DLF City News April 2015

IN MEMORIAM

AISHA CHAUDHARY

COMMUNITY CONNECT

GURGAON’S MALAYALEES

FACE OF THE MONTH

SANJEEV BIKHCHANDANI

Citynews dlf

` 50

April 2015 Vol. 9 Issue 1

fine

Is All About An Eco-System

LIVING

In Perfect Harmony With

Well-Planned Homes,

Modern Business Districts

& Leisure-Entertainment Hubs P-8

WINE & DINE

Innovation and Passion

Raise Presentation of Cuisine TO a

a Form of Art P-47

Citynews dlf

connecting gurgaon

RNI No.: DELENG/2006/19254 Editor Vinay Jha Design & Production Asia Media Design Associate Editor Meenakshi Sharma Senior ASSISTANT EDITOR Dikhya Tiwari Senior FeatureS Writer Reena Dhankher Contributor Rahul Ahuja Photos The Deep Images Marketing, Ad Sales & Distribution Touchpoints Marketing Services Printed and published by Vinay Jha on behalf of DLF Utilities Ltd, Shopping Mall, 3rd Floor, Arjun Marg, DLF City Phase I, Gurgaon -122002 Printed at G.H. Prints Pvt Ltd, A 256, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase –I, New Delhi - 110020 Envee Media is not responsible for the loss of or damage to unsolicited artworks and photographs, including transparencies and products, manuscripts or other material of a similar nature.

The writing, artwork, photographs, graphics and illustrations published in this magazine may not be used or reproduced without a written permission from Envee Media. While all efforts have been made when it comes to the content compiled for themagazine, Envee Media assumes no responsibility for the effects arising there from

Letters:

Citynews.dlf@gmail.com

Several decades ago, when parts of Gurgaon began getting a makeover which would make them one of the most sought-after addresses in the country, few would have imagined that the city would redefine what good living is all about.

As our Cover Story finds out, this has to do with an eco-system which ensures green lungs for the city, modern architecture and amenities and planning for the future.

The minute you realise you are thinking about dying more than living is the moment you need to change gears. These words written by Aisha Chaudhary summed up the philosophy of life for the 18-year-old who breathed her last, ironically, the day her book was released at the Jaipur Literary Festival in January. Rest in Peace, Aisha.

We catch up with the city’s Malayalees as we continue with our series on Communities. Friendly and always ready to adapt to new surroundings, they talk about what they like about Gurgaon and what they miss when it comes Kerala.

Gurgaon is all about setting trends. So it is with food as we talk about the latest trends in taste and presentation in our Wine & Dine section, looking not just at coffee and éclair but also Biryani which is as rich in history as it is in taste. In Transit Lounge, we catch up with the acclaimed French Bossa Nova band, Nouvelle Vague

VINAY JHA Editor

@DlfCityNews

DLF City News

Citynews.dlf

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 03

I N S I D E 34 38 51 53 59 61 65

Events Calendar Cancer Awareness Guest Column Handbag Trends Helpline The City Elders Movie Previews

Citynews dlf

APRIL 2015 VOL 09 Issue 1

Wine & Dine Food Trends

44

From Coffee Art to Gourmet Eclairs to Authentic Biryanis, new food trends focus on presentation techniques and authentic taste while experimenting with fusion

Faces Interview

18

CMO Gurgaon Civil Hospital talks about their preparedness and advises people on how to avoid seasonal ailments

26 People Nicknamed ‘Khali’, traffic cop Rajesh Kumar is a popular draw during their road safety campaigns MUST READ

37 Corporate Fiesta

A unique event saw corporates enjoy fun, games and powerful panel discussions

30 All about Landscaping Softscaping and hardscaping create a unique amalgam that beautify the city and define Gurgaon’s lavish landscapes

MUST READ

MUST READ

55 Traffic Update

A new traffic app helps citizens calculate fare and penalty

34 G urgaon Utsav

Audience laps up an entertaining mix of music and theatre

Communities 44

Travel

Malayalees in Gurgaon are a closely-knit community with unique food, entertainment, festivals and work culture

Faith in the Almighty, love for your country and the delicious cuisine will ensure a fulfilling trip to Amritsar

Around Town Glitzy Opening

36

Le Meridien opened in style with unique performances under a star-studded ambience

Entertainment Opening Up

Brangelina’s Public Display of Affection is rather endearing for fans who rarely get to see it

22 Aisha Chaudhary Her little Epiphanies have immortalized Aisha who passed away at the tender age of 18 on the very day her book was released

28 Sanjeev Bikhchandani Page 7 >>>

For Advertising, Please Contact:

06

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

64

Virat’s love for Anushka was evident on Twitter as expressed appreciation for her latest film

66 Last Word

Founder, Naukri.com believes one should be a solution provider or a first mover to be a successful entrepreneur

43

Page 24-25 >>>

9810563407

COVER STORY

FINE LIVING

Finding The

Perfect Harmony!

A blend of modern luxury and homely comfort within natural surroundings makes for a beautiful balance in Gurgaon’s business and residential districts by Meenakshi Sharma As you cruise on the National Highway 8, the futuristic architecture of the iconic Gateway Tower with its distinctive ship mast heralds entry into Gurgaon.

The glitter and glamour of Gurgaon has invited epithets like “unique, impressive, modern and millennium” which attract people from all over the world and yet fail to capture the true essence of a city which some refer to as “People’s Choice!”

“With green open areas, unimpeded water and electricity, complete security and all the modern facilities, this city provides a completely self-sufficient ecosystem - a safe haven to come back to at the end of a long day,” says advertising professional Sonali Malviya who resides at The Park Place, DLF 5, and considers this city to be the reason for her family adjusting so well to life in India after living abroad for over a decade.

Chief Architect, DLF 5, Alok Kumar, explains how they maintain the green lung of Gurgaon to control pollution. “From vertical to canopy type of foliage, a nice cluster of trees to a manicured lawn and seasonal flowers, we keep the look mesmerizing and vibrant. Flowering trees, shrubs and ground covers are done at various levels to give it a dramatic look,” says Kumar.

Malviya explains, “Beautiful green areas provide great play opportunities for my kids while modern facilities, secure living and absolutely fantastic maintenance and support affords us ample opportunities to make friends and enjoy festivals and events.” Wel-

08

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

COVER STORY

FINE LIVING

lington Estate resident Manish Arora emphasizes on the unique combination of comfort, luxury and convenience.

CO-CREATING VALUE

It is not just about bricks and mortar but the service levels that we give and the soul attached to the product Sudhanshu Bhushan EVP Operations

10

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

Co-creation of value through world-class habitation, recreation and commercial facilities in a superior and controlled environment seems to be the key when it comes to good living in the city. The critical differentiator of Gurgan lies not just in the manner in which it has grown but also in the entire ecosystem that promotes fine living at par with world class standards without negatively impacting the environment. Whether it is the business district of Cybercity, the plotted properties in DLF City or the condominiums in DLF 5, residents, professionals who work here and visitors to Gurgaon are fascinated with the unique balance between good living and nature.

Rajeev Trehan, Senior Associate with M/s Architect Hafeez Contractor, reminds us that, “In the next few years, when the trees and greenery mature, there will be no such place, at least in the country for sure”. While ‘luxury’ is

a word that is often used to describe development with a focus on world-class facilities, fine living goes beyond luxury as it creates those constant innovations that challenge the notion of ‘comfort’ and come up with fresh new ideas. This is apparent when one sees environmentfriendly golf carts doing the rounds of the condominiums, efficient segregation and disposal of garbage, well thought out horticulture and landscaping conceptualization and execution with an emphasis on safety through designated fire stations, LEED Certified buildings and an assigned Green Corridor.

Sudhanshu Bhushan, EVP Operations, elaborates on the meaning of good living. “It is about differentiation,” he says as he points out to those little touches around the Golf Course, the Aralias and the Club Magnolias. The stunning landscaping and greening include intelligently created mounds and screening elements that ensure that the golfers are not overwhelmed by buildings while residents get to enjoy an expanse of landscaped beauty thus giving the best of both worlds.

A visit to the tastefully decorated and

COVER STORY

FINE LIVING

Personalised Tuition

Kids are Different

elegant interiors of the Club Magnolias shows that it is not just about luxurious settings but superior service levels and a soul which creates this unique environment. “It is not just about bricks and mortar but the service levels that we give and the soul attached to the product,” explains Bhushan.

INTELLIGENT INNOVATION

The focus is on the 5 S of being “Safe, Secure, Sustainable, Smart and Social AMIT GROVER National Director Offices

12 I April 2015

I

dlf

Citynews

Amit Grover, National Director Offices, explains the concept of Cybercity, the largest business district of Gurgaon, “The intelligent buildings of today address the human needs of being social, safe and secure. These are architectural marvels that are high in performance with no impact on the environment even while they provide the necessary work life balance”.

Grover maintains that the focus is on the 5 S of being “Safe, Secure, Sustainable, Smart and Social” that gives that “Edge” to Cybercity”. To him, fine living moves from the ‘need level’ to the ‘solution or interactive level’. “The safety ring of Cybercity and the Metro adds to the satisfaction levels while contributing to the ease of commuting,” explains Grover who calls this the ecosystem solu-

tion that adds to the comfort of working at Cybercity. This is poised to improve with their future vision of ‘Cloud Computing’ which will make it fully networked. People love Cybercity and will even stay to enjoy the perks of working in this area, he explains as he speaks of the World Tech Park Project where inducting sports into the office experience adds to a healthy lifestyle. “Healthy competition and sporting spirit through tournaments bring smiles to the workplace,” adds Grover.

Anmol Raheja, who works with a software engineering company, is enamoured of the business district when he says, “Cybercity has amazing connectivity and international standards of service levels. Even empty shops are immediately covered by white sheets – something that speaks volume about being professional”. He also has a word of praise for the cleanliness and security of sniffer dogs in DLF CyberHub which he describes as “a much desired place whether you want to chill out or have a quick bite.” His colleague Rahul Jairath adds, “It is a beauty with big brands, loads of activities and multiple areas to hang around”. India’s first integrated food & entertainment destination spread

Yours Deserves Personalised Tuition CBSE, ICSE grades 4 to 10 (Maths & Science)

Admissions Open for Gurgaon centers  South Point Mall Devinder Vihar (Sec 56)  DLF phase IV Sispal Vihar (Sec 49)

Call now for free trial

98104 70881

Founded by education pioneers from IIT, IIM & Harvard, Vidyanext combines great teachers and the latest learning technology to provide kids the individual attention they need to get deep subject understanding and top marks. We’re so sure you’ll like the course, we’ll return your money if you don’t. Vidyanext operates in over 30 centers across Gurgaon & Bangalore. www.vidyanext.com

COVER STORY

FINE LIVING

Gurgaon’s Green Theme The city’s theme for a dream centres around all things green

over 2 lakh sq ft, DLF CyberHub has iconic restaurants with international & Indian cuisine. It includes fine dining, lounge bars, cafes, roof top restaurants, global kitchens and bakeries.

EASY COMMUTING

Intelligent segregation of traffic will allow vehicles to move more smoothly even while ensuring pedestrian safety ROHIT MALIK Director DLF Estate Developers

14 I April 2015

I

dlf

Citynews

The newly laid out HUDA-DLF Sector Road, which is part of a much-awaited infrastructure upgrade, is all set to enhance the thrill of living in Gurgaon as is already evident from the Sikanderpur end of the Golf Course Road. This public-private partnership between DLF and HUDA will create sustainable infrastructure from the Sirhaul Toll Plaza to Sector 55/56 thus ensuring smooth flow of traffic.

Rohit Malik, Director DLF Estate Developers, tells us that this is a well-thoughtout upgrade. IL&FS Engineering and international consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff are doing the project management consultancy. The concept drawings were finalized by the international team from AECOM, says Malik. He emphasizes on “intelligent segregation of traffic which will allow vehicles to move more smoothly even while ensuring pedestrian safety through 2 m–4 m wide paved footpath.” Attention to detailing includes electronic signages and dedicated cycling tracks placed on a higher level than the tarmac. “We expect most of the upgrades to be operational in the next 6

months making commuting hassle-free,” maintains Malik.

INCLUSIVE GROWTH From Raahgiri which allows Gurgaonites to reclaim public spaces to the attention to art and culture, music and good food, this city’s love for life and challenges is evident. At a recent event, scholarships were awarded to underprivileged children to enable them to pursue higher studies. Affluent residents could volunteer as mentors to coach the kids as part of the DLF Foundation project that is committed to inclusive development.

While General Rajender Singh, CEO of the DLF Foundation, shares their commitment to bettering the lot of those not as fortunate, Sudhanshu Bhushan, EVP Operations, points out that since happy staff leads to happy service, they keep a steady focus on staff welfare and development. “We not only make sure that the staff has benefits and insurance but are also given regular training and development”, he says.

Amit Grover supports this very thought in the Cybercity business district even as he elaborates on the CSR angle pointing out that “Cybercity has collaborated with corporates like Canon into activities that include inclusive development, environment protection and bringing smiles through a healthy work life balance” ø

by Reena Dhankher “Vast planted areas with trees and a variety of ground covers, huge lakes, water bodies and fresh species of fauna that flock the landscaped stretches, this was the idea behind the ‘eco-system’ for DLF 5,” explains Rajeev Trehan, Senior Associate with M/s Architect Hafeez Contractor working with DLF. “Specialist landscape designers and horticulturists have ensured design, selection and plantation of a huge variety of plants. The flowering trees with colour and a vast plant material palate will make it look strikingly enriched with exquisiteness,” he sums up.

Trehan’s simple but effective explana-

tion of the green theme which forms the core of Gurgaon’s new developments hold out hope for the future.

A Premier Institute for CBSE, ICSE, JEE, PMT & CPT

Admission Open for Session 2015-16

URBAN LANDSCAPE Mention Gurgaon and the DLF Golf Course comes instantly to mind. The original golf course designed by Arnold Palmer has matured into a beautiful, flourishing green stretch. The new golf course designed by Gary Player has more rustic flora making it slightly rugged. “Challenging slopes, lake and rocks change the environment, game and design elements leading to newer

U79/17, DLF Phase—3, Gurgaon (Near Phase 2 Metro Station) Tel : +91 124 3926025, 9650912288 Email : info@equalsign.in | web : www.equalsign.in

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 15

COVER STORY

FINE LIVING

concepts,” says Alok Kumar, Chief Architect, DLF 5. For both the golf courses, explains Kumar, there is a wide variety of trees, from vertical to canopy type foliage, which gives it an interesting look.

When Paul Friedberg, New York-based landscape architect, conceptualised and designed the urban landscape of DLF CyberHub, it was envisioned as a centre of social bustle amidst greenery - an oasis in the middle of glass and concrete.

Giri Raj Shah, Chief Architect, DLF Retail Development, points out, “We wanted DLF CyberHub to become a happening space and named it thus. Friedberg evolved the design with curvilinear shaped shops sitting in the middle of the plaza between the existing building and building No. 8”.

GREEN WALL Look closely from NH-8 at the 12.5 meters high ‘Green Wall’ with climbers vertically rising into the sky and the story behind it will make sense. “The green wall sits on top of a basement which was the biggest challenge for us as there was no natural soil for the climbers to be planted. We got fiber glass planters

16 I April 2015

I

dlf

Citynews

situated on three levels and planted bougainvillea plants in them. It was a pleasant surprise when the climbers took root quickly, and within first season we had a green wall. The bougainvillea is a plant which normally grows slow, hence the sur-

CYBER HUB Centre of social bustle amidst the beauty of greenery. This greenery is an oasis in the middle of a glass and concrete development

prise when it did well,” explains Shah.

Shah points out that the choice of bougainvillea was made on account of Gurgaon’s harsh weather. “The wall was created using a chain link fence mounted on a steel frame which allowed a grip to these climbers. The shoots were allowed to grow at random for the first season, keeping the trimming to a minimum, which helped attractive flowering shrub to mushroom beautifully,” he says.

Green Wall apart, office goers also enjoy the lush green patches of the roof tops.

The parking areas with trees planted between the car parking bays, not only provide a green cover but also provide welcome shade to cars.

Future plans include lush green elevated walkways and an ambitious ‘City Park’ which will form the most urban example of landscape design. These are being designed by Paul Friedberg and Hafeez Contractor. Sunil Koul, Chief Architect RENTCO, sums up beautifully, saying, “The walkways will have trees and shrubs with trellises to create the shadow effect. We plan to have sculptures to make it more interesting and commuters will have a provision to enjoy the greens” ø

Interview

CMO CIVIL HOSPITAL

‘Swine Flu Cases

Under Control’ DCN interacts with Dr Pushpa Bishnoi, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Civil Hospital Gurgaon, to discuss the precautions that need to be taken against seasonal diseases What are the steps being taken to combat swine flu?

The situation is under control. Most of them were OPD cases. First of all, I would like to tell people to stop worrying.

18

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

In panic, people are now getting swine flu tests done for common cough and cold too. Here I would like to clarify that when and if someone gets cold and cough, they must wait for a day or two since this

could be viral too. Only if it persists, should one explore the option of swine flu test. For the first couple of days, try to keep warm, gargle and drink hot water.

If situation still does not subside

one can always come to us and we will advise them for the test accordingly.

Swine flu is a droplet infection that spreads from one person to another. Those who are at high risk include kids, pregnant ladies, heart patients, old people and cancer patients who do not have the required immunity to fight the virus for swine flu.

Tell us about some other diseases associated with this season and precautions to avoid them.

Apart from swine flu, the other seasonal infections could be flu for which we must remain in isolation, consume hot drinks and wear sufficient clothes. I have noticed that with the weather changing, people have altogether stopped wearing woolen and so they catch cold.

Also, we need to keep away from malaria and dengue. I advise people to use mosquito net and coils, keep doors closed, don’t let water collect anywhere and pour a little kerosene wherever collected water may prove to be dangerous.

What are the challenges in healthcare segment that the civil hospital faces today?

One of the most important challenges has been that while the number of patients has gone up over the years, there has been a scarcity of specialists. The government is

Interview

CMO CIVIL HOSPITAL

Apart from swine flu, the other seasonal infections could be flu for which we must remain in isolation, consume hot drinks and concerned and is making efforts to overcome this hindrance. We do have specialists but we need more.

Similarly, our hospital deals with maximum number of pregnancies and deliveries as we have a free ambulance pick up for all expecting mothers and we also give a free diet for three days in normal deliveries and seven days in caesarian.

But the Gynaecology Department has comparatively less manpower. Efforts,

20 I April 2015

I

dlf

Citynews

wear sufficient clothes however, are being taken to come up with solutions for these problems.

Is the infrastructure enough in Civil Hospital or do you think you need more facilities?

The main infrastructural problem is lack of space. Since there is no scope to expand here, we are planning to share

some burden with the Civil Hospital in Sector 10. We are coming up with an operation theatre there and demanding specialists. We also need ICU facilities and though we have updated machines now, the sad part is we do not have a radiologist and ultrasonologist for a long time now ø

IN MEMORIAM

AISHA CHAUDHARY

Aisha Chaudhary March 27, 1996-January 24, 2015

Celebrating Life In Death...

Remembering Aisha Chaudhary, the author of ‘My Little Epiphanies’ who knew how to live her life to the fullest even when death was knocking on her doors

by Rahul Ahuja

22

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

“The minute you realise you are thinking about dying more than living is the moment you need to change gears.” Aisha Choudhary did not just pen these profound words, she lived by this philosophy for 18 years before death snatched her away.

But she continues to live on through the words which now find place in a book. Cruel as destiny is, she breathed her last the day the book was released.

An undying spirit, Aisha died of pulmonary fibrosis on January 24 this year after suffering for four years but the young prodigy’s book “My Little Epiphanies” has set an example for others to follow.

Daughter of Aditi and Niren Chaudhary, Aisha was born with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SCIDS), a disorder that does not allow the patient to survive for more than a year.

Aisha, however, survived after undergoing a bone marrow transplant when she was barely six months.

Though she miraculously survived for 18 years, the transplant had a serious side-effect and she developed a lung disease which finally took her life in January. But before that, the teenager made it a point to live her life to the fullest, a life which was laced with accomplishments and achievements.

A resident of Gurgaon, Aisha, besides authoring a book, had explored the artist in her. She was also named an INK fellow and had the opportunity to deliver inspirational talks twice at the prestigious INK conference in 2011 and 2013.

She also spoke at TED in Pune in 2013.

However, 2014 proved to be a brutal year for Aisha as her lungs started giving up on her and she became bed-ridden.

Aditi, her mother recalls, “Even though Aisha put up a brave fight against the disease, there were times she would break down. She would ask me whether she would be around for Christmas. Such moments were very difficult for us as we had no answer for her.”

“However, Aisha had decided not to bow down before the difficulties and make her life as positive and fulfilling as it could be,” adds her mother, something which was also evident in her inspirational talks. At one of the INK conferences, she had spoken about a five-point mantra for life - Believe in miracle, Live in the moment, Find opportunities in difficulties, Dare to dream and Love your pets; they truly work as medicine.

Aisha too had two pets, Koby, a Labrador and Rolo, a pug. Rolo had died barely a month before she succumbed to her disease.

In her book ‘My Little Epiphanies’, Aisha writes about inspiration and optimism. She has analysed her own feelings to find out what gave her a sense of hope and control. Through the book, she has given her readers an insight into her unusual life while inspiring them to find peace when going through similar hardships.

Some of her thoughts such as “Then is not now, but now will soon be then,” or “Even though I am not okay, I must remember that sometimes other people may not be okay too,” reflect her positive attitude towards life.

Though it has not been easy for her parents since her demise, they have found solace in the fact that their daughter tried living a happy life even when she was treading towards death during her last days. Her mother recalls, “She used to tell me, ‘whenever I am bed-ridden, I think of things I am still able to do and that makes me sit up and bring a smile on my face.”

Even in death, she lives forever ø

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 23

+91 85888 59494 +91 85888 61681

people

GURGAON’S KHALI

Daily Diet 33-40 chappatis 5 kg fruits 35-40 eggs 4 litres milk Fitness Routine 2 hours running/jogging 2 hours in the gym

Standing Tall, Aiming Higher 26

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

A traffic cop by profession, Rajesh Kumar is a wrestler in the making who dreams of taking part in the WWE!

by Reena Dhankher

Rajesh Kumar is a traffic cop who stands seven feet four inches tall. What strikes most about this man, however, is his determination to aim high in life. For someone who was embarrassed due to his huge frame at one point of time, Kumar (39), has come a long way to make his height his biggest strength today.

Belonging to a small village called Narayangarh Ambala in Haryana, Kumar has been drafted into the city traffic police as a special case but this young man aspires to take part in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) someday.

Although he was tall since childhood, he worked hard to attain the height he has today, following an extremely sincere exercise and fitness routine. “There was a time I would hesitate to step out of home but with time, I decided to use it in my favour,” says Kumar. And, he did emerge strong enough to be called the ‘Khali of Gurgaon’ despite battling with a financial crunch, which according to him, he faces even today.

He always had to deal with a number of problems due to his height. To begin with, he never found shoes and clothes of his size in the market and had to get them specially ordered. Even his bed had to be customised to accommodate his height; one of the reasons why it was never easy for Rajesh to travel.

Since their father remained sick most of the time, Kumar had two elder brothers who worked in the farms to support the family. But in 2005, losing his elder brother left him in deep shock. “He had dreamt of seeing me succeed in wrestling and this was the only inspiration that made me overcome my loss,” he recalls.

In a place like Narayangarh with no stadiums or proper gymnasiums, Kumar managed with whatever he had.

“I had no guidance from anyone in life. Yet I managed to study till Class 10th after which I had to give up school.

Today, I feel with the police job, I have secured a means of livelihood and am preparing hard to get into wrestling,” he explains.

In his current profile, he is this famous traffic cop that people, particularly children, fancy. Apart from getting pictures clicked with him, everyone is curious to know about his height and what has gone into attaining it.

Kumar, of course, is enjoying all the attention he gets and is pleasantly amused with the fact that his height, which once gave him a complex, has today become the reason for his popularity. “Everything else is great but I get embarrassed when people run to get pictures clicked with me,” he says with a smile.

“The one thing about my role as a cop I am enjoying most is that children and elders are getting to learn something about traffic rules through me. There is a satisfaction that I am trying to teach and promote safety aspects which will not only benefit the city but also help prevent many accidents and deaths,” he adds.

He has been participating in the road safety initiatives and awareness campaigns by the Gurgaon Traffic Police to spread awareness about traffic rules in schools.

But all this doesn’t prevent him from taking breaks from his responsibilities as a traffic cop to continue mastering wrestling. Talking about his favorite ‘Khali’, he smiles shyly and says, “My face resembles him and that’s why people call me Haryana Ka Khali.” Meeting his idol for the first time in 2006 had created a new vigour in this man to reach his goal. In 2011, he also trained at the Tara institute at Jalandhar under Dr. Ranbir Afteer. Kumar aims to take India to greater heights in wrestling and is waiting for a ray of hope in the form of sponsorships to make his dream come true. ø

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 27

PEOPLE

FACE OF THE MONTH

sanjeev BIKHCHANDANI PEOPLE

Founder, Info Edge (India)

A

n Economics graduate from St Stephens College and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, Sanjeev Bikhchandan is Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge (India) which owns Naukri.com.

Tell us about the idea of Naukri.com and its evolution?

I was working at Glaxo Smithkline when I saw colleagues queuing up to look at the appointment section of Business India and realised that we are always looking at a job, even when we are not looking for one! In the 1990s, we reworded job ads from various newspapers to create a readymade jobs database and by 1997, we had realised that jobs were high interest information and started Naukri.com.

As we realised that online real estate is also growing rapidly, we added 99acres.com and businesses like Jeevansaathi.com, a matrimonial website and education site Shiksha.com. We also have a stake in Zomato.com.

The job market is dynamic. How does Naukri or 99 acres keep the trust of the consumers?

Competition is part of business and we have used technology and protocols to ensure we move with the times.

For instance, Naukri has confidentiality options for candidates who want to block certain companies from seeing their profile. Similarly, we have global benchmarking standard in ensuring verification so there is no misuse of data and only those looking at hiring can contact companies and candidates. Both jobs and real estate reflect the economic conditions so they are linked to the GDP and the growth rate. We were and are going through a slump which should correct in two years.

What is your advice to young entrepreneurs and professionals in Gurgaon?

Gurgaon is unique, very impressive and a great job market for Naukri.com. Being ethical and committed is important for every candidate and I believe it is that pride of work that makes a candidate opt for a company. So there is no perfect candidate or company but a perfect fit.

My advice to start ups and entrepreneurs is to have a deep customer insight and solve an unsolved problem.

At the same time, if a model is replicable, it is no good so either be a first mover or do it better!

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 29

OUTDOORS

LANDSCAPING

Towards a

Greener Gurgaon As landscaping becomes all about green elements, the city gets ready to sing a different tune in the near future

by Reena Dhankher

Ask Anjali Tewari Kulkarni, Landscape Architect what her first thoughts about landscaping are and quick comes the reply from the landscape designer, “Going back to green”.

Notwithstanding the heavy concentration of commercial, retail and residential projects all around the city, landscaping in Gurgaon is getting increasingly associated with greener elements like trees, grass and lawns. With the designers, horticulturists and the Haryana Urban Development Au-

30

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

thority (HUDA), all working towards providing a greener environment to citizens, the city’s landscape will soon don a new look.

ALL ABOUT HARDSCAPING Water bodies, gates, mounds, entrances, structure lighting and sculptures form the most important aspect of hardscaping. Most of the commercial projects have resorted to palms on the entrance since it provides maximum visibility. “It gives

a structured and neat look to go with palms at the entrance. While canopy trees are best suited towards the end, champa goes very well on the podium,” explains Kulkarni. She adds, “The water bodies could be still or falling and the lightning can be an element in itself; then there are some deck spaces, spill over and residual spaces. How you use all these elements is where a designer’s skill is represented.”

To this V K Nirala, Executive Engineer HUDA, adds, “In public parks, we have

made use of elaborate lighting, sculptures and water bodies to make them safe and beautiful. While landscaping, the taste of people who will use the space determines other factors.”

While most of the landscape designers work on elaborate maps, for Nirala, his mind is his map. “We manage without paper and to harrow and plough, planning mounds, beds and benches have to be combined to give a desirable look to the park.”

NOW, SOME SOFTSCAPING “One tree is equal to 10 air conditioners” says Atul Vashisth, MD Samak landscape, Gurgaon explaining the softscaping aspect of landscape. He feels trees are most im-

portant when it come to giving the city a green lung. To this, Kulkarni adds, “When designing the landscape for a project, we first look at all the peripherals. You may get some space that’s virgin earth and if you want to get trees planted, the growth in natural soil is stronger and changes the shape and the foliage a lot. You need to have

vertical trees to complement the verticality built form after which you have shrubs in two or more layers and residual if you have virgin soil. However, on podium, we use artificial methods like planters, planting beds or sink the slab in the built form where we want to lawn areas.”

Agreeing to the need for greater number of trees, Nirala explains, “Tree plantation and conservation have been very vital for HUDA that has designed and built public parks like the Tau Devi Lal Park, Leisure Valley Park and Bio Diversity Park. People love to visit these parks for health and recreation. As for plants, those that will survive should be used. With the climatic challenges, choice gets limited.”

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 31

OUTDOORS

LANDSCAPING

Bringing Gardening Store Online “Everything you ever wanted for your Garden is now available in a single click”

Personalized Online Shopping Garden Exchange Newsletter Landscape Info Plant Finder Seed Finder Knowledge Base Expert Advice

Plants

GARDENS GALORE The month of April brings lovely colorful gardens that enhance the beauty of constructed buildings. The HUDA parks have a creative combination of formal (where flowers are put in a particular symmetry) and informal patterns. While Nirala is of the opinion that the latest in trend are plants like ficus, fabian, bottle, fishtail and foxtail, Kulkarni feels the season brings amazing profusion of plants such as dalias, petunias and salvias.

Commercial spaces and offices today also have a mixed blend of horizontal and vertical gardens. Gardens, in fact, have a psychological impact on employees. The colorful flowers, grown in patterns, attract attention and help employees ‘feel good’ besides making the structure look beautiful.

Of course, vertical gardens are more

32

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

popular because they do not require much space. As Kulkarni explains, “Vertical gardens can have plants grown in just six inches of space. They can be used as feature walls; one can make patterns in there and it can look like an artwork. You can use wooden stone or tile cladding too.”

Vertical gardens apart, balcony and herb gardens are in vogue too, adds Vashisht.

THE GREEN VISION The role of horticulturists in landscaping is of prime importance. They give practical shape to a designer’s vision.

They carry out the tasks of plantation and maintenance. Vashisht explains how wide the scope of horticulture is while talking about arboriculture, ornamental plants, floriculture and many more. “The horticulturists are a crew who feed plants with

organic and soluble fertilisers and with their expertise, they feed special plants with special food. Their role also includes priming, pesticides and organic controls.”

Kulkarni excitedly talks about a new style where terraces have been converted into green sit-outs for employees. “I am working on a couple of energising terraces. The luxury of sitting in open air, with planters and chairs gives a cozy feel and is mood enhancing too.” Vashisht has the concept of ecology in mind with massive green bodies and urban forest. Although he is impressed by the lakes in the DLF Golf Course, he feels the city needs more trees to create a concrete forest look. In his view, a combination of manicured garden with a forest feel can turn the dream of a greener Gurgaon into a reality ø

Garden Decor

Furniture

homeandgardenlife.com is the only portal in india that fullfills complete gardening need and requirement of garden lovers and enthusiast

customer@homeandgardenlife.com

www.homeandgardenlife.com

around town

events

Gurgaon Utsav: A Time to Rejoice

APRIL 2015

3rd to 12th April 12.30pm to 11pm I Lounge Cheese and Wine

8th-12th

City Club III

April

e v e n t s

13th April 7pm onwards I Lawns Lawns

10th-18th

10th to 18th April 12.30 pm to 3.30pm and 7pm to 11pm I Maulsari Kabab Festival

April

by DCN Bureau

City Club IV 5th April 12.30 pm-3.30pm I PALMS Easter’s special Sunday Brunch 10th-19th April 12.30pm-3.00pm; 7pm-11pm I Palms Mexican Food Fiesta

32

dlf I June 2014 I Citynews

quainted to things that enrich their lives.

Poetry is something that keeps you alive when you feel your life is sliding down.” To this Vidya added, “I am a student of Begum Akhtar and it was my heartfelt desire to do this. When audience responds at the right time, you feel they are with you and this is what I feel about the Gurgaon audience.”

The second day had Mukhtiar Ali’s voice rendering compositions of Sufi poets and finally the utsav ended with a play ‘License- the Untitled Saga’ which revolved around the strength a woman.

The play was about a woman who takes on the task of driving a tonga after her husband’s death and faces all the harsh struggles with courage ø

‘Nanhi Chhaan’ celebrated at FMRI 13th April

13th April 12.30pm to 3.00pm and 7pm 7pm onwards I Lawns Baisakhi Celebrations

Gurgaonites were in for a cultural treat as the Gurgaon Utsav held at Aravalli Bio Diversity Park recently kept them mesmerised with good old melodies and generous doses of poetry for three days.

The event began with singer Vidya Shah and Dastaango Danish Hussain paying a tribute to Begum Akhtar. While Hussain kept the audience glued to their seats with incidents from Beghum Akhter’s life story, Vidya’s voice created a magical atmosphere which took people back in time to that era.

Danish Hussain told DCN, “I love coming to Gurgaon and am extremely happy about this initiative. Gurgaon has become a livelier place where people have got ac-

With an objective to promote the welfare of girl child, FMRI Gurgaon celebrated the ‘Nanhi Chhaan’ day recently. Tree saplings were planted by the hospital staff, patients, residents and children to mark the occasion.

Harpal Singh, Chairman Nanhi Foundation, said, “To bring in social change, overcome social evil and usher in a new society, initiatives such as planting saplings invoke us to change our attitude towards girls and women in our society.”

In this context, Dilpreet Brar, Regional Director, Fortis, said, “The Nanhi

34

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

Chhaan campaign is a manifestation of our belief ‘Save the environment, save the girl child, save humanity.’ We celebrate this every year to reiterate or commitment and support to saving the girl child.”

Later, Dr Sunita Mittal shared a presentation on medical problems faced by girl child in our country. An entertainment programme was also organised during the evening hours which witnessed brilliant performances by the children. Filmmaker Syed Muzaffar Ali from Bollywood was the chief guest ø

Around Town

EVENTS

Le Meridien Opens in Gurgaon The opening sees live performances by French Bossa Nova Band Nouvelle Vague and People Pile

by DCN Bureau As the crème de la crème of Gurgaon trooped into the Le Meridien for a grand opening, Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien and Westin looked understandably excited. “As India’s important hospitality market with tremendous growth potential, Gurgaon has long been on our short list of dynamic Indian cities that share our brand passions. We are confident that Le Méridien Gurgaon will provide a unique experience, unlocking the destination through locally influenced design, programming and cuisine,” said Povinelli.

Formerly, the Pullman, Le Meridien is

positioning itself as a melting pot of ethnicities with an enriched local culture and a variety of arts, music, cuisine and cultural festivities. The hotel also boasts of 285 guestrooms, contemporary furnishings; a renovated signature dining venue and a modern façade, which opens into the hotel’s signature and awardwinning arrival experience, called the Le Méridien Hub. Visitors were fascinated with the local art gallery, the 24-hour curated soundtrack by French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague and the signature Master Barista, a role designed to meet the growing demands

of coffee lovers at every Le Méridien hotel worldwide. Well landscaped lawns; a well-equipped fitness centre and pool; a tranquil spa; and a bar, Ikandy, setting the after-dark scene with live music, transformative lighting and innovative offerings are few of the other attractions at Le Meridien, Gurgaon.

The First Night celebrations included the French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague and members of the dance group People Pile who engaged guests with their alternative and energetic technical dance performances. In addition, the evening included an art performance that recalled traces of Gurgaon history; a tantalizing culinary repertoire, including local flavored éclairs; and sparkling drinks that kept spirits high ø

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 35

Around Town

EVENTS

Fun Unlimited At

Corporate Fiesta

Feeling Good,

Naturally

Corporate professionals get a break from their hectic schedules to enjoy an entertaining weekend

by DCN Bureau

by DCN Bureau ‘Finding the nurturing woman in you’ was the theme of the Kekadu Coffee Morning Club where over a hundred women from Gurgaon and NCR got together to support Cankids. The ambassador for the initiative was well known aroma magic and cosmetic entrepreneur Blossom Kochhar.

The event highlight was the panel discussion on the topic of Inner Beauty where celebrities like artist Anjanna Kuthiala, life coach Ramon Lamba, yoga guru Sonu Wassan and Kochhar engaged in an interaction with the participants.

Speaking to DCN after the event, Blossom explained how living in the Nilgiris made her look at aromatherapy as a profession

36

dlf I Aplir 2015 I Citynews

for the last 30 years. She has received a double doctorate for her study and research and has a range of aromatherapy cosmetics under the name Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic.

Kochhar emphasised that she believes in natural and herbal products and has used all nature’s gifts to help women look good and feel good. While she sees a lot of competition in the beauty market, she also believes that the differentiating factor for them has been their deep understanding of the techniques of aroma therapy.

During the event, she had also given tips to the ladies on how to relax or rejuvenate themselves with the exclusive aroma oils.

A supporter of the initiative of Kekadu Coffee Morning, Blossom was all praise for Poonam Bagai, colon cancer survivor, who is the founder President of CanKids…

KidsCan, the Vice Chairperson of Pallium India, Joint Secretary Indian Cancer Society, Delhi Branch and Member Cancer Sahyog, an emotional support group of survivors and caregivers.

Bagai has been selflessly pushing the cause with her support group of women, who were present among the audience, all dressed in gold in support of the Go Gold campaign and were endorsing the motto of CanKids: “Because I am Able…

Because I Can”! ø

For corporate honchos in town, this was one meeting which had nothing to do with targets or deadlines. Rather, it was a platform for them to have some real fun!

A weekend packed with doses of entertainment and laughter, the Corporate Festival organised by 28 degree North witnessed the CEOs and young professionals of Gurgaon having the time of their lives at DLF Club 5.

From music competitions and quiz sessions to stand-up comedy, the three-day fest had several exciting activities lined up for the professionals.

In the entertainment section, western and Indian music kept all of them on a foot-tapping spree. While Megha Girish from Google walked away with the first prize in western, Sriram Iyer from Nes-

tle India bagged the honours in Indian.

When it came to the quiz competitions, Anurag and Jatin from Google emerged winners of the ‘Business’ and the ‘Travel and Lifestyle’ quizzes. On the other hand, the nail-biting ‘Economist Quiz’ saw the ‘SAREGAMA’ team of Avinash and Rahul as winners while ‘Sports Quiz’ was won by Ramesh and Vishakh of HCL. One of the major attractions of the fest was the talks delivered by Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder Naukri.com and Rajan Anandan, MD, Google India. The two spoke on ‘what it takes to make ideas popular and how they can be effective for investors’.

Yet another highlight was an interactive show which had participants like Gagan Sharma CEO, Business and chairperson-

Sri Lankan Operation JLL, Ashok Tyagi CFO DLF, Achal Khanna CEO, SHRM, Sohini Bhattacharya VP Breakthrough, and Sarika Bhattacharya CEO Biz Divas deliberating on the role of women taking leads in MNCs and making tough choices.

The three-day fiesta concluded with a stand-up comedy act by Amit Tandon and ‘The Raghu Dixit Project’ that took the people on an entertaining musical journey.

“This is a nice initiative for the corporate professionals to take a break from their rigorous routines. It’s a great platform to showcase your talent and professional competence,” said Roshni Dewan, one of the happy faces in the crowd ø

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 37

SOCIAL QUOTIENT

DLF FOUNDATION

Cancer Awareness Camps

by DLF Foundation

Screening programmes help in ensuring proper treatment in time, thus saving lives.

by DCN Bureau In India, cervical cancer is the most common woman-related cancer, followed by breast cancer. Cancers have been on the rise in developing countries

like India due to cultural inhibitions and lack of awareness among women about timely screening and treatment, besides an absence of concerted large-

scale screening drives. The importance of community screening programmes can be judged from the fact that these cancers are preventable if pre-cancer-

ous abnormalities are identified timely and proper treatment is provided, thus saving many lives.

DLF Foundation, in addition to its operating Primary Health Centres, conducts several cancer awareness camps from time to time in villages surrounding Gurgaon. To mark its significance, one such camp was conducted in the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Hayatpur, Gurgaon on World Cancer Day, 4th February 2015. A public awareness/advocacy programme for about 80 women was organised wherein the participants were sensitised about the prevalence of four different types of cancer i.e. endometrial, ovarian, cervical and breast cancers, among Indian women.

Also discussed were the risk factors, symptoms associated with each of the cancers and the importance of early screening and timely treatment. At the camp, 30 women were screened for cervical and breast cancers.

38

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

Realising the need for such screening drives also among the urban population, DLF Foundation celebrated International Women’s Day by conducting another awareness-cum-screening event at DLF CyberHub especially for working women on 17th March 2015. Twenty students from a reputed college, Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), volunteered for the cause at the camp.

Gynaecologists conducted the screenings in an enclosed area that was equipped with the required apparatus.

Leaflets informing women about the can-

cers and instructions on how to perform breast self-examination were distributed throughout DLF Cyber City. More than 80 women were screened at the camp.

The women came out satisfied with the whole process as the doctors were thorough and made patients comfortable.

“For working women, it is a very good initiative by the DLF Foundation. I was not only screened but also informed about cancer prevention and the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment. I look forward to such events in the future,” said a woman who attended the camp. ø

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 39

travel talk

AMRITSAR

Faith Meets Freedom at

Amritsar From the patriotic to the devout, the ardent foodie to the lover of history and polity, the appeal of Amritsar cuts across nations and religions!

When our British friends David and Shirley Moore expressed a desire to explore India, we were convinced that it is the triple charm of Amritsar that ensures it figures so prominently on everyone’s bucket list. While the Golden Temple is a naturally divine draw, one can hardly ignore the role of Wagah where India and Pakistan touch borders and hearts and the historical relevance of the Jallianwala Bagh.

The adventure began early as we pulled into the New Delhi Railway Station in pouring rain and the Shatabdi chugged towards the City of Nectar – Amritsar.

The comfortably located Ramada Hotel was a good start and our trusted local driver Vishal was our guide for the next three days. While we wanted to do the ob-

vious and start the trip with the Golden Temple or the Harmandir Sahib, It was his recommendation that we begin our journey from the freedom struggle and explore Jallianwala Bagh, located just next to the Golden Temple.

Reliving History

It was an emotional walk through history as we trooped into the gardens and paused to read the plaques that explained the enormity of the massacre.

The Jallianwala Bagh monument is a sombre reminder of the Indian freedom struggle and the mood was poignant as we entered that very opening to the gardens from where Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to fire on an unarmed crowd even whilst directing

the bullets towards the few open gates through which people tried to escape. As we perused the visible bullet marks on the walls, peeped into the Martyrs’ well where hundreds of scared people leapt to escape the bullets and stood silently at the memorial, the events of 13 April 1919 wherein a non-violent crowd of Baisakhi pilgrims were fired upon with such brutality, became a real part of our lives. It is no wonder that the widespread anger over the event resulted in the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920–22. Our English friends were equally overwhelmed with the extent of the tragedy and expressed their sadness and regret as they looked long and hard at the exhibits and the landscaping which are all reminders of that fateful day of 13 April 1919. It is

pertinent that Queen Elizabeth’s visit in 1997 was an acknowledgement of the Jallianwala massacre even though no apology was offered for an event that changed the course of the freedom struggle. The film Gandhi quite accurately depicts the systematic murder of thousands of Indians at this very spot.

Divine Healing

After that sombre walk around, it was time to heal and we headed to the beautiful precincts of the Golden Temple.

From the impressive facade to the clean surroundings, there is an air of service, peace and beauty in there. The crystal clear waters with colourful trout and the strains of the Gurbani are some of the first and lasting impressions but

by Meenakshi Sharma

40

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

PHOTOS COURTESY: PREET BATTA

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 41

travel talk

AMRITSAR

the experience certainly goes beyond words.

It was in 1578 that Guru Ram Das excavated a tank which became known as Amritsar (Pool of the Nectar of Immortality) and Harmandir Sahib which means the Temple of God was built in the middle of the tank. Much of the present decorative gilding and marble work dates from the early 19th century. The gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib was started by Ranjit Singh and was finished in 1830. Golden Temple attracts visitors and patrons from all over the world and yet everyone is treated equally and this is one of the reasons for its popularity.

We spent precious moments walking along the sparkling pond where the devout bathed and sipped the holy water even as we were patiently led to the holy Guru Granth Sahib in the sanctum sanctorum. The continuous melody of the holy songs was as soothing as was the taste of that delicious halwa (kada-prasad) and the food served at the 24 hour langar or the free kitchen. These are just some examples of the faith with which this temple functions where everyone is a volunteer (kar-sevak). As we stood with our heads covered and bowed and our hands folded, Indian or British, we all felt one with nature and the godliness within.

The divine journey continued as we approached the Durgiana Temple which was constructed in 1908 on the pattern of

42

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

the Golden Temple and is a well known Hindu temple. Navratras are celebrated with much fervour at Durgiana Temple and in a unique custom, male children are dressed in glittering clothes after prayers and rituals and obeisance is paid at the nearby Bara Hanuman Mandir. People of all faiths visit the unique temple where Hanuman is depicted in sitting posture as it is believed that once the wish is fulfilled, the male child must be made a langur to serve the temple.

People throng here on Navratras while the langurs sleep on the floor, serve barefoot and finally as the mela concludes on Dussehera, kill the demons.

Touching Borders

32 kilometres from Amritsar and 24 kilometers from Lahore was our next stop, the Wagah border, where the BSF guards from India and Rangers from Pakistan participate in a unique ceremony which takes place every evening before sunset.

It starts with a blustering parade by the soldiers from both the sides and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nations’ flags.

As the sun sets, the iron gates at the border are opened and the two flags are lowered simultaneously. The ceremony has been filmed and broadcast for one of Michael Palin’s television around-the-world travel programs where he describes it as a display of ‘carefully choreographed contempt’.

The thrill of watching the goose step of the women soldiers and the mock anger displayed by the men is as exciting as hearing the Pakistanis cheer Jiye Jiye Pakistan and Indians calling Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Behind the show of hostility is that brotherhood between nations where the people on both sides look and behave the same under the very same sky and land!

Our English friends loved the military spectacle and the well coordinated Retreat ceremony as much as the pomp and show of Bollywood as women in the crowd regaled us with their dance moves to patriotic songs and ran with the National Flag till the gates. With Mahatma Gandhi’s picture adorning the India side and Jinnah on the Pakistan side, it was interesting to witness the exchange between neighbours.

Culinary and Retail Therapy Along this journey our trusted driver Vishal recommended what to eat and what to buy and it is relevant to mention that when you choose this spiritual journey, good food is part of the glory and the grandeur. From the lassi to the kulche to the Amritsari fish and the delicious purialoo at the temple, there is a feast lurking in all the corners of the city.

We had the pleasure of sampling the exquisite food at Surjit Dhaba, Ke-

sar Dhaba and Bhrawan Dhaba with a culmination at the Crystal restaurant. So whether it was the Butter Fish (Makhan Fish), the Amritsari Machi, the Mutton Tikka and the Tandoori Chicken at Surjit or the pure ghee unlimited thali at Bhrawan da Dhaba, we were overwhelmed with the quality of food. The Kesar Da Dhaba thali with their famous Maa ki Daal and lassi so thick you can almost hold the glass upside down without anything spilling out was as unique as the palak paneer, lachedar parantha and delicious phirni with the silver vark!

Shopping was no less exciting as we picked up tens of ‘jutis’ and ‘patiala salwar kameez’ which were stitched for us in record time even as we filled bags and bags with the famous papad-wadi and masalas.

Fulfilment at Amritsar

Our three day trip to the holy city was completely cathartic as we relived India’s freedom struggle at Jallianwala Bagh, felt overwhelmed with patriotism and brotherhood at the impressive retreat ceremony at Wagah and experienced divinity at Golden Temple and Durgiana Temple.

The cherry on the cake was the thrill of shopping and eating and going back with a unique taste of hospitailty and salesmanship – qualities for which Punjabis are well known all over the world. ø

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 43

COMMUNITIES

MALAYALEES

“We create a mini Kerala wherever we live,” says Ajitha S, the nursing head at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FRMI) in Gurgaon. The Malayalees living in the city cannot agree more. They miss the beaches, the football fields and the aroma of the morning breakfast wafting through the air from the neighbourhood eatery. But a glance into their

lives show how well they have adapted to the fast- paced life of a metropolitan city.

It’s not difficult to understand why. Malayalees are essentially simple and friendly people. They are also “adaptive in nature, which helps them adjust to new surroundings,” explains Ajitha, who moved to Gurgaon after taking premature retirement from the armed forces.

A Home Away

From Home While better career opportunities have prompted Malayalees to step out of Kerala, their intrinsic nature has helped them strike a chord with Gurgaon.

by Reena Dhankher

STUDY IN CONTRASTS While Kerala stands out for its traditional life, Gurgaon and Delhi are like fashion hubs, which explains their attraction towards the popular markets in Delhi and Gurgaon. Shahinshah Harif, who works for an MNC in Gurgaon, finds Karol Bagh, Connaught Place and old Gurgaon very attractive for shopping while John Baptist, working with another corporate in Gurgaon, loves the huge variety on offer in Sarojini Nagar. “You will find lots of Malayalees shopping there. In Gurgaon, Sahara and Ambience Malls are quite popular,” he adds.

On the other hand, Ajitha, who mostly prefers wearing sarees, enjoys her Kerala connect. “For western wear, Delhi and Gurgaon are nice but for sarees, I love Kerala, Bangalore and Chennai,” she points out.

Malayalees are also fond of watching films though the busy life in Gurgaon does not give them too much time for this. “In Kerala, we love to watch all latest movies with family and friends. But here, even though the halls are lavish, the tickets are expensive with distances

too long,” rues John.

Time, in fact, has been one factor that most of the community members have been struggling with in the city. “You have to plan in advance for a get-together and everyone is so busy with their work that there is hardly any time for a social life.

Once a month, we manage to meet friends at each other’s house and at times we go out for shopping together,” explains John.

Harif echoes John’s point of view as he explains how difficult it gets to finalise social plans. “We get only one day and on that day, we go to church and by the time we come home, half the day is almost over. On long weekends, we often visit our parents in our hometown so again it gets difficult to socialise. I love to play football. In the Tughlakabad Park, we get together, my friends from the ‘Janasam-

skanti’ and some others too,” he says.

Members of ‘Janasamskanti’, a Malayalee association, meet each other on a regular basis and also plan outings to places like Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple or India Gate. They have also travelled to places like Shimla and Amritsar which have been memorable trips for them.

Groups like the Gurgaon Malayalee Association (GMA) believe in charity.

According to Dr Sudharshan Nair, president of GMA which was formed in 2010, “The chief aim of this association is to work towards charity, welfare, health, education and for promoting art and culture. To bring all Malayalees under one umbrella is also one of our primary objectives.” The association provides financial help to people who have suffered from serious ailments and organises blood donation camps and free medical health checkups. The association also honours bright Malayalee students and has an ‘Employment Cell’ to provide jobs to the unemployed. An initiative to get UID cards for its members has been appreciated by other Malayalyee associations.

PROFESSIONAL LIFE Gurgaon has a lot of Malayalees engaged in various professions, be it doctors, engineers or IT professionals. Unni, Operation Theatre (OT) head at a premium healthcare establishment, says, “Almost every Keralaite after 12th dreams of working overseas. The salaries in Kerala are very low and people are willing to step out of

44

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 45

COMMUNITIES

WINE & DINE

MALAYALEES

CUISINE TRENDS

Food as a Work of

Art the state to pursue their profession. White collar jobs, defence services and teaching have been by far the most preferred professions within the community.”

Elaborating on the desire to work overseas, John adds, “Today you see nurses going to Ireland, London, after completing their BSC and MSC which enables them to be successful and they prefer to travel everywhere.”

The nursing profession is believed to have the maximum number of Malayalees. “People in Kerala look for job-oriented courses and that’s how maximum nurses are from the state. Middle East is a vast area for nurses and today the income per head has improved. The influx of money from the Middle East drives the economy of Kerala,” explains Ajitha.

TRADITIONS APART Compared to North Indian weddings which are quite elaborate, Malayalee marriages are simple. Says Unni, “We don’t have a baraat in Hindu marriages.

So, the concept of a band or the groom on a horse and people dancing all around is new to us. In Kerala, Hindu weddings take place in temples or halls but with no baraat, though I love to watch one. Also we have no night marriages as I have seen in the North.” He also talks about the vast differences in wedding attire.

“I love our traditional dress, the mundu and shirt. But in Gurgaon, it’s more about being fashionable,” he adds.

While North India witnesses a demand for diamond jewellery during weddings, for the Malayalee community, nothing

46

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

can beat their love for gold. As marketing professional Sam B Samuel sums it up, “Malaylaees love to wear gold and over the years, the designs have undergone a sea change. You will see women wearing all the latest designs in gold jewellery.”

FESTIVITIES GALORE Malayalees dili gently visit a church, temple or mosque every Sunday. John says, “I have not explored too much of the capital and NCR, but I love to go to the Ayappa temple in R K Puram where we meet some old friends. However, usually I visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral.”

Onam is the most popular festival and is celebrated by the community in a grand way. “Whether the celebrations are held in a temple, church or mosque, everyone contributes and attends each other’s functions. You can see Muslims eating prasad in temples,” explains Unni. Harif adds, “People also dress up in tiger attire and perform the tiger dance. Boat races are also held.” One of the most awaited events during Onam is the opening of the Shabari

GMA The chief aim of this association is to work towards charity, welfare, health, education and for promoting art and culture

Malai temple in Kerala for darshan. “This temple is on a hill and the most interesting aspect is that pilgrims have to pass through a mosque to reach it. This reflects the communal harmony and unity within the community,” points out Sam. Apart from Onam, Vishu Kani, the Malayalam New Year, is also celebrated all over. People use lights and crackers to express joy. John explains how on Vijay Dashmi, small children are taken to the temple by parents where priests make them write the first letter with a pen which is considered to be quite auspicious. Id, Christmas, Diwali and New Year are also celebrated by the community.

MISSING KERALA The Malayalees definitely get nostalgic talking about what they miss back home.

While Harif talks about the early morning sounds from the temples, the fresh fish, football matches and his loved ones, John misses the frequent trips to the cinema halls. “Back home, we have these on-the-spot programmes that materialise immediately due to more number of movie halls and low-priced tickets. The aim is to watch movies as soon as they release and I love to watch Mohan Lal and Manmooty,” he adds with a smile.

Sam keeps thinking about the fresh South Indian breakfast, the pollutionfree environment and his relatives while Unni misses the sea-side and Ajitha cannot help remembering Kerala for its climate, greenery, flora and fauna. After all, when it’s God’s own country, missing it is only natural! ø

From a cup of coffee to the French eclair with an Indian touch or the Biryani, it’s all about authentic taste and brilliant presentation

by Meenakshi Sharma

The cup of coffee has transformed into a piece of art, also becoming a mood-lifter in a more distinct way than just the caffeine kick it provides. Whether you order a cup of coffee at Café Coffee Day which throws in the shape of a heart to put a smile on your face or at the Westin Hotel

and Le Meridien in Gurgaon which elevates coffee decoration to an art form, it is no longer just a cup of coffee anymore.

LATTE ART IN GURGAON When Le Meridien Delhi and India Art Fair 2015 organised an interactive coffee

and art performance by Global Latte Artist Esther Maasdam and Sohan Jakhar, we knew Latte Art had arrived.

According to Maasdam who made intriguing Ganesha and peacock patterns on coffee, “Merging my work in latte art with the inspiration that travel brings is an exciting and unique challenge.”

Thanks to the effort of this latte artist and the commitment of Starwood to creating a distinct coffee hub culture, you are bound to see more and more art in your mug!

Coffee decoration even has its own informal circuit of tournaments, foremost among them being the World Latte Art Championship which took place in Melbourne this year with contestants from 32 countries.

FRENCH ECLAIRS GET AN INDIAN TOUCH Who doesn’t love the soft inside and crunchy and shiny pastry that signifies the delicious éclair? It is believed that it got its name because it glistens when coated with confectioner’s glaze since

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 47

WINE & DINE

CUISINE TRENDS “Gurgaon's Leading Real Estate Consultancy Firm & Brokerage House”

He boasts more than 20 years of kitchen experience at some of the top restaurants in New York City and currently owns a pastry and culinary arts consulting company, Sugar Fueled, Inc.

www.abcbuildcon.in

THE BIRYANI DIARIES When food writer and curator Mini Ribiero mentioned that she was intrigued at the sudden surge of interest in the Biryani both as a takeaway and a fine dine option, we decided to explore this trend.

While legend has it that Mumtaz Mahal, Queen to Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, invented the biryani as a feast for the army, others insist it originated in Persia. However, according to Vir Sanghvi writing in the Hindustan Times Sunday Brunch, “Evidence suggests that Biryani was created in India and perhaps in Delhi. There are no great Biryanis in Arab cuisine mainly because Arabs don’t use spices the way Indians do. What is most likely is when Muslim rulers set up courts in India, their chefs were inspired by our spices and our Khichdi to abandon the pilafs of West Asia and to create a spicier, moister rice dish.”

As we started a search for the best Biryani in Gurgaon, we learnt that both North and South India have their own versions and original recipes of these can be broadly classified into the Lucknowi or Awadhi style and the Hyderabadi Biryani.

HYDERABAD LIVE the word eclair in French means a flash of lightning.

Gurgaonites were in for a French culinary treat as dozens of exotic éclair flavours were unveiled with the grand finale in mid-March when the Darjeeling flavour - a unique fusion of India and France was introduced. According to Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien & Westin, “Through local recipes and a modern perspective on this quintessentially French pastry, Le Méridien éclairs enable us to offer unique, memorable guest experiences in our signature Le Méridien Hubs and restaurants around the world.”

In this unique culinary collaboration, Chef Johnny Iuzzini created eight signa-

48

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

ture éclair recipes exclusively for Le Méridien, Gurgaon, inspired by a global tour of select Le Méridien destinations. A 2006 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Pastry Chef and author of Dessert Four Play and Sugar Rush (September 2014), Iuzzini served as Head Judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts.”

Executive Chef Bali of Culture Gully, Kingdom of Dreams, tells us over a delicious spread of Biryanis from the Hyderabad live kitchen and the exquisite Lucknow restaurant that for the Lucknowi Biryani, also called Awadh Biryani, the meat and rice are cooked separately and then layered and baked. The Hyderabad Biryani, also called Kachhe Gosht ki Biryani, has the meat marinated in a mixture of spices for a few hours and then mixed with the cooked Biryani rice.

The handi is sealed and cooked over low heat. Eventually, the meat and rice are dum cooked.

While the Hyderabadi version is understandably popular with the Indian palate as it relies on the spices to give it

Call +91 9716030121

DLF Crest

High End Luxury Apartments • VRV Conditioning • Club House • Air-conditioned entrance halls and lift lobbies. • Heated water supply through geysers High speed passenger elevators with additional service elevator •Pressurized staircases , lift lobbies and lift shafts, for better fire safety

Find your Dream Home with

ABC Buildcon

TRUSTED VETERAN BRAND

TRUSTED VETERAN BRAND

BEST AFTER SALE SUPPORT

BEST AFTER SALE SUPPORT

100 % SATISFACTION GURANTEED

100 % SATISFACTION GURANTEED

+91 8470930121

128 ILD Trade Centre, Sohna Road, Gurgaon 122002 T: +91 9899199172 1 +91 9899199175 E: sales@abcbuildcon.in AN ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

WINE & DINE

CUISINE TRENDS

the distinct taste, connoisseurs also love the authentic Lucknow version which is enhanced by the flavour of saffron and is cooked in mild spices and layered. At Culture Gully, much pride is taken in the fact that the chefs of Lucknow and Hyderabad kitchens come from the respective regions and make it completely authentic. At the Hyderabad live kitchen, the Bhuna Gosht is distinctive in taste as is the milder Nihari Gosht and Galauti Kebab from Lucknow.

Chef Bali insists that there are no microwaves in their Hyderabad and Lucknow kitchens and they never use dalda preferring the dum to be maintained as closely to the original as possible with pure ghee as accompaniment.

LUCKNOW SPECIAL The delectable Biryani of ‘’Biryani Blues’’ located at Supermart 1 is a popular takeaway and dining option in Gurgaon. Praise has been pouring in for the new kid on the same block “Kitchen of Awadh” that has been winning accolades from young bloggers and seasoned food critics. Here is a beautifully conceptu-

50

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

THE BIRYANI DIARIES While legend has it that Mumtaz Mahal, Queen to Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, invented the biryani, others insist it originated in Persia. alised restaurant with authentic interiors that are reminiscent of Lucknow in Culture Gully though far more simple in decor and furnishings. We were browsing the beautifully designed menu card when owner Kamal shared his story which impressed us for the earnestness.

As we sipped the natural flavoured drink Panchamrita made from amla, beetroot, carrot, mint, ginger and lemon, we tried the delicious Mutton Galouti Kabab which was soft and light. Accompanied by an excellent soft yet crisp and flaky Ulte Tawa ka Paratha made with desi ghee, this was a treat.

The Mutton Lucknowi Biryani (which also comes in chicken and vegetarian versions) is distinctive because it is always slow cooked. Kamal tells us that he has to remind diners that they can never hurry it up as it is not out of a plastic box. He is a stickler for doing it right as he uses weighing scales and never cuts corners on ingredients and recipes. He recalls that when his chef deserted him, he learnt cooking all the dishes and maintains all the aromas and the dum pukht cuisine.

The biryani comes as promised in a clay handi sealed with atta and as soon as the lid opens, the aroma bursts out. Even though cooked separately, the flavours of mutton and spices intermingle beautifully under the dum. The aroma of saffron adds the exotic touch.

On Kamal’s recommendation, we tried the bhuna gosht which is made from a unique boiled onion gravy that adds to the sweet richness and the Mutton Kakori Kabab which is delicate. The happy ending came from the Phirni which was a pure milk creamy version and convinced us that Indian cuisine will always be in! ø

GUEST COLUMN

DOWN MEMORY LANE

The Second Cell Phone A brush with the harsh reality of having only one cell phone

by Krishan Kalra

T

he other day, on way to a conference, I realised that I had forgotten my mobile phone at home.

When we reached the venue, I told my driver to listen to the doorman’s announcements as I would be seeking his services to announce for my driver.

“Why don’t you take my phone Sir?” the guy volunteered and handed over a fancy looking instrument to me. “How would that help you nut case? Then you will be without one”, I said and I offered it back to him. “Sir, I have another one”, he pulled it out of his pocket and showed me. Anyway I jotted down his second number, asked him to put the damned thing on silent mode and rushed in.

When I actually saw his phone carefully it was a BlackBerry!

So, back in the car, at the end of the session, I asked him how he had come to possess such an expensive phone. He had obviously spent the bulk of his salary for a month on the infernal thing. Very sheepishly, the guy explained that he had seen this model with another driver friend, liked it and bought the same. Of course, he had to do a lot of explaining to do to his folks back home when they did not receive any money that month.

I remember the time mobile phones first made an appearance in India in the mid or late nineties. Siemens S4 weighed almost half a kilo – people with lighter imported instruments actually called it a hammer – local calls cost Rs 16 a minute; even incoming ones were charged @ Rs 8 or 12, and yet everyone wanted one. I resisted the nuisance – after all one got only the 20 minutes driving time to office for peacefully reading newspapers – but not for long. When all my colleagues had acquired this status symbol, they collectively forced me also to follow suit.

People played all kinds of tricks to give a ‘missed call’ so they had to pay less for the privilege of talking on a mobile. There were others who

just spoke loudly into their unconnected phones to show off that they were busy making important calls till the bell rang on one of them and dispelled the ruse. Of course they would try to save the situation by saying ‘Hullo Hullo’ couple of times and mumbling loudly that they had got disconnected!

The phone was always in front on office or club or restaurant tables to announce to the world that the holder had “arrived” in life.

Of course what has happened in the last 15 years is well known and widely documented. Mobile phone is now a necessity and no longer a luxury. Every driver, maid, cook, sabziwalla, rickshaw puller, plumber, electrician……..has to have one. It is a legitimate business expense for everyone. You can do without it at your own peril.

And yet, I have never understood the logic of anyone having more than one of these things.

I remember the time in the sixties when I had taken an American visitor to meet the General Manager of Northern Railways at Baroda House. Now this important official had – and I’m not exaggerating – 12 of those big black dialling machines on his gigantic desk.

The American was intrigued and asked why were there so many.

There was a long drawn explanation about different divisions and Railway Board and what have you; at the end of which our visitor said “But Sir, you can talk to only one person at a time”!

The answer came home to me from the doorman at the hotel venue of this very conference – when my driver had loaned his phone to me. The idiot had given me the number of the same phone which he gave to me. So I kept dialling and kept listening to the recording that the called number was busy.

The doorman’s patience was tested for too long; he couldn’t see a customer waiting so long at the hotel portico; so he asked me “Saheb, kya aapke driver ke paas ek hi phone hai”? ø

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 51

FASHION

HANDBAG TRENDS Spotlight

Myths Surrounding Uterine Fibroids DR. NUPUR GUPTA, Consultant & Unit Head, Gynecologist & Obstetrician at Paras Hospitals, busts various myths surrounding Uterine Fibroids.

MYTH: Having fibroids means one has to get the uterus removed.

FACT: In almost all cases, this is absolutely not true. These days, we can safely remove all fibroids without having to resort to hysterectomy (i.e., the removal of a woman’s uterus). We are able to remove even the largest fibroids minimally invasively.

MYTH: There are medications that will cure uterine fibroids.

FACT: There is no medicine in the market that can dissolve, remove, or otherwise cure fibroids. However, some symptoms can be managed with the following medications: n Combined oral contraceptive pills can help decrease bleeding symptoms. Some studies show that they can slow the growth of fibroids, but cannot decrease the size of the fibroid. n Progesterone Releasing IUD (intrauterine device) is inserted into the uterus and contains a small amount of progesterone hormone. This can decrease bleeding symptoms. However, it has no effect on the fibroid itself. n Progestin pills contain progesterone hormone, which will decrease bleeding side effects.

These pills have no effect on the fibroid itself. n Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists suppress the release of natural estrogen and progesterone production, which then causes shrinkage of fibroids and a decrease in bleeding symptoms. Typically, your doctor

52

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

will put you on this medication to correct anaemia from heavy bleeding and shrink the size of the fibroid prior to surgical management. However, they are not a longterm management option. And, because they cause a temporary menopausal state, they can be associated with hot flashes, mood swings, and other negative side effects. However, with very short-term usage as is customary for the treatment of fibroids, side effects like these can be significantly reduced and resolved after discontinuing the medication. n NSAIDs (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs) are nonnarcotic pain medications that may help with the painful symptoms of fibroids but will not affect the fibroid or any bleeding symptoms.

MYTH: Fibroids do not interfere with fertility.

FACT: To the contrary, fibroids can indeed reduce one’s chances of conceiving.

Fibroids can distort the uterus so a pregnancy cannot grow properly secondary to the mass of the fibroid. Also, the blood supply of the pregnancy can be diverted to a growing fibroid. In these cases, pregnancies can miscarry.

Infertility Fibroids can grow near the fallopian tubes and cervix thereby blocking proper motility of sperm and egg through the uterus and tubes. Fibroids can also line the cavity of the uterus making it impossible for a pregnancy to properly implant in the uterus.

We bring you some Spring-Summer 2015

handbag trends

by DCN Bureau Like diamonds, bags are fast becoming a lady’s best friend! Trends for the spring-summer collection indicate that this much sought after fashion accessory is most popular in very modern and contemporary handmade avatars.

Genuine leather retains its position on top of the charts for handbags in the Spring Summer 2015 collection which con-

sists of stylish totes, bucket bags, clutches and harness belts for women. The harness belts are a fresh take on fashion and add style and attitude to one’s outfit and personality. NID graduate Aditi Dhar, who is the founder of Vitasta says, “Luxury in sync with utility is the new mantra for women”. Her distinctive style focuses on high quality genuine leather bags in rich

Indian colours such as tan, fuschia, indigo, copper, and gold. These modern bags are the perfect solution for the well-defined taste and needs of today’s women.

Japanese copper teapot and the traditional Indigo Ikat fabric are underlying themes for the Spring Summer collection called the “Analogue”. The use of copper and the Ikat fabric makes the collection distinct while creating a mood of modern elegance, understated glamour and effortless style. Another popular item from the Spring Summer is the “Inde Tote Bag”, in veg tan which stands out with the very distinct braided rope handles; and has handmade fittings all in copper finish. The bag is high on functionality with multiple pockets.

With most retail stores flaunting the new collections for the season, every woman can pick up a few of her favoured styles this summer! ø

Wave cross body bag: Cross body bag is in veg tan leather. The wave stitch detail in front lends subtle design to the bag. This bag will prove to be extremely functional because of its multiple pockets. Its interior is lined with the Ikat fabric, giving a fresh look to the inside of the bag. This bag has the copper finished metal fittings and an adjustable strap.

Mara clutch: A clutch in metallic suede and silk dori, it is hand woven in a signature Chevron pattern, the bag interiors are suede lined and have copper finished metal fittings. An extremely chic and glamorous bag, this one promises to be the most sought after clutch bag for the season. This is available in copper metallic tones.

Leather Harness belt: A leather braid and metal harness made in sheep nappa leather, with an adjustable length.

The harness has brass finished metal fittings.

Layla bucket bag: The Layla bucket bag with drawstring closure is in veg tan leather, with hand woven grommet detail. It has copper finished metal fittings. This piece is also available in black.

Layla (soft) bucket bag: The Layla soft bucket bag with drawstring closure is made in milled cow leather with hand woven grommet detail.

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 53

CITY UPDATE

TRAFFIC Spotlight

‘Excercise, Proper Diet Can PREVENT STROKES’

D

r. Praveen Gupta, Director, Neurology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, is considered an expert in his field. Prior to his association with FMRI, he had established Neurology departments in two large corporate hospitals of Gurgaon. He is also frequently invited as a speaker to national and international conferences on Neurology. Dr. Gupta speaks to DCN about strokes and how they can be prevented.

What is the treatment of choice for stroke?

Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in supply of blood to brain causing the death of cells and the right treatment for it is bursting the clot or thrombolysis which can be done up within eight hours after the stroke. Those who cannot be thrombolysed have hope from other therapies.

If a stroke patient reaches a stroke centre in time, condition can be improved using medicines. In selected patients, stents can be used to remove clots from large arteries supplying blood to brain (mechanical thrombolysis).

How do we recognise acute stroke?

If a person has a sudden deviation of face towards one side or experiences slurring of speech, has difficulty lifting one arm or gripping with hand, has a tendency to fall towards one side or faces difficulty in walking - all these can be considered signs of stroke. Difficulty in seeing and loss of memory or consciousness are also signs of stroke. Sometimes people

54

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

with numbness or weakness in left arm think it’s a sign of heart attack but it’s is a brain stroke. Once a brain stroke is recognised, the first thing to be done is a scan (CT scan/ MRI) of the brain.

Because brain attacks can be caused both by blockage in blood supply and leakage of blood in brain, giving an immediate blood thinner is not a great idea and one should wait for the brain scan.

How are strokes managed?

Strokes are best managed by thrombolysis or if that is not possible, then with blood thinners (antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants). Also adequate control of blood sugar, blood pressure and usage of statins to stabilise cholesterol plaques are important aspects of the therapy. Since heart can be a source of strokes, so tests like doppler of carotids, echocardiogram, holter monitoring, assessment of lipids and an aminoacid called homocyteins are important aspects of stroke work up.

Maintaining proper nutrition, hydration and physiotherapy are important supportive aspects of stroke therapy. Even in patients with disability, appropriate physiotherapy and medication and use of botox injections in selected cases can help optimise functional recovery even months after the stroke.

How can we prevent strokes?

Daily exercise for 30-40 minutes, which could be as simple as a brisk walk, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and reducing intake of cholesterol rich substances such as fried food, cheese and butter are important means of stroke prevention. Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption along with optimised control of blood sugar, regular medication for blood pressure, regular usage of antiplatelet medication and statins work a long way to prevent future strokes.

To conclude, it is important to recognise a stroke in time so that the clots can be burst before a significant part of brain is damaged.

Digitisation To the

Rescue Auto-rickshaw commuting may just become a hassle-free affair in the Millennium City if the slew of passengerfriendly measures undertaken by the Traffic Police is anything to go by. From an automated receipt system to improving parking, the Traffic Department is out to prove that commuters can travel with ease.

To begin with, the Prepaid Auto booth at HUDA City Centre Metro Station has

From computerisation of prepaid auto booths to launch of new mobile app, Gurgaon POLICE goes on a mission to facilitate commuters

by DCN Bureau

been computerised which has come as a boon for daily commuters. As against a modest number of 250-300 receipts done manually on a daily basis, today the number is as high as 2,000 receipts per day, speaking volumes about the efficiency of the ticketing system.

The department has also ear-marked a dedicated auto area so that the autos park properly in queue and move systematically and that there is a smooth flow

which ensures passengers get autos with ease and vice versa. Fighting against multiple challenges such as rate and distance disputes, the department has made commuting convenient for commuters at HUDA City Centre while also successfully implementing the same system at IFFCO Chowk metro station.

For safer ride of women passengers, a special Pink Auto service has been introduced in the city equipped with facilities

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 55

CITY UPDATE

TRAFFIC Spotlight

Orthodontic Treatment For Children

GIVE WAY TO AMBULANCE

The ‘Give Way to Ambulance’ Campaign which was launched on the occasion of World Remembrance Day on November 16 for road accident victims has also picked up pace over the last few months. Sponsored by Artemis Hospitals, the Road Safety Organization (RSO) had launched the campaign in association with Gurgaon Police and Raahgiri to increase awareness and educate citizens about the importance of giving way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles (such as fire brigade and PCRs) on roads.

such as passenger alarms that can be used in case of any suspicious behavior of the auto driver.

With an objective to rule out the possibility of over-charging, an Auto Fare Calculator feature of the app has been rolled out that can be downloaded on smart phones. This application will calculate the accurate fare that should be charged by the auto from one destination to another. Aimed towards price standardisation, this application will give the cops the recommended fare that should be applied. In order to control the conduct of auto drivers, there is another feature

56

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

T Auto Verify & Feedback System, which not only verifies the auto’s history but also helps one see previous feedbacks.

Auto-rickshaw commuting apart, the department has launched various awareness drives and new measures for the convenience of commuters across the city. Another feature has been designed to educate them about traffic penalties. It helps one to know about the various traffic offences, fines associated with them and relevant sections of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Similarly, a WhatsApp Messenger Service has been launched which allows a

citizen to report incidences of corruption, harassment by any government officer, cases of crime and illegal activities, traffic related complaints including cases of overcharging or misbehavior by auto drivers. All one needs to do is send details of the incident (issue, place, date and time) with a photograph or short video clip along with their personal details (name, address, contact number) on +91-8586976050.

With the department leaving no stone unturned to use technology to its advantage, Gurgaonites can well breathe a sigh of relief while commuting on roads. ø

oddlers and children are often prone to some dental problems which may result in early intervention of an orthodontist. One of the most common is thumb sucking, which if prolonged may lead to a dental open bite and create dental and speech problems.

Explains Dr Heman Verma, “Thumb sucking may also accompany misalignment of jaws. This may lead to tooth decay and also gum disease. In cases like these, a complete X ray of the mouth with impressions of jaws helps in correction of the same through plastic casts.”

The initial phase of orthodontic treatment in children can be for correcting open bites, cross bites and deep bites. A proper diagnosis at this stage will determine the growth of permanent teeth. The second phase deals with relatively intricate procedures like positioning permanent teeth and jaw corrections with the help of braces.

Talking about the various devices used

for treatment, Dr Heman further adds, “Plates, braces and elastics are the basic methods we use for dental correction in children. While plates help position teeth with the help of wires and springs in the mouth, elastics are basically small sized rubber bands that apply extra pressure on braces to help tooth correction. Finally, braces exert tender pressure on teeth for correction of their position.”

One of the most crucial aspects of the treatment is the time. Dr Priyanka explains, “The sooner the orthodontic treatment is performed the better and effective it is. However the best age is between 10 and 13 years. Also, with the new variety in braces and bright colours, it has become easier to convince children to use the same.”

The team of professionally, qualified doctors at Dental Stylers do their best in looking after your child’s dental requirements. The friendly and compassionate staff makes your child’s visit to the dentist a pleasant one.

Dr. Heman Verma One of the leading orthodontists & implantologists of the country, Dr. Verma spearheads Dental Stylers, one of the most premium dental centres of Northern India with comprehensive education in behavior management, sedation and anesthesia techniques.

Dental Stylers 8 Dakshin Marg, DLF Phase- II, Gurgaon Ph. 9810296979, 2356609, 2356610, 2351159 Email: hemanverma@hotmail.com www.dentalstylers.com

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 57

UTILITIES

UTILITIES

BI TY R TT E ER SI -S DE W N EE TS T EX SHA PE RE RI TH EN EI CE R S

PE ORS HO vIv OF R K R SU L a E W aNC

N ME WO RITY OR RIO Y F TOP P T I UR E’S SEC POLIC

olf R

A ng ?

TR Ko taSY er ng Fa`N50 urth P-48 o N oF e 11 H Ba N Vol. 8 Issu

b Hu ore er s m ing ybomisereceiv RDtE C r r F P fte aOURI aNt Ia v R DL tion a N aW Fa aU ND 7

LIVING

-5

I St IN RE ER t US CL

P-

Div Fields r Endinersgeetha e

Allj about Res olve and a wHunger for Success a

Di gi ta l

Plumber/Electrician/Carpenter/Maid servants/Gardeners/Drivers/Painting/Tiling/Water Proofing

Vol. 8 Issue 12

Den Cable TV: 0124-40502834 Srims (free Ambulance Service): 0124-6111111

es Farmhous e

BecomCOMMUNITY CONNECT

IT’s a lITTlE ed JapaN Preferrwit resting sh anlgainte mation oF Getawayama

4

e Stress To Beat Th 1

t LA hink T

sCrIpT INs pIrINg

ga m a

M Q& o

a

FOr ThE sk Y,

CE hit O, Hu Hira ng am aD igit al

H AC

ac

Gurgaon Wom en Aim

+

A E h P- O, H it H 28 u ir n a

C

Marcion h 201 er5 Commiss

hIgh !

MGEAME A G f o s FtOR THE TSteorrm ies in men

R rd od P-10 VE Daec IE R Bh tEN AGE O Eat GU ni OLA a l de E y SHPElvOPeLr F a OrITV a n atlL H N ItY s si O oH i n t ium City y W eTh etnn C agBranbaInmR e Msille NS B e TaU ook oon lationships NG

U YO

DAMINI Women’s SOS 24/7 Gurgaon Helpline – 9266 86 1111 Connected to 23 Police Stations, Police Call Center 100, Developers Control Room, RWAs and NGOs. Police women helpline at Metro Stations – 8130990038 Sewa Kendra Internal Maintenance Services: 2560720, 9313308686

L

0

e d tI E pr n aC CYB e ex nd u ride IN lan rs a oth - e o 16 yov sm fl r a fo

RANVEER SA INI

UR ok o

` 50

IN W Am ith fi O eric ve a La P-5 n ch tin efs 2

t

Young achie Ver

dlf

L VE

C

t OR SP in aN ns tR ptio L a go OD tin G -M u IN tI m Ut ith s UL om M d c aon MM y w sse Y n a rg CO CIt swa rpa E s e Gu v R

om on ea ne e J s of tes ul t y

h n e c P- ildl nt a’s se ati 48 ife ra gr es o on c ti

C TRA T all o VEL B h f Ul OT e W D tim S of elta ate W i co Af wh De AN ld r s n i A c ti w c i

of i s th In e d G

P-1

2

,

KK L R WAO WO

Your Favourite Monthly Magazine

winter holiD aY

e4 Issu

SOARING

P-3

+

DLF

CALL OF TH E HIMALAYAS a white

be Ex ybe its ia, G olf st i pe r H c u Ca ro rg p rie n pu resta nce ub wn aon ital bs je u th Cy andWcraI ants, e P-w12el is Nf be E b Des st xp e P-5 & D i e r 0 pu n re rie H I N E bs sta nce ub an ur th d an e c a ts fe , s P

20 14

M ay

Iss ue 2

2015 February

HE OF T0

Subscribe

8 Vol.

Ci ty

TH E

Vo l. 8

I WEL FTHIJ E JE PACIFIC TR

Vo l. 8

Ma y2 01 4

AV

` 50

EL

014 Y2 JUL

A Th nd e

l. 8 Vo

OF COLO

NC

14 20

PO SHAHID KA

suraJKunD URS mela

If

NE JU

AN D

0

`5

2

`5

0

7 FI

0

3 ue Iss

ON TO HOOKED

s w e n y t i C Citynews

CIL MCG COUN

`5

Iss ue

PR

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

MOTION POETRY IN BALLET

LOUNGE TRANSIT OR

H Y CIT FACE OF THE MONT HA SINGH LOR NIS RIOT

If N Gu CR RG Is T ao H N Is E G o ITs lf CR Cap ow ITa Nj lo Ew f IN El dIa

CI

dl f

CIT

7

R E BE OS CY OP

dl f

CI TNE STY TY SBSE LE CY AMTATHTIPS CL NTRE HE TO IS A AT TS

CA L

IN L OF BO TH TS E W WA ILD NA

FLY

SS LS REHOO NG SC O N C DI

HELPLINE

URE ULT IFE BC DL CLUE GOO TH

C

RS RIo tY TE CI In E ED tH Ign IN ES N -D O G LF CH FLA E S at THE C EPING HIGH KE ING

CiCty itnyew s GnOew LF CIT s GY

BIT Y RE TE SID RSW ENT S EE S S BE TYL T E HA AT E XP RE TH TIP ER THE IEN IR E S HE TO CE S AT

SUBSCRIBE & ADVERTISE

cu ltures P-5

District Administration T L Satyaprakash (IAS) Deputy Commissioner 0124-2321144 Anita Yadav (IAS) Administrator, HUDA 0124-2321650 Vikas Gupta (IAS) MCG Commissioner 0124-2220011 RS Dalal Director, HIPA 0124-2340413 S Duhan SDO(C)–I 0124-2321808 Yashender Singh GM, Haryana Roadways 0124-2322391 Satbir Singh DRO, Gurgaon 0124-2322877 Parveen Garg Civil Surgeon 0124-2322412 Balraj Ahalawat Regional Officer, Pollution Control Board 0124-2332775 Ashok Divakar Principal, Govt. Girls College 0124-2320783 SS Bokan Principal, Dronacharya Govt. College 0124-2320322 B M Hooda

GM, Telephone 0124-2391818 RS Sangwan Information and Public Relation Officer 0124-2321479

in GurGaon P-47

ON ES llYsCONNECTINTERVIEW CH MU a bNIT CAT COM eye ERY IS ALL Deputy

s RSIRSTO IS Commissio ER rab ner g THETPA HE tES VING FEV heER N OUT tPR LL Cup o TL OAB kSatyaprakash TBA orld IES akeamworION S s about talk FOO IFA W ADEM sters tutA teDIT TR C F o g ing As ING A youn all ab priorities brachis ’s While Em WAYS CH City, say it P-20 COA NEW me ga

P-4 3

Q & Mo A

hip e s, Re er bds IntoRurEnoFr thien leasal Reality t -a32n & rertu a Vi P

for 4

P-2P-1

0

Citynews dlf

Subscription Form Kindly start my supply of the DLF City News magazine for the term I have indicated below:

Tick One (√) SUBSCRIPTION

COVER PRICE YOU GET

OFFER YOU SAVE

Two Year

Rs. 1200

24 Issues

Rs. 840

360

One Year

Rs. 600

12 Issues

Rs. 480

120

Please add courier charges: Local Gurgaon delivery: Rs192/- for 2 years or Rs.96/- for 1 year

Outstation delivery: Rs.720/- for 2 years or Rs.360/- for 1 year Name: (Mr./Ms./Mrs.) Designation

Occupation

Industry Type

Address City

State

Tel

Mobile

Pin(Mandatory) Email ID

Payment Details: Enclosed in my Cheque DD No. ……………………..........… Bank & Branch details …………...............................................….…………………..

Payable to DLF Utilities Ltd. Mail the subscription form with your Cheque/DD No. to: DLF City News, 8th Floor, Gateway Tower, DLF Cybercity, Phase-III, Gurgaon-122002 (Haryana). Call: 0124-4778873 DLF City News cover price is Rs. 50/- only. DLF City News is a monthly magazine. Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing your subscription.

DLF City News subscription offer is a limited period offer and subject to change. Once the discount has been availed, the subscription cannot be cancelled and no refund will be given.

The number of issues and/or size and/or content and/or number of pages and/or design and/or look and feel of the magazine and/or the frequency of publication are subject at the sole discretion of DLF Utilities Ltd. without any prior intimation during the subscription period. Renewal subject to the sole discretion of DLF Utilities Ltd. All subscriptions are subject to actual realization of the payment. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts & forums in Gurgaon/Haryana only. Terms & Conditions apply.

For advertisement queries contacT:

58

I April 2015 I

dlf

Citynews

Ph: 0124–4778873, +91 9810563407 Email: advtdcn@gmail.com DLF City News, 8th Floor, DLF Gateway Tower, DLF Cyber City, Phase III , Gurgaon 122002

In addition, DLF may be contacted on the following telephone and mobile numbers for Single Window complaint resolution: Mr. Surender Ph-I 9266677681 Mr. Rishi Pal Ph-II 8130446660 Mr. Amit Sharma Ph-III 9582900616 Mr. Dinesh Ph-IV

8860390274

DLF Customer Care 24/7 Call Center-9266 16 9266 Central Control Room of DLF functions round the clock and complaints pertaining to External General Maintenance, Street Light, Water, Horticulture, Safety & Security DLF Security Control Room: Phase-I 2355591 9266677683 Phase-II 2353677 8860771008 Phase-III 2350419 9560095439 Phase-IV 2392965 7503062758 DLF Community Centre: Phase-I 2352423 Phase-II 2351522 Phase-III 2350782

DHBVNL Complaint Call Centers and respective Junior Engineers for electrical complaints Category Location Contact Common to All Call Center Cell 9891901912,

9911131912, 0124-2314331 Phase-I C-15 near Mother Dairy JE Cell: 9540954873 Phases -II & III Madhya Marg Phase-II JE Cell: 9540954874, 9540954877 Phase-IV Chakkarpur Housing Board 9540954878 Clubs DLF Golf Club City Club Phase -3 City Club Phase-4 City Club Phase-5

0124-4525252 0124-4999100/101 0124-4129100/101 0124-4949100/101

Condominiums, Commercial & Recreational (Delhi NCR) Building

Chief Group Co-ordinator Group Co-ordinator Con. No.

Gateway Tower Ericsson Forum Building 9A/B Cyber Greens Building 7 Building 5 Building 14 Building 6 Infinity Tower Building 8 Building 10 Cyber Hub DLF Centre SEZ Silokhera IBM Silokhera Centre Court Plaza Tower SQUARE ATRIA

Praveen Sharma (Praveen.Sh@ap.jll.com) (9650666885)

Venkateswarlu Pusuluri (Venkateswarlu.Pusuluri@ap.cushwake.com) (8527811644)

Gaurav Sharma

Ashok Ruhil

E-mail ID

Important Contact Numbers Commissioner of Police Joint Commissioner CP (Headquarters) DCP East DCP West DCP South DC Office:

Gurgaon Health Department Directory: Dr. Kamla Singh, Director Health Services Malaria Malaria Office

Building Manager Contact No.

Kuldeep Raghav Sanjay Gupta Ravikant Sharma Gaurav.S@ Hira Singh 9971666494 ap.jll.com Varun Bajpai Pankaj Yadav Ishwinder Singh Satish Parashar Virender Negi Manpreet Singh Raj Kumar Arun Kumar Ashish Dubey Anurag Yadav Kartar Sharma Panchanan Nayak Ashok.Ruhil@ 813003324 ap.cushwake.com Vishnu Ojha Ramesh Wadehra Neelkamal Maurya

9999981801 9999981802 9999981803 9999981804 9999981805 9999981806 M: 9999810000 O: 0124-2325500/2321144 0172-2587013 0124-4065534

E-mail ID

85888 39504 98733 55705 99714 48799 8860614597 9899349037 9899470219 9873072879 9873937504 9891269321 9810774637 9560297778 9582674876 9811890995 8527398202 8130666392 8527811332 8130055319 8130033479 8130022916

s.kuldeep@ap.jll.com Sanjay.g@ap.jll.com Ravikant.sharma@ap.jll.com Hira.singh@ap.jll.com Varun.bajpai@ap.jll.com Pankaj.yadav@ap.jll.com Ishwinder.singh@ap.jll.com Satish.parashar@ap.jll.com Virender.Negi@ap.jll.com manpreet.spam@ap.jll.com Rajkumar.pam@ap.jll.com Arun.tomar@ap.jll.com Asheesh.Dubey@ap.jll.com ANURAG.YADAV@cis.cushwake.com Kartar.Sharma@cis.cushwake.com Panchanan.Nayak@cis.cushwake.com Vishnu.Ojha@cis.cushwake.com ramesh.wadehra@cis.cushwake.com Neelkamal.Maurya@cis.cushwake.com

Ambulance Service (dial from mobile) Police Commissioner Helpline 10 am – 2 pm (Mon to Friday) Unwanted Obscene Calls: Mr. Anirudh Chauhan Police Control Room

102 9999999953 9582226610 100 0124-2316100 9999981819 0124-2335100 0124-2221559 9999999953 1091 0124-2222644

24x7 Anti-ragging helpline Women and Children Helpline

Senior Citizens Helpline

Police Commissioner Helpline Women Helpline Number

Cyber Cell

To Report Suspicious person or Suspicious Activities around you Dial 1090 (Toll Free 24x7)

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 59

UTILITIES

UTILITIES

STATUS REPORT

WHO’S WHO

DLF city

The

City

Status of Projects

Pace of Habitation in Plotted Properties

Name of Project

Status

New Town Heights

Handover in advanced stage

1 I

3658

69.38

The Primus

Terrace/upper floors slabs cast. Rough finishes in progress

2

3220

67.04

Regal Garden

Terrace/upper floors slabs cast. Rough finishes in progress

Corporate Greens

Possession starting soon

Skycourt

4th-10th floors slabs cast. Club finishing in progress

Ultima

GF, 1st and 2nd floor slabs cast in Towers H &L; K; E, J & S

The Crest

Structure work in progress. Project has reached 4th floor

SI.

Pace of Habitation in Group Housing

Phase II

3

III

4

IV

Total

Project

5462 1626

Habitation%

64.94 53.01

13966

Total

Occupied

%Occupied

34

32

94.1

700

93.5

Belvedere Tower

222

202

90.99

Beverly Park I

158

132

83.5

Belvedere Park

318

278

87.42

Beverly Park II

182

171

94.0

Exclusive Floors 516

500

96.90

Total

Occupied

%Occupied

Regent House

Total No. of Plots

749

Project Silver Oaks

Regency Park I

320

273

85.3

Trinity Towers 234

216

92.31

Regency Park II

500

445

89.0

Westend Heights 368

324

88.04

Hamilton Court

266

252

94.7

The Aralias 254

Windsor Court

132

125

94.7

Royalton Tower

Richmond Park

280

271

96.8

Ridgewood estate

924

831

Oakwood Estate

322

307

200

78.74

76

70

92.11

The Pinnacle

280

221

78.93

89.9

The Icon

364

330

90.66

95.3

The Summit

228

161

70.61

544

448

82.35

Wellington Estate I,II and III

555

505

91.0

The Belaire

Princeton Estate I,II & III

918

868

94.6

The Park Place

1508

1340

88.86

485

453

93.4

The Magnolias 589

406

68.93

Carlton Estate I & IV

60

Elders

Your Elected Representatives Condominium Associations

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

Silver Oaks Condominium Association – DLF Phase-I 0124-3034146-47 President Mr. Tariq Raza Mrs. Shalini Sawhney Vice President Mr. S.K. Sharma Manager Mr. S.M. Kehair Secretary Ms. Rupali Jain Treasurer Oakwood Estate Condominium Association – DLF Phase-II 0124-4052005 President Major General A.K. Kher Mr. R.P. Kaushik Manager Vice President Mr. Abhijit Malkhani Treasurer Mr. Gaurav Dua Beverly Park-I – DLF Phase-II 0124-4011757 Mr. P. S Duggal Mr. Sarabjit Singh Dhawan Mr. Rajiv Inamdar Mr. Soumya Dutta Mr. C B Singh

President Vice president Secretary Treasurer Manager

Beverly Park-II – DLF Phase-II Mr. Adil Shiavax Nargolwala Ms. Anita Kapur Ms. Davinder Kaur Mr. Arvind Srivastava Mr. Ajay Goyal

President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Joint Secretary

Belvedere Tower – DLF Phase-II 0124-4068251 Ms. Savita Malhotra Dr. Manoj Talwar Mr. Amit Malik Mr. Deepak Sahai

President Vice President Secretary Treasurer

9999270000 9818078883 9811059845 9818111000 9818549665

9810063523 9810056302 9811084744 9811600888

Belvedere Park Condominium Association – DLF Phase-III Estate Manager Mr. Jai B Yadav Prof K Sundaram President Vice President Col. Ajit Singh Rana Secretary Mr. Rajiv Agarwal

8800308285 9818621084 9650804787 9582210561

Ridgewood Condominium Association – DLF Phase-IV President Mr. Sanjay Batra Vice President Mr. Vijay Kumar Verma Secretary Mr. Deepak Mathur Mr. Amit Dhanuka Treasurer Mr. Sunil Kumar Jain Jt Secretary

9818093097 9810287402 9818664883 9810086577 9911317189

Hamilton, Windsor and Regency Park-II – DLF Phase-IV 0124-2396331 President Mr. Vikas Gupta Vice President Mr. Arvind Roy Mr. K.K. Bhattacharya Secretary Mr. Rakesh Sachdeva Treasurer Manager Mr. Yogendar Rajput

9810064017 9891357555 9810016816 9810266737 9871622323

The Aralias – DLF Phase-V Mr. Rajbir Sharma

9650493525

0124-4144848 Estate Manager

Mr. Saurabh Joshi

Operations Manager

9650493521

Exclusive Floors Owners Society – DLF Phase-V 0124-4109536 President Ms. Pallavi Sawhney Mr. S N Miglani Vice President Mr. Apprajeet Bhatia Secretary Mr. Manish Purohit Treasurer Carlton Estate Condominium Association – DLF Phase-V President Mr. N.C. Chatterjee Vice President Mr. Arun Verma Mr. L.N. Sharma Secretary Mr. Raj Kumar Rathi Treasurer

9873991945 9873757570 9650029189 9810405787

Trinity Towers Condominium Association – DLF Phase-V President Mr. Jawahar Lal Vij Mr. Rajan Misra Vice President Mr. Anuj Chadha Secretary Mr. Rajul Kulshrestha Treasurer

9818967911 9910588700 7838802020 9899892911

Summit Condominium Association – DLF Phase-V Mr. Arun Bharadwaj President Vice President Mr Ajay Kalra Mr. Dipak Roy Secretary Mr. Bipin Sapra Treasurer

9810725825 9818910123 9810398865 9971147072

The Pinnacle – DLF Phase-V 0124-4228770 Ms. Meera Soni Mr. Amit Vikram Sinha Roy Ms. Tina Dhawan Mr. Pranav Barthwal Mr. Rishi Srivastava

President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Joint Secretary

Wellington Estate – DLF Phase-V 0124-2385469 Mrs. Smeeta Roy Jain Mrs. Sudha Kiran Sinha Mr. Ajay Jain Dr. Gautam Sen

President Vice President Secretary Treasurer

DLF City Residents Welfare Association (Regd.)

0124-4055094, 2561888 President Mr. H N Chopra Mr. Sudhir Kapoor Secretary Gen.

9899140100 9811555743

DLF City Senior Citizens Council (Regd.)

0124-2570417 Mr. Ganesh Dutt Gureja President Mr. Mohan Gulrajani Secretary Gen.

9810638595 9818253979

Condominiums Richmond Park Royalton Tower Princeton Estate Park Place The Belaire The Magnolias

Address DLF Phase-IV DLF Phase-V DLF Phase-V DLF Phase-V DLF Phase-V DLF Phase-V

Contact Mr. H S Shukla Mr. Bijendar Singh Mr. R Bhagchandani Mr. YC Sharma Mr. Anil Kumar Mr. Sanjeev Saxena

dlf

Citynews

Telephone No. 0124-4272776 0124-4292418 0124-4055277 9873603572 9811109205 9654132300

I April 2015 I 61

TRANSIT LOUNGE

NOUVELLE VAGUE

French Band

Enthralls Gurgaon The founder and the lead singer of the popular band talk about their musical journey and their discovery of India.

by Meenakshi Sharma The talented French Bossa Nova Band Nouvelle Vague recently entertained Gurgaonites with brilliantly energetic and perfectly executed performances. While the group sang effortlessly and the performers danced enthusiastically to their own music, DLF City News caught up with the band’s founder musician Olivier Libaux and talented vocalist Liset Alea.

Olivier Libaux is as charming as Frenchmen are well known to be as he wishes us ‘bon jour’ in heavily accented English and talks about his band which means “new wave” in French. According to Libaux, this refers simultaneously to their “Frenchness” and “artiness” (the

62

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

‘60s new wave of the French cinema cult), the source of their songs (all covers of punk rock, post-punk and new wave songs), and their use of ‘60s bossa novastyle arrangements. Nouvelle Vague’s moniker neatly sums up the group’s concept - remaking classic new wave singles with a Brazilian pop twist.

Libaux recalls how they recruited half a dozen French and Brazilian vocalists who were unfamiliar with the original versions of songs like Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart and XTC’s Making Plans for Nigel to ensure that their renditions had their own identity. Nouvelle Vague was released in Europe in

2004 and received U.S. distribution in spring 2005, which coincided with tour dates in locales as far-flung as Shanghai, New York, Los Angeles, and Rio de Janeiro. Nouvelle Vague’s second album, Bande à Part, arrived in summer 2006.

The following year, the team returned with Coming Home, a collection of songs from films that were given the Nouvelle Vague treatment. Nouvelle Vague Presents New Wave, a collection of covers by new wave artists, also arrived in 2007.

Olivier tells us that while this is his first visit to India, he is really as excited as his band members who have been posting their excitement on Facebook for

over a month. He is looking forward to visiting the Taj Mahal and is thrilled to meet so many Indians who he calls, “warm and kind”. He is a fan of Indian music particularly Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Meantime, it is fascinating to watch Cuban-American singer Liset Alea sing in her melodious and powerful voice. A composer and multi-instrumentalist who lives in Paris, she is best known as a solo artist and lead singer in Nouvelle Vague. Alea has been singled out for her unique style and presence, and for ‘providing a strong, sultry voice and some amazing vocal pyrotechnics’. She has toured the world with Nouvelle Vague.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Liset Alea was raised in Miami, Florida, and has lived in New York, Costa Rica, Paris, London and Amsterdam. Her debut LP, No Sleep, was released in multiple European territories on EMI in 2005, and was on the Top 40 charts in the Netherlands for 15 weeks. Around that time, she also began writing songs for other artists, including Catfight” a single from Belgium’s Star Academy winner Katerine’s 2005 debut. She later co-wrote Il Futuro Che Sara for Chiara Galiazzo, which was in competition at the 2013 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy.

While residing in Paris, Alea began collaborating with French DJ Alexkid, appearing on his 2003 album Mint.

Their single Come With Me was featured that year in an episode of Las Vegas, and has been remixed by numerous artists, including Llorca, Brett Johnson and Tiga. The same year, she also co-wrote all the songs and provided lead vocals for her drum & bass/trip hop band Etro Anime’s album See the Sound.

In 2009, Alea, Alexkid and French producer/DJ Rodriguez Jr formed the Honeythieves. The trio’s song Reminder was in the 2009 episodes of Entourage and 90210, and was remixed by RAC’s Andre Anjos. In 2010, Alea independently wrote and co-produced a Spanish-language album, Sin Cera, which is yet to be released.

Alea talks about how she has travelled India and loves it deeply. She has also found an Indian name and calls herself mehsoos (feeling)! That she is also fascinated by Indian weddings is evident when she flaunts her hennaed arms. Alea, who considers herself very close to Sufi music, confesses that she loves “Nusrat and Abida Praveen, and will sing one of their songs” for us very soon. Amen! ø

dlf

Citynews

I April 2015 I 63

ENTERTAINMENT

CELEB TALK

Virat’s love for Anushka on Twitter

Avengers 2

Broken Horses The film is directed, produced and written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. A film about making preferences that may lead to destruction, the story revolves around two brothers, the relationship between them and how they end up being part of gang wars. The star cast includes María Valverde, Thomas Jane, Anton Yelchin, Vincent D’Onofrio and Sean Patrick Flanery.

HINDI

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy

Sonam Kapoor back in action Actress Sonam Kapoor, who was recently down with swine flu, has recovered from the disease and is back on the sets of her upcoming film, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Sonam was detected with flu when she was in Gujarat shooting for the same film. The style diva was down for almost a fortnight following the flu attack, but took to micro-blogging site Twitter to keep her fans updated about her health condition during that period. Daughter of actor-producer Anil Kapoor, Sonam will now complete shooting the rest of the film along with her co-star Salman Khan. Incidentally, Salman too had been tested for swine flu soon after Sonam was hospitalised but the reports were negative. ø

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews

ENGLISH Written and directed by Joss Whedon, the film is a sequel to Avengers, the superhero team of marvel Comics. The movie stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Chris Evans. The story will disclose how the team fights Ultron, a techie enemy who wants to destroy human existence.

Anushka Sharma, who has been getting accolades from all quarters for her performance in NH 10, has found a new fan in India’s star batsman and her boyfriend Virat Kohli. “Just watched #NH10 and i am blown away. What a brilliant film and specially an outstanding performance by my love @ Anushka Sharma. SO PROUD “. This was what India’s new Test captain tweeted after watching the film just before the quarterfinals with Bangladesh. Anushka replied to the tweet with a ‘thank you’! The two are finally going public about their feelings after keeping mum for a long time. In fact, there are reports doing round that the two may even tie the knot by the end of this year. Well, their fans for sure are hoping for the same but when it comes to the cricket-Bollywood affair, you just never know! ø

64

MOVIE PREVIEWS

A crime thriller, the film is produced by Aditya Chopra and Dibakar Bannerjee and directed by Banerjee. With Sushant Singh Rajput, Anand Tiwari and Swastika Mukjherjee in lead roles, the story of the film goes back to the 1940s when a college student fights a genius who is on a mission to destroy the world. The music is composed

by Sneha Khanwalkar.

Mr. X A science fiction 3D film, Mr. X is directed by Vikram Bhatt, written by Shagufta Rafique and produced by Mukesh Bhatt with Emraan Hashmi and Amya Dastur in the lead roles. The film is all about a man who has the power to become invisible and take revenge on people who caused him harm. The music is composed by Ankit-Ankur and Jeet Ganguly.

For corporate and bulk bookings (Book minimum 50 tickets) (Timings: 11am-7pm)

Phone: 8860003310 email: dtcorporatebooking@dlf.in Ticket also available at

bookmyshow.com dlf

Citynews

I May 2014 I 65

ENTERTAINMENT

LAST WORD

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s PDA!

For a couple who had managed to keep their love affair private, it was a rare sight to catch Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie sweetly kissing each other, holding hands and cheering on their daughters, Zahara, 10, and 8-year-old Shiloh at a youth soccer game in L.A. Brangelina were photographed out together without most of the markings of their movie star lifestyle. Of course, the A-list couple still looked like movie stars; No yoga pants and flipflops for them! Both wore chic, dark skinny jeans and shades. Jolie added a wide-brimmed black hat to shade her flawless skin from the sun

Bombay Velvet’

Trailer Out Anurag Kashyap’s much awaited film ‘Bombay Velvet’ has been trending in social networking sites ever since its trailer was released. The trailer has an old world charm to it and has already sparked the interest of viewers. Ranbir Kapoor plays a street fighter who serenades Anushka Sharma, a jazz singer in 1960s Bombay. The film also features Karan Johar in a negative role for the first time.

In one of the two posters released, Ranbir looks dapper in a grey suit while Anushka appears glamorous in cherry lips and mauve shades. Actors Raveena Tandon, Manish Choudhary and TV producer Siddharth Basu will be seen in supporting roles. The film is based on Prof Gyan Prakash’s book Bombay Fables.

66

dlf I April 2015 I Citynews