC title, says V Krishnaswamy

or three days, Jeev Milkha Singh — often referred to as the “other Singh” to differentiate him from Vijay Singh of Fiji — was in the spotlight as he remained in contention for the World Golf Championship at the Blue Monster Golf. Ultimately, he finished fourth in a tournament won by World No. 2 Phil Mickelson, but by the end of the week, the Indian ace was seen

52 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

as a possible candidate to become the first Asian to win either a Major or the World Golf Championship. That expectation till now came largely from the Korean K J Choi. Yes, Choi is still ranked higher than Jeev, inside top 30 for the first time in his career, but the Indian is seen as one of the most consistent Asian performers on the world golf platform. Jeev late last year finished ninth

at the PGA Championships, the first time he came inside top 10 at a Major; and then he won the Barclay’s Singapore Open in a field that included Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els. And when the year ended, he had for the second time in three years won the Order of Merit in Asia. Quite easily the first Indian golfer to make it so big internationally after having been the first to venture out of India, Jeev has in the past been referred to as the “Christopher Columbus of Indian golf”. His top-5 at the WGC-CA and the top-0 finish at the PGA Championships, his four wins on three different tours this season and a great show at Masters mark Jeev as a future prospect of becoming the first Asian to win a Major. This season also sees him with a new caddie, the experienced Janet Squire, who has been with him for all three wins this year and also the Masters and the PGA championships. “She has been a big support. She calms me down on the course,” said Jeev. Jeev, who had four wins on the Asian Tour between 1995 and 1999, had to endure a seven-year title drought before he won the Volvo China Open in 2006. But soon after that, he won three more in the same year. After a barren 2007 during which he became the first and only Indian to tee up at all four Majors, Jeev won the Bank Austria Open in June 2008, and last week, he won the Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup, his third win in Japan. Next, he added the Singapore Open to that list and with it came a cheque of $ 792,500 which virtually seals the Asian Tour Order of Merit, making him the first golfer to cross $ 1 million in earnings in a single season and also the biggest career money winner in Asia. And he wants more. “I want to win a Major soon,” he says Having beaten Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els in a tight contest, he has shown that he is worthy of a Major. Jeev, born on December 15,

1971, was the first Indian golfer to become the member of the European Tour and he was also the first Indian full member of the Japan Tour. Jeev now divides his time between Asian, European and Japan Tours and ultimately aims to play regularly on the US PGA Tour. Son of famous Indian athlete Milkha Singh, an Olympian who was fourth at the 1960 Olympics in Tokyo, Jeev’s mother Nirmal Milkha Singh was an international basketball player. An alumnus of the Abilene Christian University in the US, Jeev also won the NCAA Division II individual golf championship in 1993. He also won a number of amateur tournaments in the US. His first professional win came at the 1993 Southern Oklahoma State Open. He first played regularly on the Asian Tour when it was first set up in 1995. In 1997, he finished seventh at the European Tour Qualifying round and joined the tour the following year. Jeev also joined the Japan Tour in 1999 and at one time, also held

a card in South African Tour — the only Indian with cards in four international tours. Though Jeev struggled with injury between 2000 and 2005, he came back with a vengeance in April, 2006, when he won the Volvo China Open to become only the second Indian player to win on the European Tour after Arjun Atwal. He also won the season ending Volvo Masters, which saw him finish the season on the 16th postiiton on the Order of Merit. Jeev finished 2006 as the winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and capped his season with backto-back wins in Japan to become the first Indian to make the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings. The ace golfer finished the season on the 37th spot, to date the best ever achieved by an Indian golfer. In 2007, he became the first Indian to play at the Augusta Masters and made the cut — an effort he repeated in 2008, when he was given a special invitation to the tournament. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2007.

His top-5 at the WGC-CA, the top-10 finish at the PGA Championships, four wins on three Tours plus a great show at Masters make Jeev as a future prospect of becoming the first Asian to win a Major

LANDMARKS GALORE Even as he finished fourth at the WGC-CA Championships, Jeev Milkha Singh’s list of landmarks kept increasing ! The first Indian to win on the Asian Tour ! The first Indian to qualify for the European Tour ! The first Indian to play at the Augusta Masters ! The first Indian to finish in top 10 of either a Major or WGC event ! The first Indian to win the Asian Order of Merit twice. He earlier won it in 2006 ! First to get past $ 1-million mark in earnings in a single season on Asian tour; holds the record with more than $ 1.4 million ! He is the second most successful golfer in Asian Tour history ! Only the second Indian to cross $ 2 million in earnings at the Singapore Open 2008. The first was Jyoti Randhawa ! The year 2008 was the second time Jeev won titles on three Tours (Asian, European and Japan) in a single year. The first was in 2006 ! The Singapore Open, with a cheque of $792,500, is the second biggest cheque Jeev has won. The biggest was the win at Volvo Masters Valderrama, Spain, where he won $840,000 !The first Indian to get into top 50 of the world and is now the first in top 30

India First | March 28-April 3, 2009 53

TALENT TAPPER The state is a power house of cricketing talent; we need to groom and direct the young in a proper way. But we need to provide good turf pitches, better facilities and more practice sessions to the talented

Orissa’s

ACHREKAR Coach Kishore Mania is working hard to turn the state into a hub of cricketing talent, hoping that Orissa can make it big one day. The man behind stylish opener Shiv Sunder Das is grooming young talents to loft them into the national scene 54 India First | March 28-April 3, 2009

By Byomkesh Biswal

e is the man with the mission: to loft Orissa to the centre stage of national cricket and not just skirt around the fringes of the hallowed ground. Coach Kishore Mania is slogging to turn the state into a gold mine of cricketing talent, hoping that Orissa can make it big one day. The man behind stylish opener Shiv Sunder Das is grooming young talents so that they too can share the pie of glory. “The state is a power house of cricketing talent; we need to groom and direct the young in a proper

self was oblivious of how fast time passed by. Ask Mania about his bachelorhood and pat comes the reply: “I married cricket and remained a bachelor for life.” A thorough gentleman and savagely honest, Mania’s makes him a lovable mentor. Sitting at a corner of the field, he observes every trainee keenly and explains the nuances of holding the willow in the correct angle, fortifying the defence and timing a shot. Though sometimes he is a martinet, the strictness is out of deep affection towards his students. “I don’t get angry with my students. I am not here to find flaws but to correct them,” he says. As a coach, Mania’s mission is to spot talent and look for that ‘insatiable hunger for the game’ in play-

ers. “You can teach technique and skill, but hunger for the game has to come from within the player,” he says. The master believes that as soon as a young talent is spotted, grooming should start immediately. “We need more inter school and district matches and tap young talent.” Mania explains the reason why state players falter after securing a place in the national side. “After a player is selected, he should keep on performing. But players from Orissa have failed do perform continuously, leading to the exit from the national side.” Though the state’s success in the game has been negligible despite the overwhelming craze for it, Mania still believes that the state can produce quality players. “We have enough talent, and the enthusiasm for the game is unabated. But we need to provide good turf pitches, better facilities and more practice sessions to the talented. Finally, a fair system of selection without any bias and nepotism is a prerequisite for ensuring proper exposure to players,” he adds. Currently, a senior cricket coach with Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Mania rues the fact that money and power cricket are ruining the game. “Players are lured by money and instant fame after the advent of limited-over game. They focus more on power instead of technique.”

Kishore Mania’s stu-

MANIA’S STUDENTS WHO MADE IT BIG

! International players ! Ranjib Biswal, president of Orissa Cricket Association ! Shiv Sunder Das (Right-handed batsman, played 23 Tests and 4 ODIs) ! Ranji Players ! Basant Mohanty (pacer) played Duleep Trophy and represented Indian A team in Israel ! Satya Ranjan Satpathy (Junior Team) ! Sanjay Satpathy (Junior Team) ! Sritam Das (Junior Team)

INDIA FIRST PHOTOS

way,” Mania says. He has already groomed some of the illustrious cricketers of the state who have played in the national level. Though Das is his favourite, former captain of India Team (Junior) Ranjiv Biswal; Ranji players Prabhanjan Mallick, Sanjay Raul, Satyaranjan Satpathy, Sritam Das and Sanjay Satpathy are some of the notable cricketers who have been trained by him. Mania has been into professional coaching since 1976, when his best disciple Das was not even born. A lover of the game, Mania has given more than 30 years to this profession. Though he has been teaching the players all about timing, he him-

India First | March 28-April 03, 2009 55

FILM REVIEW

BOOKS & IDEAS

Real India-IBM story By Arvind Padmanabhan

C A GRACEFUL, GLORIOUS HOMAGE TO HUMAN SPIRIT

Firaaq first and foremost deserves the highest praise for early flawless, almost pitched perfectly to show the trauma of those who lose limbs, lives, love the remarkably even-pitched writing by Nandita Das and and faith in a communal carnage, Nandita Das’ Shuchi Kothari. No character jumps out of the screen in trydirectorial debut leaves you speechless. This is ing to make its presence felt. The people who live in what cinema was always meant to be. But somewhere in its Nandita’s film are the people we know in one way or anothchequered course from information to entertainment, our er. And yet they are here, special in a very unobtrusive way. movies began to feel like vaudeville entertainment meant The narrative episodes, written with finesse and passion, are constructed to accentuate the post-commu nal friction more for diversion than intellectual stimulation. Firaaq doesn’t aim to be a cerebral treatise on commu- among people who till the other day were neighbours. nalism. Nor does it suffuse the narrative with what one may There is a mixed-married Hindu-Muslim couple. Before call intellectual masturbation for the sake of creating an the day is done, the husband (played with silent sincerity aura of socio-political importance. Non-judgemental and by Sanjay Suri) has made peace with his environment and the fact that his name is Sameer utterly bereft of stylistic affections, Sheikh, not Sameer Desai. Sameer Firaaq is a graceful and glorious in the context of the film’s volatile homage to the human spirit. Much communal statement becomes a of its visual power comes from Ravi FIRAAQ (Drama) metaphor for the Hindu-Muslim Chandran’s articulate but Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Raghuvir divide, which is now a looming restrained camera work, Sreekar Yadav, Sanjay Suri, Tisca Arora, reality in middle class lives. The tact Prasad’s seamless but trenchant Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval, and grace with which Firaaq editing that leaves nothing (not Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash Direction: Nandita Da weaves through the communal even destiny) to chance, and tensions of unrelated characters all Gautam Sen’s artwork which makes Critic’s Rating: !!!!1/2 joined by their collective fear of a the city’s riot-torn colours emblemcommunal backlash are signs of a atic of the red anger and the blue time when cinema and society at despair felt by the characters. Set in those turbulent tension-filled days right after the large need to do a serious rethink on their responsibilities. The villains, if any, are the administrative personnel Godhra incident in Gujarat, Firaaq depicts the loss of human faith and the complete absence of the rules of shown to be running around abetting the violence. If this is civilised conduct in the day-to-day working of the adminis- a simplification in storytelling then it can’t be helped. tration, that is, civilians. Language, in fact, is an amazing Celluloid depictions of troubled times have to somewhere tool of unhampered eloquence in Firaaq. The characters in find tangible figures to blame for the injustice. Otherwise the riot-torn city speak in three languages Hindi, English we would come away from a certifiable masterpiece like and Gujarati. They do so without design or selfconscious Firaaq wondering if there’s any sense of justice left in this purpose. The outstanding words do not stand outside the chaotic world of self-serving brutality. Das’ narrative is procharacters’ ambit of everyday expression (sometimes collo- pelled forward by powerful characters played by actors who quial, otherwise poetic). Even when the narrative pauses to not only know their job but also know how to make their debate the polemics of communal politics among the char- jobs look like anything, but professional hazard. Here’s a film that must be seen not because it tells a story acters, we, the audience, are one with the pause. This is excellence without the silent sound of applause. The spo- that touches every life, but because it touches our lives with ken words are not designed for the camera. They such persuasiveness without resorting to overstatement. — By Subhash K Jha are said because they have to be expressed. 56 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

ontrary to the general perception that India had forced US IT giant IBM to exit the country in 1977, evidence shows that the government was not only keen to retain the company but had also held secret parleys for that with the company’s top brass in the US, says a new book. The Long Revolution: The Birth and Growth of India’s IT Industry,

JYOTI MISHRA ACTRESS

have remained in India and, at the same time, the Indian government could have stuck to the provisions of the new legislation. Seshagiri, who was invited to participate in a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, used the opportunity to meet the president of IBM for Americas and Far East along with other senior officials there. They liked the compromise formula, but in a follow-up meeting in New Delhi, the General Manager of

Publisher: HarperCollins India Pages: 450 Price: Rs 595

authored by senior science and technology writer Dinesh C Sharma, notes that following the stalemate in the official talks with IBM India on recasting its Indian operations to fall in line with newly enacted Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, Secretary in the Department of Electronics MGK Menon had deputed senior technocrat N Seshagiri for an informal dialogue with IBM top brass in America. “Aware of the unfavourable political ambience, Menon did not want this to be leaked as it could have led to criticism within and outside the government,” says Sharma, whose book, published by Harper Collins, was released recently by Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda. The book names two officials of IBM India deputed by its finance department — N Panchapakesan and Raymond Pillai — along with another senior manager Dan Gupta for discussions with Seshagiri. Under a compromise formula proposed by Seshagiri, IBM could

{ I am reading... }

IBM India surprised Menon and Seshagiri by sticking to the earlier stand of “no dilution of equity” taken by the company all along. This was, in fact, contrary to what his bosses in New York had proposed to Seshagiri. The book also demolishes the notion projected by western commentators that the Indian government was unnecessarily inflexible while dealing with IBM and that by rejecting its proposals India had lost the opportunity in an emerging area of technology. The disclosures about government’s efforts to arrive at a solution, while maintaining a tough public posture, show that India was actually willing to accommodate the US giant’s concerns. “The top IBM management also understood the Indian government’s stand,” says Sharma. The book also has a detailed account of how IBM was importing outdated and used mainframes, refurbishing them in India, and leasing the same to Indian customers at exorbitant rates.

love reading books. While I am at home, I leaf through a book. All sorts of books from thrillers to romantic novels — I grab whatever I can lay my hand on. Currently, I am reading Riders, which is written by Jilly Cooper. While shedding light on the mananimal relationship, it has a lot to say about compassion. To be honest, as someone who knew very little about horses, the novel has been a revelation to me. Cooper is a genius on all counts and highly regarded by critics and intellectuals. This is, perhaps, one of her best works. Her story-telling is very compelling, engrossing the reader in no time. The story is about a group of British riders for whom competition is not limited to winning a team victory. Personal jealousies, financial reward and sexual conquests too drive these intense, charismatic and sexy athletes. The individual emphasis is so strong that even the horses seem to have “personalities”. It’s fast pace, show-jumping, sex and witty social satire combine to make an interesting read for anyone who appreciates the idea of an intimate human relationship.

— Prashant K Nanda

India First | March 28- April 3 , 2009 57

RELATIONSHIP

Psychologist Sanket Mahapatra has answers to all your relationship problems

I am 18 and at my job, I met one of my best friends. He is 10 years older than me, but I have never met anyone like him. He seems to be perfect for me; we rarely fight and when we are together, we have a great time. He tells me often that he hasn’t had this much fun in years. During this friendship, I started loving him. He knows how I feel and he feels the same way about me. We have done just about everything a couple would do together, including sleeping together numerous times. But... he has a girlfriend. I feel completely awful for she is wonderful and a friend. As much as I love to hang out with him, it hurts me to see him with her. And I don’t want to lose my best friend. What should I do?

You already know all the answers. You must stop this relationship immediately. He is a man with another woman who is cheating on her to be with you. Since he won’t leave her, to stay in this situation will be incredibly painful for you now and in the future. If your friend ever finds out (and believe me, she will eventually) you will lose her trust forever. Women who fall in love with men who are already ‘taken’ betray not only their friends but themselves as well. Your friend is acting immorally and is cheating on his girlfriend. This man is playing a dangerous game and has trapped you, a young woman ten years his junior, into playing it with him. He is taking advantage of your youth and innocence and is being incredibly selfish emotionally. I know you see this in your lucid moments and I know these feelings are hard to handle,

60 India First | March 27- April 3, 2009

but you must walk away right now and not look back. If hanging out with him gets too painful, you will have to end the friendship with him. I feel that me and my boyfriend are growing apart and the scary part is that I know I love him, but I don’t think I have much energy left to give to this relationship. I feel tired. Any suggestions?

The problem doesn’t sound totally based around your relationship. You sound emotionally and spiritually TIRED. One thing that is for sure — is that if you are not totally at peace with yourself (or at least somewhat peaceful), you will feel completely drained when it comes to working on your personal relationships. First order of business... work on yourself and your own sanity for a couple of weeks and then see how you’re feeling about your boyfriend.

I am 15 years old and I have a friend who I think I’m in love with. She’s 18 but I know she doesn’t mind going with younger guys (she went with my 15-year-old friend). Anyway, I can’t stop thinking of her all day long. The problem is that one of my best friends likes her a lot too. He doesn’t know how I feel about her, in fact, nobody does. I found out from someone else that she doesn’t feel the same way about my friend as he does about her. I sometimes think that she likes me by the way she acts around me, and the look we sometimes give each other, but she has no idea that I like her. She’s not the

same caste as me and my parents see that as weird. I love everything about her. I don’t want to mess up our friendship and I don’t know what to do. Can you help me out? Trust your instincts. We usually can sense when someone likes us. As far as the caste issue goes: that is your call. Also, I see nothing wrong with it if she is a good person. I know you are a good friend to your buddy, but he really has no claim on her. Ask him if he would mind it if the two of you got together. If he says yes, you will have to choose whether or not it would feel right to be with her. If he minds, it would probably be best to let it go for a while especially if he is a really close friend. Sorry, there is no easy solution to this one.

I met a woman through another friend of mine. We are friendly but not friends. Turns out that this woman’s ex-boyfriend and I met a few weeks later through another person and I am attracted to him, and I know that the woman is still in love with this man. I want to pursue this further, but I’m not sure if its okay. What’s your opinion?

Find out if this would bother your friend, and then decide if you want to pursue it. While I don’t think you have broken any laws, I think it’s always best to recognise the feelings of others you care about before you get all invested into a relationship with this man — which might just be another attraction.

STAR TREK

Control your anger. Too much talk will lead to disputes. You can travel for business or pleasure. You will have the getup and the flair to contribute a great deal to groups of interest. Your lucky day this week will be Wednesday. You need to get out if you want to meet potential partners. Efforts made to improve yourself will turn out to your satisfaction. You may find that you’re being used by others for their personal ends. Think about your priorities. Your lucky day this week will be Thursday. Social gatherings will be conducive to meeting new potential mates. Debates will stifle passion and result in estrangement. Take care of any medical problems if they’ve been troubling you. Rely on yourself and you will look good and will impress your superiors. Your lucky day this week will be Friday.

Noted astrologer Michael Thiessen of Astrology Online tells what the stars have in store for you in the coming week

just for two. Beware of someone who is trying to make you look bad. Opportunities to expand your circle of friends will result in possible new romantic encounters. Problems with large corporations or institutions are apparent. Friday is your best day.

way where career and success are concerned. Time to deal with institutional environments, government agencies, and matters of a private nature this week. You may find travel to be most rewarding. Your lucky day this week will be Sunday.

Try to communicate if you wish to help. Avoid lovers who already have a relationship, even if it is a bad one. Don’t expect new acquaintances to be completely honest about themselves. If you can work at home, do so. Your lucky day this week will be Wednesday.

You could make extra cash through creative hobbies. You will be highly entertaining when in contact with your lover. Use your creative flair. Real estate investments could be to your advantage. Your lucky day this week will be Monday.

You can make progress if you deal with the right individuals. Opportunities to get ahead will be evident. Your outgoing, aggressive nature will attract someone you’ve been eager to meet. You could receive recognition for a job well done. Your lucky day this week will be Sunday.

Plans to make physical improvements may lead to psychological changes, too. Your mind will be wandering to exotic destinations. You will find that social activities will lead you into passionate meetings. Don’t blow situations out of proportion. Your lucky day this week will be Thursday.

Get some sound advice and help setting up a workable budget. Generosity will put you in the poorhouse. Correspondence may not clear up issues. Don’t ruffle the feathers of those you care about most. Your lucky day this week will be Monday.

Children might be on your mind. Don’t hesitate to make special plans

You can make drastic changes in your professional direction this week. Obstacles may stand in your

Visit someone who hasn’t been feeling well lately. Social evenings at your place will be highly successful. You can surprise members of your family, which in turn will bring you a pat on the back. This is a wonderful day to look into courses or hobbies that interest you. Your lucky day this week will be Sunday. You may find yourself changing crowds. You can bet that you’ll draw attention to yourself. Confronting a situation will only result in indignation and misunderstandings. You might want to spend some time by yourself in order to decide exactly how you feel. Your lucky day this week will be Monday.

India First | March 28- April 3, 2009 61

TRAVEL & TOURISM Bhitarkanika is famous for its crocodiles and mangroves. Besides, the nearby Gahirmatha region is a prominent tourist spot as Olive Ridley turtles nest here en masse

Biodiversity hot spot By Bijaya Kumar Das

t can be described as God’s creation. The Bhitarkanika National Park resembles a beautiful painting executed by none other than the Supreme artist himself. Spread over a staggering 672 sq km, the National Park, is located on the deltas created by three rivers and the sea in Kendrapara district. Geographically, Bhitarkanika is located between 20°4’-20°8’ Latitude and 86°45’-87° 50 Longitude. RAMSAR SITE: In 1998, Bhitarkanika was declared as a National Park after the sanctuary status was bestowed on this unique ecosystem in 1975. The mangroves were designated as a Ramsar Site in November 2002. The area was been designated as the second Ramsar site (i.e. Wetland of International importance) of the state in August 2002. It is a unique area with a rich biodiversity, covering land mass, tidal water bodies, estuaries and territorial waters of the Bay of Bengal along with their associated flora and fauna.

Flora And Fauna Mangrove: Bhitarkanika is the second largest mangrove ecosystem of India. So far, 55 species of mangroves have been identified in Bhitarkanika out of the total 58 in India. A breathtaking sight of beauty and resilience, these mangroves supposedly floating in the rising sea demonstrate the ability of living creatures to adapt to any situation however hostile it may be. DANGMAL CROCODILE RESEARCH CENTRE: The giant salt

58 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009

MAJOR THREATS

water crocodiles are the main attraction of Bhitarkanika. Of the many islands in the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Dangmal has emerged as the ideal habitat for the salt water crocodiles in the country. Nearly, 700 saltwater crocodiles inhabit the rivers and creeks in Bhitarkanika. The Dangmal Crocodile Research Centre, which was founded in 1975 in collaboration with the Food & Agriculture Organisation and the United Nation’s Development Programme, adopts “rear and release” technique to increase the crocodile population. Eggs collected from wild nests are hatched artificially. The tiny crocs are nurtured till they grow into adults. Later, they are released into the wild habitat of Bhitarkanika river system during winters. WILD LIFE: You can spot king

cobras, pythons, wild boars, Rhesus monkey, sambars and spotted deer in Bhitarkanika as you cut through the salty marshes. Bhitarkanika is also home to well over 215 species of birds, including winter migrants from

How to get there Air: The nearest airport is situated in Bhubaneswar Rail: The nearest railhead is situated in Cuttack and Bhadrakh Road: One can reach the sanctuary from north through Rajnagar via Bhadrakh and from south through Rajnagar via Patamundai, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar Visiting Hours: The ideal time to visit the Bhitarkanika National park is between mid-October and mid-March

(Left) Tourists enjoy the natural beauty of Bhitarkanika National Park. (Top left) An employee displays a baby crocodile reared at the Dangmal Crocodile Research Centre. (Top) The mangrove ecosystem at Bhitarkanika and different types of crocodiles reared at the Dangmal Crocodile Research Centre

central Asia and Europe. ENDANGERED OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES: Gahirmatha beach, which forms the eastern boundary of Bhitarkanika biosphere, is known as the largest mass nesting place of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles in the world. Nearly half-a-million Olive Ridleys visit the Gahirmatha beach every year. Apart from that, Bhitarkanika houses six different types of turtles — Leatherback sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle, Green sea turtle, Olive Ridley turtle, Indian Flapshell turtle and the Green sea turtle.

Journey Down the Memory Lane GORI, THE WHITE CROCODILE: Gori, the first white crocodile at the Dangmal crocodile farm, was born

in the 1975 and got the name because of its fair colour. The 6.9 ft Gori was the country’s lone captive white crocodile, hogging the limelight for its aggressive behaviour. Living in isolation since its birth in the sanctuary, the animal had refused to mate despite several attempts made by forest officials. In fact, in one such attempt, Gori violently attacked the male partners that had been released for mating. Gori lost its left eye in the clash. Now, Dangmal crocodile farm has earned the reputation of rearing ten endangered white crocodiles. THE BIGGEST CATCH: The Dangmal crocodile farm also achieves the rare distinction of housing the world’s largest salt water crocodile measuring about 23 feet.

!Increasing human population is a major threat to this wetland. The construction of saline embankments for aquaculture and destruction of mangroves pose a major problem !Clearing of the mangrove forest for agriculture !Intensive fishing in the peripheral river systems !Exploitation of mangroves for house construction, fencing and fuel wood !Poaching of wild animals !The coastal wetlands and the agricultural fields adjoining these wetlands are increasingly being converted into brackish water prawn culture ponds. This has resulted in a loss of habitat for the migratory birds during winters

The crocodile found a place in the 2006 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. The crocodile, probably, was shot dead near Dhamara during 1926 and later its skull was preserved by the then Kanika king. Crocodile experts said that as per the parameters, the crocodile would have measured about 25 feet since the size of the skull was one-seventh of the total length of the body. If witnessing the splendor of Bhitarkanika’s raw beauty is not enough for you, you can also visit the 9th century Lord Shiva temple in Dangmal for spiritual solace.

India First | March 28- April 3, 2009 59

RELATIONSHIP

Psychologist Sanket Mahapatra has answers to all your relationship problems

60 India First | March 27- April 3, 2009

STAR TREK

Noted astrologer Michael Thiessen of Astrology Online tells what the stars have in store for you in the coming week

Children might be on your mind. Don’t hesitate to make special plans

You can make drastic changes in your professional direction this week. Obstacles may stand in your

India First | March 28- April 3, 2009 61

SPOTLIGHT

TURKISH TRIUMPH orld No. 2 chess player Koneru Humpy feels that her title win in the World Grand Prix women’s chess championship, held in Istanbul (Turkey) on March 19, is her biggest achievement. Koneru and the Chinese duo of Zhao Xue and Yifan Hao shared the lead, going into the final round. But only Koneru could win her match, against Marie Sebag of France. She finished the tournament with a commendable 8.5 points out of 11. Koneru, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, had maintained the record of ‘the youngest woman ever to become a grandmaster’ (not merely a woman grandmaster) from 2002 to 2002. She achieved the feat in 15 years, 1 month, 27 days, beating Judit Polgar’s record by 3 months.

VIRU A LA VIVIAN irender Sehwag has redefined the art of opening batting, traditionally associated with the likes of Sunil Gavaskar. Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar scaled the ranking chart released by the International Cricket Council in Dubai on March 16 faster than any other player. Sehwag, who recently scored 299 runs against New Zealand, has jumped nine places to the sixth position. It is the first time in nearly six years that the batsman has occupied a place in the top 10. Sehwag is a fearless batsman who doesn’t care for history or reputation. When he bats, even the most fearsome bolwers run for cover. He is a batsman whose audacity is defined by the sheer brutal impact of his strokes. Therefore, he can be easily termed as the most destructive batsman after Sir Vivian Richards .

MEDAL OF HONOUR elhi Public School (DPS) Kalinga student Amrita Rath has been awarded the coveted University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australia gold medal for excellent performance in International Assessment for Indian Schools (IAIS) 2008. Daughter of orthopaedic surgeon Santosh Rath, Amrita scored the highest among the class IX participants in English across India, Middle East and South East Asia. She is one of the 80 participants to have been awarded the UNSW gold medal in English, science, mathematics or computer skills

— Compiled by Bijaya Kumar Das

62 India First | March 28- April 3, 2009