Friday Gurgaon Sept 14-20, 2012 by Friday Gurgaon

14-20 September 2012

Vol. 2 No. 4  Pages 24  ` 7

Real Jobs At Stake

{Inside}

Unitech-Well Begun, But...

e feature South Cities I & II and Nirvana – once the pride of Unitech, but now rife with problems. ...Pg 7

Choice Resorts

e bring you at five Resorts in and around Gurgaon, that offer Eco, Lux and Heritage getaways. Take your pick. ...Pg 17

Art’s Fine Ideals

culptor Seema Singh Dua’s chiselled creations confirm that quality and subtlety are more important than size. ...Pg 19

Protect your Family & Property from Pests like

Termites

Cockroaches

RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319, Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2012-2014

{ Abhishek Behl / FG }

cenario 1: Industrial relations in West Bengal in the 1970s turned from bad to worse, as the then government failed to rein in both the workers as well as industry. The trade unions adopted an increasingly militant attitude, even as managements preferred lock-outs to negotiations. This ultimately led to a situation where the majority of the companies in West Bengal left the state and shifted their plants – leaving behind an industrial wasteland. Scenario 2: Trade union leader Datta Samant led the textile mills strikes in the 1980s in Mumbai, effectively leading to a situation where the workers and managements did not come to terms with each other. With both sides hardening their stance, the textile industry shifted from Mumbai, effectively killing the local industry. The State, in this situation, hardly played a role. Both these scenarios have relevance to the industrial relations in the state of Haryana, because the important industrial belts of Gurgaon, Manesar, and Faridabad are witnessing an undercurrent of tension, due to the workers’ unrest prevailing in the area. Trade Union leaders, as well as industrial relations experts, aver that if the government does not handle the issue wisely, it could take a serious turn, badly affecting the future of industry in the State. The inability of the labour department to implement the labour laws in a fair manner, and act as an impartial arbitrator in labour disputes, is increasingly being questioned. “We want the State government to act in a balanced manner. The State should not take sides, and do whatever is being told by company managements,” says S.K Yadav, a General Secretary of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), an organisation that is part of the Congress, and works closely with the government. In the industrial corridors of Gurgaon, the struggle between the workers and industry is increasingly being seen as a fight between the working class and the capitalists, in which the government is

seen on the side of the rich and the powerful. Comrade Sarabjit Singh, General Secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), says that while industries are being run with 21st century technology, the business mindset of the owners and management is of the 15th century. “The workers are clearly seen as just a cost, and no one considers them as an integral part of the organisation. Increasing ‘contractorisation’ has further eroded the class character of the workers, and they do not have any identity of their own,” says Singh. Contd on p 21 

Green House Effect { Abhishek Behl / FG }

he ever increasing population in Gurgaon is putting immense pressure on the inadequate infrastructure of the Millennium City. Every summer, public battles are fought between the citizens and the state administration, on the issue of water and power shortages, even as millions of litres of diesel is consumed. During the monsoon, the perennial issue of waterlogging and lack of sanitation hits the residents even harder, as the City’s civic agencies wring their hands in failure. HUDA, MCG and other public service departments have been promising to get their act together, for the last several years, but nothing much has changed, allege the City's residents. In such a gloomy scenario, are there alternatives? Can Gurgaonites reduce their dependence on the State grid for power, and HUDA for water supply? Is it possible to optimise the consumption of these resources, so that they can be better used and distributed? The answer is Yes; but it will require the City's residents to embrace ‘Green and Smart Living’. It means the houses, buildings and commercial complexes in Gurgaon will have to be designed smartly, on eco-friendly principles, and built with materials that are local and save on energy cost.

Chitra Vishwanath, a leading Bangalore based architect, who has built a number of green homes across the country (including Gurgaon), says that building eco-friendly and smart houses will help in reduced usage of water and power. “The houses we design are built from the material available on site. The bricks are built from the mud of the basement, and are compressed. As a result, the house is less warm during the summers, and less cold in the winters,” says Vishwanath. Contd on p 6 

WORKSHOP  NIGHTLIFE  EXHIBITION  MUSIC  ART  FOOD

izDivas present a group discussion on the challenges faced by women – in life and in their businesses. The S.W.A.T. team, along with a panel of entrepreneurs, will answer questions by the participants. If you are keen to get your challenge addressed, send in your query and a small write up of your business and challenge to shreya@bizidvas.in. You will get a chance to address the audience and seek the help of the panelists.

Nightlife

Saturday Night Swagger @ Club Ion, 12/14, UGF, JMD Arcade Mall, MG Road Date: September 15 Time: 7:00 pm onwards

Date : September 15th & 16th Time : 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Venue : Off The Shelf, 1st floor Ninex City Mart (Next to Fortune Hotel) Sohna Road, Gurgaon

G Sports

Corporate Bowling Tournament @ BluO, Ambience Mall, NH8 Date: September 13 Time: 6:00 pm onwards

Photography

Presentation of forests and trees @Epicentre, Apparel House, Sector 44 Date: September 18 Time: 7:30 pm

Film

Pestonjee @ Epicentre, apparel House, Sector 44 Date: September 16 Time: 4:00 pm onwards

et ready to groove as the DJ spins out the best of club and house mixes. Kick start your weekend by getting on the dance floor and partying the night away.

n Exhibition by Krishendu Sen (Krish), that showcases a tribute to Lord Ganesha – in his playful moods. On offer are paintings, mirrors, artificial plants, fine home décor, and lots more.

he Corporate Bowling Tournament, Pin Strike-Season 4 is back! Get into your bowling shoes to win exciting prizes. You can register your team for Rs. 12,000, and be entitled to – individual bowling kits for every participant; a minimum of 4 games; beverages and light snacks; and 4 free games to practice. The winning corporate gets   4 Return tickets to Europe.

Recipes by Masterchef Vijaylaxmi @DLF - V Date: September 15 Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Consultation Camp @ 2772 Block C, G.F, Sushant Lok Phase 1 Date: September 15 & 16 Time: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm

‘Jash-E-Oudh’, Awadhi Food Festival @MoMo Cafe, Courtyard by Marriott, Sushant Lok 1, Sector 27 Date: September 21 to 30 Time: 7:00 pm onwards Price: Rs. 1,295 per person + taxes

Editor:

Atul Sobti

Sr. Correspondents: Abhishek Behl Correspondents:

Hritvick Sen Maninder Dabas

Sr. Photographers: Prakhar Pandey Jit Kumar Sr. Sub Editors:

Anita Bagchi Shilpy Arora

Sr. Designer:

Amit Singh

Designers:

Virender Kumar

Sr. Circulation Execs.: Himanshu Vats Syed Mohd Komail Circulation Execs.:

Pankaj Yadav Sunil Yadav Manish Yadav

Accts. & Admin Mgr: Deba Datta Pati Ankit Srivastava

Sr. Exec Media Marketing:

Vikalp Panwar

Ad Sales Exec :

Amit Agarwal

Consulting Art Editor: Qazi M Raghib

Wellness

Food

VOL.–2 No.–4  14-20 September 2012

Asst. Manager Media Marketing: Bhagwat Kaushik

Dessert Special

he Masterchef is back to share a wide variety of her recipes. Learn how to make delicious vegetarian desserts with her. To register, call 9910107768 or 9818842737. Limited Seats available.

RNI No. HARENG/2011/39319 Postal Regn. No. GRG/35/2012-2014

Head – Sales & Marketing:

photographic presentation of the forests and trees of Mangar Bani and the Aravallis, by Naturalist and author Pradip Krishen, followed by a panel discussion. Panelists include Pradip Krishen; Prof. Kanchan Chopra – former Director and Professor, Institute of Economic Growth; S.K Pande – former Director General, Forests, GOI; Sarvadaman Oberoi – Member, Mission Gurgaon Development; Chetan Agarwal – Independent Environmental Analyst; Tykee Malhotra – Founder, Sanskara; and R.P Balwan – retired Conservator of Forests, Haryana.

Sculpture Show @ Quill & Canvas Art Gallery, DLF South Point Mall, 122, DLF City Phase V Date: September 5 to September 30 Time: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Show by sculptor, artist and textile designer Seema Singh Dua, showcasing 20 sculptures, in mediums like wood, bronze, fibre glass and copper. Contact: 9810137246

ndulge your taste buds with authentic flavours at the Awadhi Food Festival. The special chefcrafted menu includes a blend of delicacies like Nawabi kebabs and curries, besides signature Awadhi dishes.

Exhibition

Sculpture

Coming Up

14-20 September 2012

RV Healthcare helps you prevent and treat medical problems like Cervical spondylitis, Carpel tunnel Syndrome, Knee/leg pain, backache, neck pain. A Consultation Camp will be held at your nearest KRV Centre, with Dr. Ridwana Sanam, Director KRV. For appointment, call +91-999-999-8934

Editorial Office 213, Tower A, Spazedge, Sector 47, Sohna Road, Gurgaon 122001, Haryana Phones: +91 124 421 9092/93 Emails:

editor@fridaygurgaon.com letters@fridaygurgaon.com contributions@fridaygurgaon.com subscription@fridaygurgaon.com circulation@fridaygurgaon.com adsales@fridaygurgaon.com events@fridaygurgaon.com marketing@fridaygurgaon.com Friday Gurgaon (Weekly) edited, published and printed by Atul Sobti on behalf of Arap Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd. from 213, Tower A, Spazedge, Sector 47, Sohna Road, Gurgaon 122018, Haryana. Printed at Indian Express Ltd. Plot No. A8, Sector 7, Gautam Budh Nagar, NOIDA – 201301, Uttar Pradesh

Rita Sud’s

A self-taught artist, Rita Sud, has been painting for the last twenty years. In this exhibition she explores various media for expressing herself-oil, acrylic, water colour and pastels. Her art is a manifestation of life experiences, gathering inspiration from nature, human experience and emotions. The result is an explosion of colours- colours of blooming flowers, fluttering prayer flags, celebration of life ad the sheer fun of experimentation.

The shimmering lotus and more

The views expressed in the opinion pieces and/or the columns are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Friday Gurgaon or Arap Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

FG Invites Citizens n Are you interested and concerned

15th &16th of September 2012 11am-8pm Club Aralias, DLF Golf Links Phase 5, Gurgaon

Discussion

S.W.A.T (Serving, Working and Advising Together) @ Mind Cafe, 204-206, 2nd Floor, Cross Point, (Opp Galleria Market), DLF Phase 4 Date: September 20 Time: 10:00 am

Priyendra approaches his subject “Godhuli”with gay abandon in frolicking lines of haphazard movement of strokes ,that catches your breath . The rusty bells around the necks creating a magical symphony of ethereal sounds.

Priyendra Shukla’s Godhuli

If yes, write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon.com, with a brief background of yourself, with contact number(s). 2–8 March 2012

Vol. 1 No. 28  Pages 24

he third in our astrology series – featuring Libra, Scorpio and Saggitarius.

Tantric Art

+91-9810056252 +91-9810422292

Media Consultant Poonam Kumar +98-9811904440

319

RNI No. HARENG/2011/39

{ Abhishek Behl / FG }

{Inside}

Astrology

Initiated by Gopa Kumar Shalini Vig

`7

For The Other Half

e feature Shobha Broota, a 68year old ‘young’ and energetic artist.

Master Recipe

It lives in two urgaon is a paradox. the Naunequal halves, whereinthe Great as tional Highway-8 acts Wall. The core Divide – like the Berlin the new subbut of the City is rotting; – with malls, gated urbs shine like stars and clubs setting colonies, golf courses never before seen a standard of life in India. forces that It is this flux of extreme balance – the is threatening to unraveland helpful for natural is that a balance ...Pg 16 with; and for civiligreat cities to evolve attain glory. sations to develop and urban core, the Gurgaon’s rotting within the City, concretised villages hinterland that and the vast rural is under once comprised Guru-gram, – under and 210 Panchayats threat of being submerged Nagar, Manesar); of a Millennium the new identity that cover 291 villages. a week with in ‘New GurgaFriday Gurgaon spent City, with its capital Meena, checkthe role of the State on’. It is here that Deputy Commissioner will is executed – ensure that the forces comes into play; to ing how the State’s ...Pg 17 that has known all the populace. of development touch in this historic area, since the Commissioner Gurgaon Deputy some form of governance of Being is the point man of Guru Dronacharya. power, P.C Meena, who in the Dis- time capital seat of the State Administration close to Delhi, the Gurgaon is much been influenced by trict, concurs that the District has also developments itself. The District political and social more than the City viz. Gurgaon the includes 3 sub-divisionsPataudi; 5 teh- taking place there. Contd on p 8  ,and (North and South) Pataudi, Farukh sils (Gurgaon, Sohna,

Prakhar PaNdey

he screening of the 1988 comedy drama Pestonjee, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Anupam Kher.

about civic and social happenings and issues around you? n Are you motivated to do something positive for society? n Are you interested to also write, and express what you see, hear, feel?

Please Visit Us At en Emergency Servicem www.fridaygurgaon.com P Ask Your Newspaper Vendor For Friday Gurgaon. M

asterchef Top 5 Vijaylaxmi shares a Recipe exclusively for FG readers.

...Pg 18

little, for so long, with so We have done so much,do anything with nothing. to we are now qualified

Let’s Be Civil

avan Choudhary, Managing Director of Vygon, speaks on the need for residents to become responsible citizens. ...Pg 21

Regular Features Food Take

...Pg 6

Cinema Listings & Helplines ...Pg 7 The Week That Was

...Pg 7

{ Hritvick Sen / FG }

service worth its lmost every significant call-in. Whether it salt has a telephone information is food (or liquor) delivery, civic and reservations, services, bookings on cells... there is a line facilities, grievance call in. But when there which people can or a fire – there is an accident, a robbery that people dial is only one type of service Services. in a hurry. Emergency themselves count people Most haven’t had a fortunate that they for they had to ask situation in which who work in these help; but for the people is people distraught services, helping Whether it is Police an everyday affair. 02) –

100 – Police Emergency main Police

Line

Control Location: The Mini-SecretarRoom (PCR) in Gurgaon’s lines chirping, phone iat. Wireless sets staff they’re set down, ringing as soon as papers – the very rushing about with air hums with activity. who is the Inspector Rishipal, the Operations, says senior in-charge of given day, we receive seriously, “On any In a calls.” 3,000 between 2,500 to from which he can closed glass cubicle he manages the day-tosurvey all activity, statehave “We PCR. day operations of the equipment, and I can of-the-art servers and has one of the safely say that Gurgaon the country.” in most advanced PCRs

Contd on p 6 

14-20 September 2012

R eviews/L istings

cinema

BOOK

Na Raaz

Ek Naukri Aur Ek Chhokri

{ Vijaya Kumar }

n addition to the statutory warning on smoking at the beginning of Vishesh Films’ and Foxstar Studio’s new release Raaz 3, there should also have been a voluntary notification – there is no Raaz (secret)in the movie. What this movie has is a lot of Awaaz (noise), caused by shrill shrieks of scared women, possessed women, and the background music. As a result, one’s auditory nerves are exposed to some risk. Raaz 3 Raaz 3 is about the sudirected by: Vikram Bhatt pernatural, and how a movie cast: Emraan Hashmi, Bipaheroine invokes the evil powers sha Basu, Esha Gupta to wreak revenge on a new entrant – who seems to be easing genre: Horror her out. Bipasha, in the role of the senior heroine, seriously plays the hurt character, who is driven to perform extreme acts. She looks stunning in her attire – or rather, the lack of it. Emraan Hashmi—in the role of her lover, who switches loyalties to the new heroine (played by Esha Gupta)—plays a mellowed down role, and shows us that kissing is not his only forte. Esha Gupta’s performance is woefully inadequate. The script and story line have so many gaps that the movie begins to flounder very early. The Bhatt production factory seems to have cut costs, by giving the entire film a very plastic feel – even the blood looks unreal. The scene in which Esha strips and flees from the attack of the cockroaches had the potential to be a truly scary scene. Instead, it is just plain repulsive. Normally, a Mahesh Bhatt film is redeemed by a few good songs; but here, the music is a big let-down too. So Mr. Bhatt should not have any ‘Aitraaz’, if the viewers decide to give this Raaz a miss. u

{ Alka Gurha }

hetan Bhagat, in his new book ‘What young India Wants’, elucidates that the youth of this country wants ‘a good job and a good girlfriend’. After travelling to seventyfive cities, and interacting with young India, Bhagat has come to the conclusion that young India does not believe in social crusades. All they want is, ‘ek naukri aur ek chhokri’. The attractively priced book is a compilation of Bhagat’s newspaper articles and essays. The chapters touch on various issues of society, politics, economy and the youth. Two short stories at the end lend a fictional flavour to Bhagat’s personal exploratory journey. With an impressive mass following, Bhagat is one fictional writer who has hopped on the bandwagon of globe-trotting motivational speakers. The literary pundits can ignore Bhagat, and call his prose ‘pedestrian’, but the truth is that Bhagat’s pen rests on the pulse of a young nation. No wonder the publishers (Rupa) of his new book are claiming to have sold half a million copies on the first day itself. That is no mean

feat. With the passage of time, even hardcore critics have been compelled to judge Bhagat by the effectiveness of his prose, rather than just the quality of it. Since

What young India Wants Author: Chetan Bhagat Publisher: Rupa Price: Rs. 98 Genre: Non-fiction

CINEMA

ToypediaRent-a-Toy

THIS WEEK

urgaon’s first toy rental library, Toypedia, is a venture by Gurgaon-based couple Vishal and Abhilasha Golchha. After using a similar service for their son, when they lived in Pune 3 years ago, the couple decided to open the same facility in the City. “Our wonderful experience with the Pune library encouraged us to offer this service to parents of young children in Gurgaon, says Vishal, who is an MBA from MDI, Gurgaon, and has over 10 years of experience with leading FMCG companies.

Toypedia is a Toy rental library, with a collection of over 1000 toys, games & puzzles from the best international brands. Just like a regular book library, Toypedia lets you borrow toys, use them, return them – and borrow new ones every week. The idea is to give children access to the best toys, games and puzzles, while sav-

Bhagat’s style is simple and unpretentious, it touches many chords of a young India. Bhagat, initially an Anna supporter, had stirred a political storm by tattooing ‘mera neta chor hai’ on his arm, to pledge his support for the anti-graft movement. So why did he drift away from the revolution once touted to be another ‘Jasmine’? In a media interaction Bhagat stated, “the team members set themselves up for disappointment when they didn’t clarify they were messiahs”. Bhagat has strong views about the country’s economy. According to him, if India is an agricultural country, shouldn’t we have carried out some massive infrastructure projects across the country? Over two-thirds of our agricultural land is dependent on rain, while developed countries depend very little on rain. Since this compilation is dedicated to young India, Bhagat aptly summarises, “Young India’s rallying cry is simple. They want love, they want money and they want stature in society. They want a good life and a great girlfriend. If your cause will help them get a good life, then they are with you. That is what young India wants.” All so simple... u

Plan Name

No of Products at a time

Deliveries / Exchange in a month

Subscription Fee

Refundable Security Deposit

Registration Fee

Trail - 1 month

Puzzles/Books 1 Toys/Games 1

` 600.00

2000.00

250.00

Basic - 3 months

Toys/Games 1 Puzzles/Books 1

` 1650.00

2000.00

250.00

Basic- 6 months

Toys/Games 1 Puzzles/Books 1

` 3000.00

2000.00

250.00

Value - 1 month

Toys/Games 2 Puzzles/Books 2

` 1100.00

4000.00

250.00

Value - 3 months

Toys/Games 2 Puzzles/Books 2

` 2850.00

4000.00

250.00

Value - 6 months

Toys/Games 2 Puzzles/Books 2

` 5400.00

4000.00

250.00

ing money and space. It also helps children develop a sense of responsibility, as they have to take good care of the library toys. When the child has outgrown or is bored with a toy, it can be sent back to the library. The library has strict rules for the toys they keep. It doesn’t keep toys that encourage violence. Apart from maintaining rigorous hygiene and cleanliness standards for the toys,

the library keeps toys that stimulate children and require them to be actively involved. 304, 3rd Floor, DLF Cross Point, Opp. Galeria Market , DLF Phase - 4 , Gurgaon Mobile: +91 9717222617 Website: www.toypedia.in FREE HOME DELIVERY

PVR: Ambience Premier Barfi! Time: 10:30 am, 11:40 am, 12:50 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:40 pm, 3:50 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:40 pm, 6:50 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:40 pm, 9:50 pm, 10:30 pm Arbitrage Time: 11:15 am, 1:30 pm, 3:45 pm, 6:00 pm, 8:15 pm, 10:30 pm To Rome With Love Time: 10:15 pm Raaz 3 (3D) Time: 11:15 am, 2:00 pm, 4:45 pm, 7:30 pm Raaz 3 (2D) Time: 10:15 am PVR: Ambience Gold Barfi! Time: 11:05 am, 12:15 pm, 2:05 pm, 3:15 pm, 5:05 pm, 6:15 pm, 8:05 pm, 9:15 pm Arbitrage Time:11:05 pm PVR MGF: MGF Mall Barfi! Time: 10:00 am, 10:35 am, 11:10 am, 12:20 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:35 pm, 2:10 pm, 3:20 pm, 4:00 pm, 4:35 pm, 5:10 pm, 5:45 pm, 6:20 pm, 7:00 pm, 7:35 pm, 8:10 pm, 8:45 pm, 9:20 pm, 10:00 pm, 10:35 pm Arbitrage Time: 10:00 am, 12:15 pm, 2:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:15 pm, 11:30 pm Raaz 3 (3D) Time: 10:00 am, 12:45 pm, 3:30 pm, 6:15 pm, 9:00 pm, 11:45 pm Life Is Beautiful (Telugu) Time: 10:15 am Friday (Malayalam) Time: 3:45 pm To Rome With Love Time:10:05 am, 4:45 pm, 11:10 pm

14-20 September 2012

Earthy Celebrations

ife Coach and Founder of Golden Age Transformation, Ramon Llamba, celebrated the first successful year of her work with friends, at Earth Lounge. Designers Vandy and Manoj Mehra, Image Consultant Sangeeta Bahl, singer Vandana Vadhera, and stylist Aamer Zakir were some of the guests spotted on the dance floor.

Smart City – Gurgaon First!

urgaon First, an initiative to highlight issues and showcase progress, to improve both the living and working experiences in the City, launched its inaugural Conference, ‘Gurgaon as a Smart City’. Chief Parliamentary Secretary in charge of Town and Country Planning Haryana, Shri Rao Dan Singh, spelt out his vision of hope and optimism for Gurgaon, to 150 delegates. Other prominent speakers at the Conference included Dr. Praveen Kumar, HUDA Administrator; Nisha Singh, Councillor; Shubhra Puri, Founding Director – Gurgaon First; Lt. Gen. Rajender Singh, CEO, DLF Foundation; R.S. Rathee, President, GCC; Vikas Gupta, JMD, Earth Infrastructures Ltd. Friday Gurgaon was the media partner.

C eleb W atch

KALA ACADEMY, LAMP & LORRAINE MUSIC ACADEMY Launch ‘SING A SONG’

he Chairman of Kala Academy, Mr. Vishnu Wagh, announced the association of Kala Academy Goa with Lorraine Music Academy and LAMP Trust, for the launch of the annual nation-wide Talent Contest “SING A SONG” in Goa, for the LAMP – iCONGO Karma Veer Chakra Award for Music – a coveted annual award instituted along with the United Nations. This Contest will be widely communicated across Goa. Aubrey Aloysius, Founder Trustee & President of LAMP Trust, and Lorraine Fiona Aloysius, Director of Lorraine Music Academy, were also present at the Conference. Two days will be set aside to help the contest participants’ record their performance on video, upload on YouTube, and submit the contest entry online. This Contest is open to everyone. 3 Simple Steps to participate: 1. SING A SONG in any of the following 4 categories: n

Folk Music

Gospel Music

Patriotic / Nationalistic Music

Pop / Rock / Bollywood Music

2. SHOOT & UPLOAD your

An Evening Dedicated to Art

ith an aim to bring together upcoming and renowned artists, and to celebrate Art, Maandavi S. Sharma organised the Gurgaon Art Festival. Maandavi hosted a cocktail party to unveil the talent of the artists to the buyers, corporates, and the art fraternity, at the Epicentre.   Attendees included Paramjit Gill, Patrick Yadauga, Anna Goruda, Deepak Gupta, Dr. Sachin Dhawan, and Harbinder Kathuria. Enjoying the party, Partha Basu, writer, commented on the occasion, “It is rare to find a platform where eminent and upcoming artists share the spotlight. Maandavi has really done an amazing job.”

performance video on YouTube 3. SUBMIT YOUR CONTEST ENTRY on www. LorraineMusicAcademy.com http://www.lorrainemusicacademy. com/contest.php http://www.lorrainemusicacademy. com/contest-register.php The songs can be a rendition of an existing song or a new composition. The songs submitted in the above four categories will represent & communicate the essence of India being a Nation with a multifaceted culture, rich in the arts and impacting the globe as we emerge as a global leader. Award Date: 26 November 2012 Last Date for Entries: 31 October 2012 All entries received on or after 01 November 2012 will be considered for 2013 Awards.  After a screening, evaluation and selection process set by MERCER and implemented by GRANT THORTON, the finalists / selected participants would be invited to New Delhi for the annual performance and award event on 26th November. More details are available on: http://www.lorrainemusicacademy. com/support-our-csr-initiaives.php

 Contd from p 1 Vishwanath says that while designing a house her team takes into account the orientation of the building, the location of the site, and the building material required, to ensure that it conforms to green standards. Commander S.K Ahuja,who has built a house in Sector 23 based on Vishawnath’s design principle, concurs. Ahuja takes us to the basement of the house, and enthusiastically explains how mud was transformed into bricks. They now form the structure of this very elegant but smartly designed home. The basement is very airy and full of sunlight, as the architect has given a sunroof at the front – knowing that basements get damp, and full of mildew, because of the lack of proper ventilation. The huge basement also has a number of beautifully-built almirahs. Ahuja surprises us when he says that this furniture has been made from reclaimed wood that is sold in front of the Maruti factory on Old Delhi road. “I bought the wood and used it to make almirahs and other fixtures,” says Ahuja. It is one of the many features of this house, that uses alternative energy, harvests rainwater, and incorporates the ancient design principles for keeping an ambient environment. His wife, Vijay Ahuja, says that a solar water heater has been installed on the roof, and there is also a rainwater harvesting structure. “We also have a courtyard in the centre of the house, that has many green plants. It also helps in reducing the heat during the summers,” says Vijay. She also has built a green canopy around her house, thus ensuring that minimum direct sunlight falls on the house. There is an important play of natural light and air, that

14-20 September 2012

C over S tory

Green House Effect

PRAKHAR PANDEY

IRRAD

ensures that this house does not need artificial lighting during the day. “My son has built a gym and a library in the basement. It is an excellent place to chill out,” she says. The house also does not need painting, as natural bricks have been used, thus bringing down the recurring cost. According to architect Abhimaniyu Bhatia, many people building houses are looking for options to reduce the carbon footprint, produce the power for their basic needs, reduce the cost of airconditioning, re-cycle the waste water, and harvest rainwater for personal use. Bhatia says all this is possible because the cost of installing a solar power system has reduced, better and more efficient air-conditioners and other electrical gadgets have come to the market, and wastewater recycling plants have become simpler and cheaper. The green building movement in the country is taking shape,

Ahuja's Green Home

How to build a Green and Smart building Design a building optimising the usage of interior space, given the building size. n Carry out site evaluation for solar access, soils, vegetation, and water resources, to use them optimally. n Use a standard ceiling height and building dimension; avoid structural over-design. n Design an energy-efficient building with a high level of insulation, and glazings with low heat gain. n Use passive solar heating, day-lighting, and natural cooling. n Install high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, high efficiency lights, and mechanical ventilation equipment, to save energy. Install water-efficient equipment such as waterconserving toilets, shower-heads, and faucet aerators – and also reduce water use. n Design landscapes that absorb rainwater runoff; design a rainwater harvesting system, and use it. n Design lawns that save on water, using drought-resistant native plants. n Make it easy to recycle waste, and provide for storage and processing of recyclables. Use water from sinks, showers, and 'gray water'.

A Smart Building

One such smart building has been built in Sector 44 institutional area, by the Institute of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD), an NGO working in the development space in Gurgaon. The key features of this building are energy-efficient heating/cooling and lighting, rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling and waste management, use of solar energy, and biodiversity. The building has an LEED Platinum Certification. Salahuddin Saiphy, Programme Manager at IRRAD, says that rainwater is used for all domestic water requirements (drinking, cooking, washing, cleaning, flushing, gardening, water cooling etc). The water is used by 100 staff members, and it is sufficient for 6 months. This is a zero run-off site, with minimal use of water, low water consuming plants, water efficient fittings, and waste water recycling – thus putting no pressure on the MCG sewage system,” says Saiphy. The building also has a 35 KW solar power plant, that meets all essential energy needs except air-conditioning. It has an energy efficient design, an insulated building envelope, shading devices for temperature control, emphasis on natural light and ventilation, a refractive roof finish, and exterior paving for minimal heat absorption. and Gurgaon is also a part of it. The country has almost 1.2 billion square feet area that is certified by LEED, or India Green Building Council. Another 1.2 millon square feet green area is under construction, and it is estimated that 20 per cent of all construction by 2030 would fall under this category. This is going to be a great business opportunity, as well a chance to save the environment from destruction, as a report by Jones Lang Laselle says that the real estate industry is a major contributor to Global Green House Gases. This also has a special significance for Gurgaon, as the construction industry

uses 20 per cent of the energy globally. The big commercial complexes, malls and residential condominiums consume more than 40 per cent of the energy supplied to the City, say experts. In such a scenario, it is important that the City embraces smart and green buildings, that use less energy, water and natural resources – and provide a healthy living. Priyanka Kochhar, Programme Manager Griha, the Green building certification developed by TERI, says that there has been an increase in the number of buildings opting for Griha certification. “Griha is a green building 'design evaluation

system', and is suitable for all kinds of buildings in different climatic zones of the country. We have 34 aspects on which a building is checked, before getting certification,” she says. The concept of green living can be incorporated in a small house of 200 sq yards or a large building. Architect Bhatia says the that time has come when all constructions in the City should go green. “Gurgaon is still under construction, and a large population has still to be housed. It is better to build a smart and green City,” he asserts. While the architects promote the concept of Green, they admit that the initial cost of building such a structure is more than the traditional construction. Ahuja says that building a house with compressed earth bricks, putting up a solar water system, and adding a water harvesting structure, is both time consuming and costly – but in the long run the cost can be recovered. Experts agree that the cost can definitely be recovered, as these buildings need less power, use less water, waste less energy, and can also utilise 'grey water'. “If all the houses and residential houses in Gurgaon harvest rainwater and recycle waste and waste water, we will have no waterlogging, and the sanitation system will not fail,” says Vijay Ahuja. Bhatia says that all these elements can also be introduced in a small home, and do not cost a substantial amount. “The important point is that all the elements have to be incorporated at the design stage. The fixtures and products are available in the City, and can also be sourced from Delhi,” says Bhatia. Experts in the industry opine that there is a need for the government to promote solar energy, provide incentives for building green homes, help in spreading knowledge and information about green living, and plan for a green and smart future. This will help Gurgaon become a self-sustainable City, they aver. u

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14-20 September 2012

C ivic/S ocial

Unitech-Well Begun, But... { Maninder Dabas / FG }

Planning

South City-I: South City was developed in a whopping 500 acres, just off NH8. Unitech got the license in the year 1984, and then distributed the whole area into plots of various sizes – ranging from 200 yards to 1000 yards. It was only by 1994-95 that people started coming in. There are no unsold plots in the Colony. South City-II: It was the success of South City-I that prompted Unietch to come up with a sequel. South CityII started in the late nineties, and it was in 2002 when people started living there. Prior to South City II, Malibu Towne was the only gated colony on Sohna road. The 'distance' from City Centre was always a challenge for this area. The Colony is spread across 500 acres

South City-I: “South City-I itself is a USP, because it was one of the most avant garde gated colonies at that point of time. Location is the biggest advantage of this Colony; and despite it being in poor shape presently, the rates are considerably higher than any other gated colony in the City. From the beginning we knew that Sector-29 nearby will be a big thing in Gurgaon. Today it is the CP of Gurgaon, and South City-I is lucky to get such a location. This Colony is getting buyers because there is a lot of development nearby. Kingdom of Dreams, the Metro, Fortis, NH-8, Leisure Valley, MG Road, and the arrival of Appu Ghar, have made this

South City-I

South City-II

Nirvana

area unbeatable, and builders know it too,” says Dadhwal. The Colony has plotted houses with a cluster of group housing buildings. The Palms, Heights, Ivory Towers, Rakshak, and Imperial Towers are the five group housing projects developed by the builder. As far as amenities are concerned, apart from the various big and small parks, the colony has one big club, two big schools, one hospital, and one market. Sushant Lok-I has better infrastructure – better inner roads, bigger and greener parks. “I have one house in Sushant Lok-I too, and that place is far better. The maintenance people there listen to people's problems,” says Ashok Bhardwaj. South City-II: South City-II, unlike South City-I, was not born with a silver spoon in its mouth. This Colony was 'distant', and that's why initially there was far less traffic seen here. But this is the Colony of the future – as with the advent of Gurgaon-II (new Sectors), this would be at the centre, as it happened with South City-I. Already the location has become a boon, with some of the City's best schools and hospitals surrounding this area. Schools like KR Mangalam, GD Goenka, Amity, Pathways are just within 10-15 minutes drive from this area. Top of the line hospitals such as Medicity, Artemis, Max, Fortis, Apollo, Sir Gangaram and Batra are also within a stone's throw of South City-II. South City II not only offers plots of various sizes, but it's the second colony—after Malibu Towne—that offers independent floor in various sizes – 260 sq.m, 401 sq.m, and 492 sq.m. As far as amenities are concerned, this Colony too has one big club and one market. Parks are very much similar to South City-I. The only different 'amenity' is the 66 KVA

the things of daily use here. The arcade is better that at South City-II,” says Megha Khurana, a resident.

on maintenance comes to around Rs. 3.5 per sq.yard. We have told them that we don't have any problem in paying this amount, but they must first improve the infrastructure inside the colony. We have no gardeners at all, and we RWA people maintain the parks from our own pockets. We always receive one answer from Unitech – that they don't have money for maintenance,” explains Dadhwal. “Unitech is using our money to pay its own bills. For example, they always show us the amount of the water bills, and then demand the increase in the maintenance charges; but this water bill includes the bill for the water used by KR Mangalam and Shikshantar Schools, which are commercial properties of Unitech. The Club Patio is also used for commercial purposes, but its water bill is also included with ours,” says Ashok Bhardwaj. A similar tussle is going on in South City-II, as there too the builder is asking for Rs. 2.5 per sq.yard, without doing any substantial improvement in the infrastructure. No Community Centre: This problem is common to all three colonies, as none of them have a Community Centre. “I have seen the original plan Unitech submitted to DTCP at the time of taking the license. In that plan they have clearly mentioned one Community Centre cum Club. This Patio Club is half a Community Centre; the residents are not allowed to take its services without charge,” says Bhardwaj. “We have filed a case against the builder, in which we are demanding a full scale Community Centre, with an area of at least 7,000 sq.yards; and I believe the court would listen to our problems,” says S.C Sharma. Nirvana too doesn't have any Community Centre. However, in Nirvana the builder has left a piece of land, which is supposedly for the purpose of building a Community Centre. u

What Is On Offer

PRAKHAR PANDEY

t is said that Unitech is long past its prime, and is now a mere shadow of its erstwhile avatar. The 'cash crunch' and the 'telecom scam' have provided the critics with enough material to write it off. But despite this 'sorry state' of the company today, Gurgaon owes it a lot. Unitech, along with DLF and Ansals, has contributed heavily in transforming this erstwhile hinterland suburb into the Millennium City. Unitech has given Gurgaon some of the finest colonies and condominiums, that not only defined modern living but also changed the course of habitation in the City. South City-I, Heritage City, South City-II, and Nirvana are some of Unitech's most successful and fancied colonies, that attracted thousands of people. These colonies are important chapters in the history of modern Gurgaon. The South Cities and Nirvana are collectively spread across a whopping 1400 (approx) acres, and near about 5,000 families stay in these colonies. "I shifted here in 2001, and since then it has been a pleasant experience. Initially the roads and other amenities like parks etc. were in good shape, and the Unitech management too would listen to our problems. They have stopped doing so now. But still I would say that South City-I is one of the better places to live in Gurgaon,” says P.S Dadhwal, an old resident, and ex-General Secretary of the South City-I Resident Welfare Association (SCRWA). “The builder's management doesn't give heed to the problems of the people, and they always have excuses for not doing any work. I came here in 2006, and since then I have repented my decision to buy a plot here. No doubt this is one of the best locations in the City, and the builder has done wonders in developing such a huge colony, but around 2005-06 the builder started taking things for granted. By then it had sold most of the plots, and it then focused on the group housing apartments. This negligence from the builder's side has made this colony a mess; and the residents who have spent the savings of their lives in buying the plots and apartments here, are living in very bad conditions. Whenever they set their foot outside their homes they find nothing except broken roads, and parks with snakes crawling in the big grass,” says Ashok Bhardwaj, the newly elected President of SCRWA. Unfortunately, South City-II seems to have fared no better. Since Unitech has slowed down in improving the crumbling infrastructure, the two big colonies are slumping into further disgrace. Lets see how these iconic, and presently melancholic, colonies came to such a pass.

job after 4-5 months. At present there is nobody we can go to. These Unitech people do nothing except givesilly reasons for not doing their jobs,” rues Dadhwal. South City-II is no different, perhaps worse. “Our inner roads are in a bad condition. One main 24 metre road is in satisfactory shape, but that too won't remain for long because Unitech has sold one plot to build a school – and when that traffic starts coming, this road too would crumble down. They have also given one of the religious sites to Dera Sacha Sauda; whenever they gather, they grab the whole road, parks and all other utilities. I don't know why the builder is allowing such things at the cost of residents' comfort,” says S.C Sharma. The condition of roads in Nirvana is far better. “Last year the RWA members protested against the builder, and after a lot of pressure Unitech built our roads. I believe they are comparatively better than roads of other colonies in the City,” says Sudhir Kumar, Estate officer, NRWA. Maintenance price issue: “Unitech Maintenance has told us to pay Rs. 2.5/sq.yard. Earlier we used to pay Re. 1 per sq.yard. Unitech says that they are bearing huge losses, as the expenditure

non-functional sub-station, which has been built by the builder. Nirvana: Just across one small strip of road from South City II lies the most celebrated project of Unitech. Unitech Nirvana is a blend of exotic villas and open plotted houses. The majority of the area has villas. Nirvana is spread across almost 300 acres of land, with almost 1000 villas of different sizes. Nirvana too is centrally located, to various big schools as well as the big hospitals of the City. It also does not come cheap. “The smallest villa here in Nirvana is about 4 crores, and I believe this is one of the best gated colonies in the whole of NCR,” says R.P Sharma, former Secretary General, Nirvana Resident Welfare Association (NRWA). It too has one Nirvana Patio Club, like the other two clubs in South City-I and II. Apart from the villas and plotted houses, Nirvana has group housing too; Fresco and Close (North and South) are the two group housing projects. 'The shopping complex is perhaps the best in all the three Unitech colonies, as it has many big brands – from Pizza Hut to Pepe. “The shopping arcade in Nirvana is good, and we get almost all

(approx), and has been divided into 12 different blocks. Nirvana: Nirvana is for the 'classes' – with villas ranging from 200 metres to 1000 metres. Nirvana development started in 2002, and by 2005 people started getting the possession of their villas. As of now, apart from the villas, Nirvana has plotted houses too. Nirvana is immensely successful, and despite the high rates, people are buying property enthusiastically.

Occupancy

All three colonies have an occupancy between 60 to 70 per cent. “Occupancy here in South City I is around 70 per cent, because, despite empty plots, almost 95 percent of group housing flats are in use,” says Rajender Singh, an old resident. The occupancy in South City-II is comparatively lower. “Plots are still lying unsold here, and occupancy is not more than 60 per cent. This Colony has independent floors which are mostly occupied, and this plays a substantial part in the total occupancy,” says S.C Sharma, President of SCRWA. Nirvana, though comparatively new, has increased its occupancy at a rapid pace, and now almost 70 per cent is inhabited. “I believe out of almost one thousand villas more than 850 have already been sold, and people have also moved in. The only worrisome thing about occupancy in Nirvana is that people are not showing great interest in buying and building the plotted houses,” says R.P Sharma.

The problems

The two South Cities have a plethora of problems – such as roads, water, sewage, whereas Nirvana has far less problems. Yet there are some problems which are common to all three colonies. Roads: “For the last seven-eight years roads have not been relaid. Some patch work has been done at some places, but that too is of inferior quality. Here in South City-I the condition of roads is very bad, and we don't know who to talk to, because whosoever becomes incharge of maintenance quits the

14-20 September 2012

{ Shilpy Arora / FG }

n a Sunday morning, when most of the people prefer to wake up late, some women braved the busy lanes around Leisure Valley and participated in a fun run. They are the members of a “women-only” Running Club, that has inspired many ladies to wake up early, and run to keep themselves fit. Founders of the Club, Deepa Krishnan and Tanuja Sodhi, make sure that all the members meet on the first Sunday of every month, for a

5km non-competitive run. Gowri, a traveller who has been a part of the Club since the first run, recounts, “I was bored with my regular workout regime in the gym. Some participants of a Facebook group, Gurgaon Moms, put across an idea to have a women-only run, and I signed on. It started with just 20 women, and now we are more than 60. We never imagined it would become such a success.” Earlier, the Club was a part of a running group called “Runbugs”, which had both

Run Divas

men and women. Then, Deepa and Tanuja decided to form a moms-only running group. The members of “Runbugs” often join the members of this Club, to motivate them and ensure their safety on the streets. Talking about the need for a running group, Deepa says, “Even today, the City has few female runners, because they don’t feel safe to run solo on the streets. This is why we have come up with this initiative.”

New Political Party { Maninder Dabas / FG }

urgaon contributes to more than 48 per cent of Haryana’s total economy; but when it comes to return the favour, the State treats this District, along with other districts of South Haryana, as a pariah. However, soon Gurgaon will have its own political party, which will contest the 2014 Assembly elections. “National Haryana Janhit Congress (AB) has only one motive, and that is to have a CM from Southern Haryana. Politics of caste and clans has done great damage to a city

like Gurgaon, and other districts of South Haryana. Our prime objective is to break the hegemony of Rohtak and Hisar, and of course the so-called Political clans, who think that they have the divine right to rule the state of Haryana. We have sent our registration application to the Election Commission (EC), and within a couple of months we will make a formal announcement,” said Ashok Bhardwaj, National President of National Haryana Janhit Congress (AB). Haryana, on the larger scale, has four major political parties. Two of them, Congress and BJP, are the national parties, whereas In-

dian National Lok Dal (INLD), led by former CM Om Prakash Chautala, and Haryana Janhit Congress led by Kuldeep Bisnoi, the son of former CM Bhajan Lal, are the two regional parties. Unfortunately none of them have their political base in Gurgaon. The arrival of this new regional party would make the battle for Chandigarh more interesting, as South Haryana has a lot of votes. Recently, the Congress stalwart and Power Minister of Haryana, Captain Ajay Yadav, had also spoken about the step-motherly attitude of the State government towards Gurgaon and other towns of South Haryana. u

As on September 13, 2012 All Prices in Rs/kg.

Food Take

C ivic/Social

Area/ vegetables

Palam Vihar

Sector 54

South City 1

DLF City Phase 5

Sadar Bazar

Sector 23

Safal

Reliance Fresh

Potatoes (old/new)

17.90

Onions

Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Ridge Gourd

Bitter Gourd

Brinjal

Ladies Finger

Mushroom

"I needed a change, something that’s different from the regular fitness regime. Initially, it was extremely difficult to run freely, without attracting unwanted attention on the road. Later, we became used to it. Now, nobody stares at us anymore,” says one of the members. Lauding the initiative, Gowri says, “We feel proud that we are able to attract many working women. They drag themselves out of bed and show up even on Sundays. This shows the kind of enthusiasm our Club has generated.”

Not just running

When asked about how such trips are a hit among women, Tanuja says, “It’s not all about running. It’s also about meeting like-minded people. We ensure that each run has something unique.” Many times the group associates a run with a theme, to add an element of excitement. For instance, a run in February was named as “Valentine’s Fun

Run”, in which participants dressed up in red workout costumes. “Each time I return from a run I tell my husband that this was the best run,” smiles Sakhi, a member.

What's on the cards

As the run is a monthly affair, held on the first Sunday of every month, many women feel that it really doesn’t help in losing weight. Deepa, however, is working on increasing the frequency of runs. “We are also open to explore other areas in the City. As the focus of the run is to encourage beginners, we started with a 5km stretch. We are planning to increase the distance gradually to about 10km. The aim of the Club is to form a community, where women of all ages and fitness levels can meet and enjoy running together. One doesn’t need any registration to become a member. All that is required is to just show up and participate. u

Haryanvi Made Easy

Get a taste of the local lingo

1. Does anyone have a camera? Kisi dhorre camera se? 2. I need to take a photograph. Manne ek photu kheenchni se. 3. I will return it to you soon. Tanne jaldi e ulta de dunga. 4. How does this work? Yo kaam kyunkar karya kare? 5. Don't worry, I will use it carefully. Chinta mat kariye. Badiya

tariya rakhunga.

6. Can i take your camera home? Tere camere ne ghar ne le jaun?

14-20 September 2012

utting the right people in the right place is crucial both for the individuals and the organisations, to achieve their goals, and prosper in the long run. Although it is virtually impossible to get the right fit every time, Patrick Farrell says that they provide solutions for improving People Performance, that are comprehensive and easy to understand – and that enhance the organization’s overall performance. His company has developed CALIPER (an advanced psychometric tool). Farrell’s organisation, Caliper Human Strategies, has tied up with Gurgaon based School of Inspired Learning (SOIL) to provide an assessment service to clients in India. Having provided consultation to some of the largest global corporations, and assessed about 2 million employees, has helped them create accurate assessment instruments to measure important characteristics like potential, personality traits, motivators and behaviour patterns. “The aim of the assessment is to help organisations hire the right people, and then give them opportunities to grow. If the right people come to a company, and are given a job as per their liking, they would certainly be happy to work,” says Farrell. Organisations that have adopted

Calibre Calipers CALIPER have found that employees hired through this test are better performers. It also helps in reducing the number of ‘misfits’. Farrell claims that it is a highly valid instrument to assess the personality of a person, specifically with reference to his corporate fit. “The questions are designed in such a manner that a person can’t get around. We are used to behaving and responding in a specific manner. Using this test, we can find out a lot about a person – about his leadership style, work habits, risk taking abilities, and suitability for a job,” asserts Farrell; adding that it is very difficult to cheat in this test. A good manager, as per this assessment, is someone who has a high level of persuasive skills, good communication skills, and empathy for fellow workers. The tool, he says, is developed for the corporate world, and the answers are compared to data collected from a large population. “A Malaysian company recently used this test on four candidates for the post of a CEO, and found that none of them was suitable. They spread their net wider, and found someone who was excelling at the position,” he says. He reveals that a chemical ma-

THE WEEK THAT WAS ♦ The DC, PC Meena, has withdrawn the powers of the tehsildars of Sohna and Pataudi, to register sale deeds of immovable properties. He found irregularities in the registrations, after reviewing the records of the tehsil offices. ♦ The DC has reconfirmed that the status quo has to be maintained in the 900m area of the Ammunition Depot – no new construction is to be allowed. ♦ The High Court asks the Gurgaon police to take action against poll officials involved in the 2009 Assembly elections case. The High Court asks for reversal of approval of 24 acres allotted to 20 builders in new Sectors under a wrongful consolidation scheme. ♦ Haryana DG Police Ranjeev Singh Dalal announced – at a meeting in RTC, Bhondsi - that the Govt has sanctioned 11,000 posts of constables in Haryana Police. He also talked of various benefits that the policemen would be given by the State. Haryana DGP asks for mega city police funds from the Centre, for Gurgaon and Faridabad. Delhi has 65,000 policemen and 700 PCR vans for a 1483 sq km area; Gurgaon has 3,500 policemen and 45 PCR vans, for a 1180 sq km area. ♦ The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) will launch legal literacy drives in schools, to impart practical knowledge of law to students (9th to 12th standard)

– to educate them on its use and helpfulness in daily life, as well as on their rights. ♦ Construction company owners ask for the arrest of builders responsible for the suicide of a fellow contractor, who was allegedly harassed and not paid his dues. ♦ Students of an engineering college burn a bus and destroy property, after the death of a girl student. ♦ A BSF officer faces rape charge. ♦ 2 bikers rob 8 teachers travelling in a car, in day time, on Golf Course Road - after holding them up at gunpoint; carjackers rob a Delhi businessman of his SUV, on NH8; another SUV also taken at gunpoint on MG Road; an Innova stolen at gunpoint, after the robbers had taken a lift. ♦ 29 lacs fraudulently taken from a bank, by 2 applicants, using forged documents. ♦ DTCP renews licence of Mayfield Gardens. ♦ First set of Rapid Metro coaches arrive – trial in October. ♦ Farukhnagar Draft Development Plan 2031 of Farrukhnnagar notified. ♦ A 24x7 power availability proposal of DHBVN, termed the ‘Pune Model”, has found favour with Gurgaon industry and some RWAs. ♦ A signal free Signature Tower intersection proposal has been actioned. ♦ Gurgaon Art Festival begins – on till Sunday.

PRAKHAR PANDEY

{ Abhishek Behl / FG }

C ivic/S ocial

About Patrick Farrell

Patrick Farrell is the Managing Director of Caliper Human Strategies (Aust) Pty Ltd, a part of the global Human Resource Consulting company, based in Princeton New Jersey. Established in 1961, Caliper Corporation has now assessed over two million individuals in 28,000 companies world wide – assisting them to identify talent and potential, and develop it to produce outstanding performance from individuals, teams, and the organisation as a whole.

For Classifieds Please Contact

7827233023

jor in Germany uses the test to recruit people from the bottom to the top hierarchy i.e truck drivers to top executives. In India too, one of the largest steel conglomerates is using this test to hire employees – with great success. Commenting on the India Varna system, that divided the society on the basis of professions, Farrell said that it is possible for people to develop skills in this manner, as they are rewarded for conforming to traditions, and learning the skills of their families. “But people can still outgrow this social system and break the mould,” he says. Asked about the Indian

managers and their personality traits, Farrell says they are very entrepreneurial and commercial, but equally impatient for growth, success and change. Another interesting facet is that while the world speaks much about the flexibility of the Indian workers, the CALIPER assessment has revealed that they are not as elastic as generally thought. Indian managers and students, he further says like to participate in discussions and ask questions. When asked if this test could be used to improve the quality of the city’s managers and bureaucrats, he replied in the affirmative. “Most of the bureaucrats in governments across the world are risk averse, and prefer the status quo. We have to understand what kind of managers the city needs. Do we have people who can make this happen; it is important to choose the right people for the right tasks,” says Farrell. He also refers to Australia, where the government has made bureaucracy much less lucrative as compared to the past. Gurgaon, he says, is a magnificient city that is growing at a scorching pace. “This is a city of contrasts – one finds world class buildings and residential areas coming up fast, while the infrastructure has not come up at the same pace. That is a matter of concern,” he says. u

QU I Z The 3 Prize-winning entries of the ‘talkingalcohol. com’ Quiz, that appeared in the September 7 issue, are: 1) Anjan Roy 2) Deepak Vats 3) Jitender Bajaj Congratulations! Please contact: 7838003874

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14-20 September 2012

K id C orner

Hybrid Pathways

he students of the middle wing of Pathways School hosted a Hybrid Craft Campaign at their School campus. The Campaign conducted by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. The Campaign is a unique and interactive way for students to understand hybrid technology, and its benefits to the environment. The presentation by the organisers focussed on the use of solar energy in the futuristic cars that Toyota is developing. Students were sensitised to the ill effects of pollution; and the concept of Hybrid Technology, and its efficacy in curtailing these effects – besides conserving fuel. Students of Grades VI and VII were given kits, to assemble models of a solar-driven hybrid car. The students did a test run of the car, and were judged by the efficiency of their models.

Swiss Do Well at Taekwondo Championship

4 students from Swiss Cottage School participated in a Taekwondo Championship organised by the Delhi State Taekwondo Association, at Thyagaraj Stadium. Six students of the School won Gold medals, nine students won Silver medals, and five students won Bronze medals. 11 students from the School have been selected for the 32nd National Taekwondo Championship, which is likely to be held in November 2012. The Principal and the Management congratulated Shambhu Karn, the coach for Taekwondo in the School, for training the students so well.

Banyan Puppet Making

anjana Pandey, one of the pioneers of modern puppetry, took a story-telling session at The Banyan Tree World School. The Session was followed by puppet making activity, in which parents of the little ones also participated. They made interesting handheld puppets. Ranjana is credited for the growth and popularity of puppetry over the last 30 years.

Bachpan Temple Visit

he little ones at Bachpan Pre-school visited Radha-Krishna Temple in Sector 14. They kids were amazed to see the big idols of Radha-Krishna, and other Hindu gods. The kids also learnt to meditate, and spent some time experiencing peace in the temple. Later, they were treated to ‘prasad’, snacks, and Indian delicacies.

Summer Spectrum

Amiown Activity Day

oddlers at Amiown School enjoyed an Activity Day. The students were first made to trace the letter ‘I’ – this helps to save the formation in the neuro-muscular memory of children. This was followed by a range of activities, including counting, pasting paper scoops on an ice cream cone, and collaborative sponge dabbing on a sheet – which was later put on the notice board, with the photos of children and teachers. Kids also made objects, to learn counting. It was all a great learning experience for the kids. Compiled by Shilpy Arora, email: shilpy.arora@fridaygurgaon.com

ummer Fields School held its annual Exhibition titled, ‘Spectrum’. Budding scientists, artists, mathematicians and geologists of the School presented their creative ideas as exhibits – in the form of still models, working models and projects. Students from Pre-Primary to Class XII participated enthusiastically, and were motivated to present their ideas. The Principal, Yasmin Contractor, appreciated the students’ hard work and congratulated them for their efforts.

Kid Corner

14-20 September 2012

APS excels in Montessori Education

DPS Utsav

he students of DPS, Sector 45 showcased “Utsav -The Spirit of India”, with vibrant and colourful performances of popular Indian festivals such as Diwali, Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Baisakhi, Janamashtami, Goa Carnival; and also some lesser known ones; but an intrinsic part of the country’s cultural landscape – like Hemis, Navroz, Vishu, Uttarayan, and Phool waalon ki sair. The Show commenced with the soulful rendition of the song – “Aradhana Chir

Sadhana Ho Tirange Tum is Desh Ke” by the Junior School Choir, followed by an inspiring musical voyage reflecting the true spirit of India. The students thenset the stage on fire with spellbinding dance forms. They brought alive the gusto, devotion and passion with which festivals are celebrated all over India. The Chief Guests for the show were Col. Atul Dev (retd) Convener, INTACH Gurgaon Chapter, and Dr. Ruchi Seth, Principal DPS Sushant Lok. The Chief Guests presented the academic and co-curricular awards to the achievers of Class III (2011-2012).

Blue Bells Ring

iny tots of Blue Bells Group of Schools made the institution proud, as they bagged the Second prize in the InterSchool Competition – “Kid-O-Mania”, held at the Scottish High International School, Sector-57. Livesh Bhutani of Class LKG bagged the second prize in the Floral Essence event. In the Group Dance performance, Gracy Singh, Tanishi Chugh, Akansha Mehta, Harsh Jha, Yashmeet Malviya, and Nipun won Second prizes. Yash Gupta won the third prize in the event “Close to Nature”. Suman Gulati, Director, Blue Bells Group of Schools, and Mr. Ashish Gulati, Vice Chairman, congratulated the kids.

ver 70 years ago Dr. Montessori illuminated us with this profound insight – “A child’s work is to create the man he will become. An adult works to perfect the environment, but a child works to perfect himself.” The inner idea of practical life exercises is to teach care for oneself, thereby inculcating respect for other living things and the environment. So believes the American Public School (APS), formerly ‘American Montessori Public School’. The School believes that each child is unique, and deserves to realise his/her own potential. At APS, the Montessori method consists of five key areas: 1) Exercises of Practical Life (EPL), 2) Sensorial 3) Maths 4) Language and 5) Cultural – which includes the Social Sciences. The children are provided with a prepared and stimulating environment, which enables them to develop freely. The School has fullyequipped Montessori classrooms – MI, MII, MIII, and MIV. Classes I and II incorporate enrichment classes in the Montessori Lab, particularly in the areas of language, Maths and culture – apart from Science, Geography and History. For a young child, there is something special about every day – even in routine tasks such as washing dishes, pairing vegetables, and polishing shoes. These tasks are exciting to a child, because they allow him/her to imitate an adult. Practical Life exercises can be divided into five main components: 1) Preliminary activities, 2) Care of self, 3) Care of the environment, 4) Motor Skills (a) Gross motor skills (b) Fine motor skills, and 5) Social graces. The various exercises were designed to perfect the childrens’ eye-hand coordination, gradually lengthen their attention span, and allow them to gain a sense of independence as they work. These life skills, along with the development of concentration and orderliness, provide a sound basis for success in later life. Established as the premiere Montessori school of Gurgaon in 1995, APS has grown into a full-fledged 10+2 CBSE institution. For more information, go to: www.americanpublicschool.com and its US affiliate, www.sugarcreekmontessori.com.

Animals’ Birthday at Eureka

ith an aim to sensitise the kids to animal protection and environmental conservation, Eureka Early Learning Centre, Palam Vihar organised an animals’ birthday at its premises. The tiny tots put on masks representing different wild animals. As the children cut the cake, their teachers told them about the importance of animals in nature’s life cycle, and the need for conservation.

Literary Flourish

Life for me Life, life, life! This is my life! I thought my life was like a game, But each day is not the same! My dangerous level is exams. Some are fun some are sad! Life, life, life! This is my life! Aryan Singh 4 J, Amity International, Sector 43.

Artistic Strokes

Malavika Balachandran, Grade 2, The Ardee School

Tanya Jain, V C, DPS, Sector 45

Compiled by Shilpy Arora, email: shilpy.arora@fridaygurgaon.com

Saloni Dhingra, V E, Delhi Public School

Anurag Lohia, Grade 3, Banyan Tree World School

K id Corner

Kids Brainticklers

14-20 September 2012

Animal Crackers

Solutions

Fill in the grid so that every row, column and coloured box contains ALL the numbers from 1 to 6. Bonus clue: which number should go in the circle: 1 or 4?

Two Wise Men

Dogs of C-Kennel

14-20 September 2012

Day-Break { Alka Gurha }

t’s half past six on a wet Monday morning. Water drops dripping from the trees are a reminder of an early morning drizzle. As I sit in my balcony soaking in the crisp moist air, thoughts glide past like the monsoon clouds above me. The languorous rhythm of early morning silence is gradually broken by the rush of vehicles and murmur of voices. One by one, a slew of yellow school buses screech close to the entrance gate of my apartment complex. I watch as two little Korean boys trudge behind their maid towards the bus stop, a doting father carries the school bag of his sixteen year old son, and a little girl in white uniform drags her feet even as her mother admonishes her to hurry up. The bus-stop at my apartment gate is a meeting point for the resident ‘bus-buddies’. I am invariably struck by the way women incorporate fashion, even when they step out within the complex early in the morning. Crumpled salwar kameezes and unflattering night suits, a

reminder of a hurried morning, have given way to smart and trendy casual wear. I can’t help but admire a carefully coiffed mother at ease in shorts, wearing branded shades, and a strong perfume, on a wet cloudy morning. The men too have graduated from Lucknawi kurta pyjamas to comfortable track pants and shorts, teamed with branded tee-shirts. Come on people, this is Gurgaon social reputations depend on visual appearances. What You See Is What It Is. Apart from the school going children, it’s interesting to observe a steady stream of maids entering the complex. A discerning eye will reveal that the livein maids are dressed often in churidar kurtas, jeans or skirts, whereas those coming from the nearby abodes dress more traditionally. The short women, with raven hair held tightly in a bun, chatting with their compatriots, are from Bengal - mostly from Malda and Midnapore. Surprisingly, I have been unable to spot strands of grey in their well oiled buns held in bright ruffles. The city slickers who sur-

Gurgaon Gibber { Atul Dev }

he ‘millennium city’ was never envisioned even as a ‘city’, when developers first built the newer colonies. It was simply the result of housing needs, and the high prices in Delhi, which prompted some far-sighted developers to buy cheap land outside Delhi and develop it into group housing complexes. Their gamble paid off. Gurgaon was not planned like Chandigarh or NOIDA or Greater NOIDA. It simply grew, as South Delhi grew in the 60s and 70s outside Lutyen’s Delhi Zone – bit by bit. For every habitat development there is a need for civic services. That unfortunately did not happen in Gurgaon. While signing agreements with developers, the Government wisely inserted a clause that made the developers responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all roads, open spaces, public parks, and public health services, including water supply and sewage disposal, for a period of five years – or till relieved of this responsibility by the Government or the local authority. But this did not turn out as envisaged. Most builders did not get their completion certificates even when their five year mandatory period was over. Others deliberately, with one excuse or the other, delayed transfer of these civic responsibilities to the Government, or the local authority. The Government, as defined in the Agreement, was Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). HUDA

neither took full responsibility, nor penalized the builders for non-completion of projects within the promised stipulated period. Then, in 2011, the ‘local authority’ arrived on the scene – the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG). With this setup, we now have the unique situation of a multiplicity of bodies with ill-defined demarcation of responsibilities – the developers, HUDA and the MCG. And there is also the DC for the District, with his own role, responsibility, and authority within Gurgaon too. The Haryana State Government continues to announce its Master Plans— and has now gone up to 2031—but has simply not demarcated responsibilities for the provision of civic services by various bodies. I have one further comment. In all developed cities and towns it is the civic body that is responsible for all civic serves – water supply, sewage disposal, roads, street lighting, parks, etc. Unfortunately, the civic body (MCG) in Gurgaon has no experience of working such functions. It was the responsibility of the Government, which sought the establishment of such a civic body of duly elected representatives, to have established a strong infrastructure with adequate powers to carry out these responsibilities. They have not done so; besides, our elected Councillors too are fairly new to running civic services – and thereby hangs a tale! u (Atul Dev is a Gurgaon based senior journalist.)

vive on henna and a range of hair colouring products can chew on the thought. These Bangla women wear red, orange or fluorescent green cotton saris of similar patterns, with contrasting blouses. It’s amazing to watch some of them ride a bicycle wearing a sari. The sari is tied high above the ankles, and the free end of the pallav carelessly covers the head. It is easy to differentiate them from the Rajasthani maids, who don synthetic saris with bright sequins, and drape their sari in a ‘seedha pallav’, covering the head meticulously. The silver anklets, clear complexion and a pierced nose all point towards their ethnicity. I notice a dozen of them alighting from a shared auto. By the time it’s seven in the morning cars begin to roll out, even as the car cleaners and drivers exchange pleasantries. I am not certain, but the red ‘gamcha’ around the neck of the scruffy man in folded trousers should mean that he is from Bihar. I was hugely surprised when one evening he turned up at my door with a pizza. The entrepreneurial guy washes cars in the morning, irons clothes during the day, and doubles up as a pizza delivery boy in the evening! Its seven-thirty, and a loud thud on my door signals the arrival of my newspaper. The newspaper vendor is a local lad who also delivers milk, and works as a driver. When I ask him how he commutes from his native village, Sohna, he says, “Ma’m, I have my own Tata Safari.” No wonder Gurgaon is labelled as the city with a Millennium aspirations. u

C ivic/S ocial

An Aggrieved Resident To Pro Facilities Services Pvt. Ltd. 518, Udyog Vihar, Phase-III Gurgaon, Haryana Attn: Mr. Gautam Parti, Director Sub: Choked Storm Water Drain adjacent to C-516B, Sushant Lok - 1 Dear Mr. Parti, The storm water drain adjacent to our house is completely choked with silt and garbage since beginning of the monsoon season. Furthermore, in certain parts the brickwork of the drain is also broken, due to a tree having fallen several years ago. Moreover, this drain does not seem to lead anywhere, as just beyond our house, it comes to a complete dead-end with no outlet to the water that collects in it. The natural slope of all adjacent roads leads towards this drain, thus leading to severe water-logging of the drain and therefore the road next to it. It frequently turns into a mini lake leading to the rapid deterioration of the bitumen road surface, causing large craters to form in it. Not to mention, the stagnant water in the drain breeds mosquitos & diseases. What scares me more is that often the level of the water is so high, that it laps against the walls of my home, and could cause seepage into my basement. Over the past 9 years that we have been living here, I have complained about this several times to Pro Facilities as well as its earlier avatars of Star Estates Management Limited and Star Facilities Management Limited. I have even provided photographs to show how bad it can get. But other than superficial cleaning of the drain, nothing more has been done about this in all these 9 years. Cleaning is not the solution; it is only a mandatory periodic maintenance requirement. The real solution is to connect this drain to the larger main drains, so that the water can flow out of it. Or an even better idea would be to install a rain water harvesting system at the end of this drain, as it naturally collects the water from the entire neighbouring area. This is a very serious problem. I request you to kindly look into this matter and take prompt action to rectify this lapse on the part of the developer. Yours truly, Suparna Pasricha

14-20 September 2012

W ellness

Preparing for a Sibling { Aliki Nassoufis / Berlin / DPA }

hildren aren’t always happy when a sibling is on the way, because the notion that they will have to share their mom and dad with a brother or sister isn’t pleasing. Parents should pay special attention to ensure that no jealousy arises, but they shouldn’t exaggerate their efforts toward their first child. Many parents ask about the best way to prepare their first child for the arrival of a baby. First off, it will mean that receiving the undivided attention of his/ her parents is over. “For some first-born children, it is like being driven from paradise,” says Hans Dusolt, Director of a family counselling service in Munich. Parents worry the most

over jealousy, and whether their older child will like the new baby, says Beate Friese of a telephone hotline for parents in Germany. “These reactions can, and do occur; however, you can prepare the older child for the new addition.” Andreas Boehmelt, a family Psychologist in Germany, says parents shouldn’t tell their older child too early that a sibling is on its way. They should wait through the first part of the pregnancy, until the risk of a miscarriage has subsided. The best way to tell the child, is for the mom to explain that she has something important to tell him or her, by mentioning her growing belly, and explaining that a baby is there. Not much more need be said. “It’s important not to pile too much information on

ruit and vegetables should always be eaten unpeeled if possible, to give you the full nutrients. For example, 100 grams of unpeeled apples have about 16 mg of Vitamin C and 12 micrograms of folate, while the same amount of peeled apples only have 8 mg and 5 micrograms. If foods must be chopped up, then they should be washed beforehand. Washing afterwards means that the nutrients are washed away.

Foods should best be processed directly after cutting them, as chopping destroys the cell structure, fostering the loss of vitamins. For example, if chopped cabbage or grated apples sit around for two hours, they lose up to 62 per cent of their Vitamin C, as compared to the uncut product. A way of at least slowing the loss of Vitamin C, is to drizzle the cut pieces with vinegar or lemon juice, and store them in a cool place. To maintain as much Vitamin C as possible, stewing vegetables is also recommended. Stewing means cooking the food with very little water. u

Early Morning Sports { Cologne / DPA }

hose who wake up for early morning sports should also prepare their bodies, so that the morning sweat is effective. About 20 minutes before starting, individuals should drink a large glass of lukewarm water. Professor Ingo Froboese, from the Centre for Health Germany Sport University in Cologne, says a banana helps the body, as it supplies energy. Early morning activity can be effective in losing weight, but only if carbs are present. “Many believe early morning sports go right at the local fat deposits, because the sugar reserves are used overnight and the replenishment is not there,” says Froboese. “Fats are only burned in the presence of carbohydrates. In addition, untrained beginners cannot immediately burn off their fats. The fat burning process has to build up.” That is why it is important to have enough carbohydrates in your body before you run. Experts say you should never run on an empty stomach. Not only could the energy supply be too low, but also the inner organs could become irritated through the unusual strain – which is only intensified with the lack of nourishment. Dizziness and perception disorders are also possible. That mainly happens when the fluid reserves are empty. Froboese says it is best to plan two to two-and-a-half hours for the morning sports, and adequate rest and breakfast should follow. u

It’s All In The Nose

Save The Fruit Nutrients { Munich / DPA }

the child,” says Friese. Initially, it’s enough to say that another baby is on the way, and that it’s a something to look forward to. It’s important that parents involve their child in the pregnancy by letting the first-born touch their mom’s growing belly, and by taking them along when shopping for baby items or going to the paediatrician. Do all these things with the child, so that he or she doesn’t feel left out, the experts say. At the same time parents must strike the right balance, and avoid exaggerating their attention. Parents must also recognize any insecurity. “Parents must be clear and tell their first-born child that they have just as much love for him/her as before the pregnancy,” says Boehmelt. Another good idea is to tell the child about the positive changes that take place when a baby brother or sister arrives. “You have a wonderful role: You will then be the older brother or older sister,” is one approach, says Boehmelt. “You can already do a lot, and the baby will have to learn from you.” Parents shouldn’t expect too much, however. “You cannot double your time and energy when you have two kids,” says Dusolt. Therefore, it’s not always possible to avoid the first-born child feeling demoted when number two arrives. u

{ Christiane Loell / Berlin / DPA }

veryone has experienced it at least once. A nasty cold blocks the nose, you can’t smell anything, and all food tastes bland. “You need your sense of smell for the sensation of fine aromas,” says Thomas Hummel from the University of Dresden, an expert on smell and taste disorders. But while the sense of taste returns after the cold goes away, some people must live without this sense. There are various reasons for it, and treatment is often difficult. “While the sense of smell is mediated through one cranial nerve, there are three involved with the sense of taste,” says KarlBernd Huettenbrink, from the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. The oral sense of touch, with the trigeminal cranial nerve, also plays a role in sensory perception. An example of that is the impression that chillis are spicy. It was earlier assumed that taste buds are only on the tongue, but it’s been proven that they exist throughout the mouth and throat. The taste of a food is also made up in its appearance, texture, spiciness, temperature and fat content. “Isolated taste disorders are rather rare,” says Huettenbrink. In most cases, people who say they can’t taste anything have problems with

their olfactory system. It’s difficult to diagnose the problem. Doctors differentiate between pure taste disorders related to damage to the taste buds, damage to cranial nerves, or an impact to the brain – from a fall on the head, a brain tumor or a psychiatric illness. The sensory cells can be damaged after an infection, or through radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or even by hundreds of different medications. The three cranial nerves that control the sense of taste can be affected by a broken skull base, or ear or throat operations. Even diabetes, or a thyroid disorder, can spoil the sense of taste. Hummel and his colleagues examined 4,680 patients, 491 of whom had a pure taste disorder. For onethird of them, there was no clear diagnosis. For a quarter of them, it was the consequence of an injury or accident. Another quarter came from a mix of disorders – including

medications. For 15 per cent, the complaints after an operation. The medical world has very few means to help patients with pure gustatory disorders. “By leaving out or changing medication, you can tell if that’s the reason, and then treat it,” says Hummel. Therapy could include the use of zinc. “We have hints that zinc acts better as a placebo, but we don’t know the exact reasons why that is.” There are more chances if the olfactory sense is the reason for the taste problem. “Olfactory cells can build up in the upper part of the nasal cavity. That is possibly a reason why the sense of smell slowly returns after a cold,” says Hummel. u

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14-20 September 2012

Health & Vitality... Naturally!

Taming Chronic Inflammation Part II { Jaspal Bajwa }

s its latin root inflammatio (fire) indicates, inflammation is the proverbial double-edged sword. When it appears as an acute response, it helps ward off the threat from invading pathogens - a wonderful example of life-sustaining ‘homeostasis’ at play. However, in its chronic form, inflammation takes on a more sinister undertone. It is in fact considered a root cause of many degenerative diseases. In earlier years, the connection with chronic intestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) , Inflammatory Bowel Disease, ulcerative Colitis, and Crohn’s disease had already been established. This was followed by the link with accelerated ageing and metabolic syndrome. Now, chronic inflammation is also believed to be linked to Auto-immune Diseases such as Diabetes type 1, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Multiple Sclerosis. As a risk factor, it is believed to significantly increase the chances for cardiovascular diseases, as also Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), cancer and dementia. Its role is complex, and its effects are farreaching. We are just beginning to understand its role as a ‘cause’ as well as an ‘effect’. To understand this root phenomenon, we need to turn our attention to the key role played by a very unlikely player – the trillions of microbes which co-inhabit our gut! Till recently we were not aware that over 90 per cent of the 100 trillion cells in our body belong to the over 500 species of micro-organisms which form a part of the genetic pool we have inherited and nurtured in our body. This offers a major way clue to the genetic diversity of the human - our own genes have been mapped to a count of 23000,whereas the commensal microbes co-inhabiting with us contribute 3 million genes to the mix.

{ Alka Gurha }

n an annual study of 132 countries published by the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) in January this year, India ranked at an abysmal low of 125. No wonder Indians face breathing problems, including allergies, asthma, cough and breathlessness, among others. Since the air quality will not change overnight (if at all), we surely can improve our breathing techniques, and improve the health of our lungs. So what can we do to keep away from respiratory diseases?

Stay Away from Smoking and Smokers

Health risks from smoking begin as soon as the person starts smoking. Beginners often experience shortness of breath, a cough, and wheezing. Adult smokers also put themselves at risk of an early onset of osteoporosis, menopause, or fertility problems. Smokers are also at risk of developing mouth ulcers or cancers, dental problems such as teeth discoloration due to tar, tooth decay, gum bleeding and diseases, and bad breath.

In the past decade it has become clear that the gut constitutes an important frontier of the body. The Gastro-Intestinal (GI) tract represents the largest contact area (about 300 – 400 square meters) between our body and the external environment. The moist mucosal surface of the gut is the physical interface of the immune system. The GI tract serves three main functions, with the lining acting as a ‘gate-keeper’: - acting as the main portal of entry for nutrients into our blood stream, - (while at the same time) acting as a barrier to the external environment, and being largely responsible for shaping the immune re-

sponse, to educate our cells to recognise friend versus foe. In aiding metabolism, the major function of the intestinal gut bioflora is to ferment the non-digestible dietary residue and the mucus produced by the lining. Gut-bacteria metabolism is responsible for providing up to 60-70 per cent of our energy requirements, by conversion into readily absorbable forms. Intestinal microorganisms are also involved in Vitamins B and K synthesis, production of digestive enzymes, and in the absorption of calcium, magnesium and iron. A number of factors associated with modern urban living have a detrimental impact on the quality of the microflora of the Gastro-Intestinal

W ellness

tract. Factors such as psychological and physical stress, excessive use of antibiotics and certain dietary choices have been found to contribute to intestinal microflora distress. An underactive digestive system can result in an imbalance between ‘the good’ vs. ‘the bad’ bacteria. As a result, the latter can spillover from the colon into the rest of the intestine and stomach. This in turn leads to a porous bowel lining (sometimes called the ‘leaky gut syndrome’), which permits large molecules and pathogens to enter the blood stream, with serious consequences for the immune system – triggering allergies and inflammation. An effective strategy to mitigate chronic inflammation is to change the composition of the gut microbiota. Our food and lifestyle choices play an important role. By avoiding excessive sugars, refined carbs, caffeinated drinks, smoking and alcohol we can ensure the ‘bad guys’ are starved, and ‘the good bacteria’ can literally crowd them out and keep their proportion at less than 20 per cent. As the inflammation-suppressing good bacteria maintain their hold, they operate simultaneously at three levels: counteracting the pro-inflammation bacteria and yeast, improving the barrier properties of the GI lining (hence not permitting a leaky gut), and directly strengthening the immune system. Functional Foods protecting the Gastro-Intestinal tract, and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier, have started receiving attention in recent years. Several trials are underway with Glutamine, Arginine, Zinc, Vitamin A, Probiotics and Prebiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms in fermented foods (e.g. yoghurt) that establish and improve the intestinal microflora; and Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients, that benefit by selectively stimulating the growth and activity of a limited number of bacteria in the colon. Increasing evidence points towards a beneficial effect of these interventions on strengthening the intestinal gateway/barrier function. Tip of the week When taking probiotics, optimal results can be achieved if a high percentage of the ‘live’ cells can be enabled to reach the large intestine(colon). To avoid damage enroute by stomach acids, it is best to consume probiotics about 30 minutes before meals, and in a sufficiently high potency, to ensure that at least some get through.

Watch Your Breath Smoking also increases the production of acids in the stomach, which often leads to ulcers and heartburn. Since smoking greatly affects the female reproductive system, it affects the production of hormones that prevent the early onset of wrinkles in women. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemical compounds. More than 200 of these chemicals are known to be harmful, and at least 60 are known to cause cancer. When non-smokers are exposed to second hand smoke, it is called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. Non-smokers who breathe in second hand smoke take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just like smokers do.

Ventilate Your Home and Use Dehumidifiers

Due to heavy construction activity and vehicular exhaust, the air in our homes contains heavy particulate matter. Air your home by opening windows regularly. Use netting on windows to filter the air. Expose the pillows and mattresses

Mix some curd, 1 spoon oats, and 4 drops lemon juice. Apply on the face. After some time, remove the mask with cool water. This helps removes acne.

Nature’s Wonder Foods of the week: Probiotics Popular species for use as probiotics are various strains of Lactobacillus such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus GG, Bifidobacterium infantis, Saccharomyces boulardii, and many others. Streptococcus faecium is another important colon bacterium which is of relatively more recent interest. A large number of food products which list ‘probiotics’ as an ingredient are now on the shelves. The regulatory agencies are constantly monitoring the health claims being made by these products. Nevertheless it is important to educate ourselves on what is the evolving nature of ‘science-backed facts’. Within Lactobacillus there could be substantial difference in efficacy between the species, for various applications. The same holds true for the numerous probiotic supplements found in health food stores. The quality of these supplements and the claims regarding the number of ‘live cells’ present is not always consistent. Hence, it is always a good idea to study the comparative claims and seek expert opinion. u Registered Holistic Nutritionist (Canadian School of Natural Nutrition) For education purposes only; always consult a healthcare practitioner for medical conditions

Eat Broccoli

According to a new study, a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cabbage, may help those who are prone to severe lung infections. Broccoli may also help the immune system to clean harmful bacteria from the lungs.

Exercise and Pranayam

to bright sun once in a while, and vacuum clean them besides changing the covers regularly. This will reduce the growth of dust mites, which trigger coughing and wheezing. Reducing the use of air-conditioners, and using of dehumidifiers can also help. Continuous air conditioning makes the environment moist, and encourages fungal growth – which aggravates asthma. During the monsoon, it is advisable to remove the carpets and rugs, as they trap allergens and moisture along with dust. It is important to install exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.

The capacity to carry oxygen increases when we exercise, and practice breathing exercises. It makes the blood cleaner, and reduces the burden on the heart to do the same. Walking or running is a good way to strengthen lungs. Practicing different Pranayam techniques also helps in strengthening the diaphragm and lungs. Pollution levels normally decrease early in the morning and after sunset. It is best to exercise or walk early in the morning, when oxygen levels are high.

Avoid City Smog

Traffic fumes release carbon monoxide, benzene, lead and other toxic chemicals into the air, which are harmful for the lungs. Inhaling traffic fumes and particulate matter can cause respiratory infections and bronchitis. u

14-20 September 2012

Comment

The Quarterly Syndrome

W EDITORIAL Atul Sobti

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

our article in FG, 24-30 Aug’12 titled “It’s Bangladesh, not Kashmir” was worth a read. I have never read such candid and factual content. I wholeheartedly support your views. We should keep NE integrated lest it becomes another front for Pakistan and China. But, do our politicians care. In fact, they are helping the neighbor’s cause by providing fake identification papers to illegal immigrants. But, how do we get our educated middle-class to vote. That remains our biggest challenge. Vikas Vij hat an amazing article. I am very proud of my mother Shobha Lidder. She has always led from the front, and is a great inspiration for my brother and me. Neha on the article, A Woman Of Substance personally believe that what Mr Kablana is saying is right and people who are living there should get justice, because when colonies were developing, the govt. was aware about this. They should stop there. Now situation is different and uncountable people are living in these areas. They should get justice because they have spent their sweat and money on this land. Alok Kumar on the article, Supreme Justice

egularization of colonies is most urgent. It is important to provide drinking water and road sewers, network, electricity etc. which are the moral duties of govt. I would like to thank you for taking the initiative. Make a decision ASAP to provide minimum services. Goutam Maiti on the article, Update: Unauthorised Colonies

e have seen the serious economic consequences of a global meltdown for the last 4 years now, which was led by toxic greed. Many rogue traders and players emerged. They were playing games and fiddling, while the regulators and rating agencies relaxed (if not partook in the loot). The diagnosis was short (Sub-Prime), and the prognosis shorter (QE 1, 2, 3…and ad nauseam for the EU). There were cries for the heads of some people, and the demise of some companies; and further cries for reform of 'Wall Streets', and for Consumer Protection. Is global hamam mein sab nange thay. It was (is) a time when the concepts of mathematics and sciences were being increasingly swapped into markets, in the form of various financial models. The new practitioners were beating FMCG product managers at their game. They were the new marketers, offering brands of Swaps, and product extensions called Derivatives, covering all segments – prime, sub-prime, bottom of the pyramid. At their height of Innovation, they marketed the same product, repackaged and rebranded, to multiple customers. On offer were promiscuous products from men of easy virtue. Actions against some banks and financial institutions, and some key people, were taken. Just like when some corporates and top honchos were penalized in earlier scams. But could there still be some basic areas that need close questioning; areas that maybe influence errant behaviour, and quick fixes? There is perhaps food for thought for one more remedy – a change from the Quarterly Syndrome. How much is the Quarterly reporting the need of the Controllers (the govt and all other regulators)? Every ‘fraud’/‘crisis’ throws up more controls, and makes the role of controllers (rather than operators) more integral. No amount of extra law and tightening can help if people are prone to/motivated to cheat – and the penalty is not exemplary. How much is the Quarterly reporting the requirement of the stock market and its players - of their wishing to know and estimate earnings even more closely, ostensibly to invest better; or of their wanting to gamble more frequently, with more frequent ‘inside’ information; or

of it just being a matter of narrowed (get rich quick) attention and investment spans? The year is still the standard, for the business environment – for the seasons, the harvests, the festivals, the holiday periods, the govt budgets; and the quarters, half years, and year ends (poor three-fourths). There were always quarterly reviews and action plans (the quarterly reporting therefore should have meant much more formal monthly reviews and action plans – this has not really happened). The Quarterly Syndrome has instead promoted short-term results (and benefits) versus long-term performance. The resultant heightened equity investment has become a daily gambling slot machine, and a sten gun for making instant ‘killings’. So, an (equity) investment, that by definition is at least mid-term – meaning 3 to 5 years, not 3 to 5 quarters – has become daily financial fodder. And the performance has not really changed, with the quarterly reporting. Even with 4 chances, the predictably has not improved. Outlooks are still rarely met. The clincher may simply be this. If the quarter is genuinely the new year, the new end, why are performance evaluation and reward and recognition still only based on annual performance? The quarterly activities therefore remain just the means, as happened anyway before the year was financially broken up - officially. There is now talk of a 6 monthly balance sheet. Followed shortly by a monthly earnings statement ?! Is it then any wonder why most CEOs are very short term oriented; though when interviewed they are judged for their vision, and track record ! There was, and is, a simple model. To build a long term, sustainable and profitable business, with an engaged and empowered team. Profit was, and always can be, delivered, without making business just a quick-fix financial model. Ps - Alas, Finance has become an end, not a means – as a function, and even personally. Yeh kissa, phir kabhi (On this, another time). u

Will There Finally Be Effective And Timely Action?

he Chief Secretary, Haryana K. Chaudhery, after a visit to Gurgaon, has confirmed: Gurgaon is the showpiece of Haryana. The State Govt is serious about the development here. The State Govt wants infrastructure in Gurgaon to be commensurate with the investment here. Funds are not an issue for Gurgaon. All basic requirements of Gurgaon will be met. The immediate actions proposed are: All major arterial roads will be made pothole free in the coming one month, and the footpaths along these roads will be repaired and painted. The internal roads of HUDA sectors will be mended within 3 months. Various proposals and initiatives were presented by different bodies: MCG will take up: Remodelling, street lighting and drainage of major roads – like Old Pataudi Road repair (Rs 4.5 crores); Basai Road repair (Rs 2.5 crores) – both by October end. Old Delhi Road and MG Road repair – Rs 6 crores each. Road from Rajiv Chowk to Sector 4/7 (Rs 8.5 crores); road from Railway Station (Rs 8.5 crores) – both to be completed by December end. LED street lights will be erected at a cost of Rs 3 crores, on these major roads, by November end. Rs 90 crores has been sanctioned for 10 villages in MCG area, for total upgradation of sewage, water supply, and roads. STP will be upgraded, on

a PPP basis (Rs 15 crores). All this will be completed in 1 year. Works on drainage (Rs 3 crores) are already in progress. RCC roads are being constructed wherever necessary, in approved colonies, at a cost of about Rs 80 crores. MCG and the Mayor team asked for a substantial increase in the sanctioning/approval limits at local level. HUDA areas: 9 estimates, for improvement of roads, sewage and water supply (Rs 300 crores), have been sanctioned, and tenders will be out in a month’s time. Combined tenders will be given to some big firm. Rs 48 crores has been sanctioned for strengthening the road from NH8 to Badshahpur; and the Golf Course Road will be strengthened at a cost of Rs 570 crores – including flyovers and underpasses at road intersections. HUDA has deployed 250 vehicles have been deployed for house-tohouse garbage collection in its Sectors. The Chief Secretary will again visit Gurgaon after a month (around October 2nd), and personally inspect any of the roads at random. He would also interact with the representatives of RWAs and the corporate world, to understand the gap between their expectations and the available infrastructure. The Draft Development Plan of Gurgaon Manesar Urban Complex – 2031 AD has been published in Haryana Govt Gazette on Sep 4th. Any person can give objections or suggestions within 30 days - till Oct 3rd., 2012 – to DG, Town & Country Planning, Chandigarh. u

14-20 September 2012

{ Shilpy Arora / FG }

he City is surrounded by resorts, offering moonlight strolls, showers in pools, and helicopter rides. For those who wish to experience a slice of history, Kuru Haveli or Kuru Resort, which was once housed by King Bharata, is a great option; while those looking for absolute seclusion, the Westin Resort and Heritage Village provide the perfect setting. Eco and Country Resorts offers green getaways.

B on V ivant 17

Choice Resorts: Eco, Lux, Heritage I

Westin Resort, Sohna

f you are on a quest for a weekend holiday destination away from the hustle and bustle of the City, visit Westin Resort, Sohna. As you turn off the National-Highway, the green farms and quaint environment welcome you. Encased in glass from all sides, the resort overlooks scenic water bodies. The most picturesque place is the exquisite pond for ducks. “You can spend hours here. The only thing one witnesses is nature in its complete glory,” says a manager at the resort. Westin offers cottage shaped suites, with a complete rural feel, which are very popular with visitors – and feature open bathrooms. The most striking feature of the bathroom is the tub, that has a glass ceiling at the top, enabling one to soak in the morning rays while taking a bath. Don’t forget to go for boating in the Sohna lake. One thing you can’t afford to miss at the Resort is the scrumptious Chinese

Kuru Haveli

roviding comfortable homestay facilities, Kuru Haveli or Kuru Resort, situated in DLF Phase II, offers an opportunity to experience Indian history and tradition. The Haveli was owned by King Bharata, a descendant of the Kuru tribe, and son of King Dushyant and Queen Shakuntala. He was the first to conquer Greater India, uniting it into a single entity – “Bharatavarsa”, or India.The descendants of the Kuru rulers,

HERITAGE VILLAGE

to Eco Resort. Last November, my nine-year old son was overjoyed to see the Siberian Cranes here. Unfortunately, (or fortunately), not many people know about such weekend getaways,” says Saroj, a resident of Sector 56. Everything here is green. So is the food. The Resort serves only vegetarian meals. “Most of the times we source vegetables and fruits from the nearby farms, so that our guests not only have fresh air, but also a fresh meal. We offer a complete green destination,” smiles Mr. Seth.

Heritage Village

KURU HAVELI

Mr. and Ms. Chaudhary still live here, in a beautifully rustic. fortified bungalow. They take genuine delight in receiving guests into their home. The Haveli leaves you spellbound with its royal feel, as many famous paintings still hang on the walls of the rooms. “Call it a home away from home. We don’t offer state-of-the-art infrastructure and spacious settings. However, for a history lover, it could be a trip of a lifetime,” says Mr. Chaudhary. A Belgian visitor, Clara, seconds that and says, “It feels good when you experience history so closely.”

Eco Resort, Sultanpur

ituated close to the Sultanpur Sanctuary, Eco Resort watches the green woods spread across the area.

Accommodation at the Resort ranges from open treehouse villas to luxury suites. An array of recreational activities, ranging from swimming, trekking, tennis, to rejuvenating spa treatments, keep the visitors busy. Talking about the spa treatments, Mr. Seth, Vice President of the Resort, says, “To most of the people, the idea of going to a spa in the middle of a mall is discomfiting. They prefer distance, and a semblance of a holiday, which is offered here.” A major lure of the Resort is its lush green surroundings. It is easy to spot a Red-wattled Lapwing, Crested Lark, and Common Teal throughout the year. However, if you are lucky, you can also find a Siberian Crane, rare Grey Heron, and Black Buck. “We are regular visitors

ECO AND COUNTRY RESORT, SULTANPUR

t is the perfect answer to a G’ite looking for a close weekend getaway, as it has spacious lawns, luxurious rooms, swimming pools, a gym, a great spa, and a choice of multi-cuisine food. Whether you want to stretch your physical and mental endurance by trekking, or indulge in sports like soccer and chess, the Resort has it all. The grand entrance, ornamented with frescoes, reveals the supreme skills of the artisans of Rajasthan, and reflects the luxury and flamboyance of its interiors. Owned by the Select Group, the Resort has three segments – a Business hotel-like block, Presidential Suites, and a luxury accommodation.“The best way to explore the Resort is to walk around the manicured gardens in the moonlight, and enjoy the traditional Rajasthani dance and music, presented by

COUNTRY RESORT, MANESAR

WESTIN RESORT, SOHNA

the rural artists,” says Tony, a foreign visitor. Besides, it is a perfect destination for delightful dining. While the Resort provides sumptuous buffets at Jharokha, Barahandi, an ethnic village-style outdoor eatery, is preferred by the guests in winters. A pampering massage has been the favourite of visitors at Heritage Village. “The Spa here is a serious affair, providing a bewildering choice of therapies. Amazingly, the prices are nominal,” says Samita, a regular visitor. Owing to the Resort’s proximity to the National Highway, it is the perfect venue for business conferences and office picnics. The Resort is an abode for nature’s beautiful flora and fauna, so one should not forget to carry along a camera.

cuisine offered at one of its restaurants.

Country Resort, Manesar

ituated 10 km away from Rajiv Chowk, the Country Resort, Manesar, is an architectural marvel. A few centuries ago, a Mugal Nawab built his holiday home in Panchgaon, in grand style. Over the years, successive Nawabs made additions to the property, in villas scattered around the vast grounds – each according to his taste. Today, the Resort provides accommodation in those villas. Showcasing Mughal grandeur in the façades, the rooms and suites are pleasant, and have big-sized balconies. A gigantic old banyan tree spreads its wings across the central lawn. Another important feature of the Resort is its excellent banqueting facilities. “We hope to make Panchgaon a popular venue for parties and weddings. With facilities spread over 32,000 sq.ft, a variety of options including a 12,400 sq.ft grand ballroom, and infrastructure for ‘rain dance’, we offer everything for a perfect party,” says Mr. Kiah, General Manager, Country Resort. The Rajasthani food served in its restaurant is delicious, and redolent with strong flavours. u

14-20 September 2012

Make Room For Colours

{ Bhavana Sharma }

olours are healers that infuse the aura of a room, or your personality, with their characteristics. They have the power to elicit strong reactions, both psychologically and physiologically. We can easily match every room’s colours to suit our personal desires and taste, and to the room’s purpose. Light colours are expansive and airy, they make rooms seem larger and brighter; dark colors are sophisticated and warm, and tend to exhibit warm energies. We also understand that colours behave in three basic ways: active, passive, and neutral.

Colours that make us see things differently Red raises a room’s energy level, and it’s a good choice when you want to stir up excitement – particularly at night. In the living room, or the dining room, red draws people together and stimulates conversation. In an entryway, it creates a strong first impression. It is usually considered very strong and stimulating for bedrooms. Perhaps you can use a red lamp shade or red light in one corner of your room; by lamplight the colour will appear muted, rich and elegant. Ancient cultures used a lot of red, to stimulate the body and the mind, and to increase circulation. Red has also been shown to raise blood pressure in individuals, and speed respiration and heart rate. Crimson can make some people feel irritable. It invokes feelings of rage and hostility. It should definitely be avoided in the bedrooms. Even sitting for a long period of time in such rooms will break down family peace and harmony. Yellow captures the joy of sunshine, and communicates

happiness; and it is perfect for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms. This happy colour is energising and uplifting. In halls, foyers and small spaces, yellow can make you feel expansive and welcoming. It is a cheery colour, but not a good choice in the main colour schemes of a room. Too much of yellow can create feelings of frustration and anger in people. But for people with tired nerves, yellow is very beneficial, to help stimulate nerves and purify the body. Blue is considered calming and relaxing and serene, and is often considered as the main colour for bedrooms and bathrooms. But in rooms where the sunlight is not

enough, blue can depress the energy. We need to add a lot of white to complement the area. If you opt for blue as the primary colour in a room, balance it with warm hues in furnishings and fabrics. To encourage relaxation in the rooms where people gather— like family rooms, living rooms and large kitchens—do consider warmer blues such as periwinkle, or bright blues such as turquoise. Blue brings down blood pressure, and slows the respiration and heart rate. On the other hand, dark blue evokes a feeling of sadness. Nature lovers can combine the blue colour of their rooms with tan or brown. Green is considered the most restful colour for the eye. Green is suited to almost any room in the house. In a

{ Dr. Rajesh Bhola }

t all the Prajapati Brahm Kumaris' centres there are clocks which chime every hour. Islam prescribes stopping for ritual prayers, called Salah or Salat – which must be performed five times a day. Salah is intended to focus the mind on God, and is seen as a personal communication with him, to express gratitude and worship. Many other religious sects in the world have also adopted a similar practice of ‘stopping’, as per some timing. This practice may at first seem quite artificial, but—simple as it is—it does have a profound effect over the course of a day. There is a build up of tension as we rush from one task to another. While working, our mind gets conditioned. The unconditioned mind delights in the miracle of daily life, enjoys each breath, savours taste, and looks quite naturally with a glow in its eyes. Because of our conditioning, we experience this bliss only rarely. The practice of ‘stopping’ allows our original nature to surface. This original nature is not something we can construct; in fact, the folly is that we try to construct what is freely available to us.

kitchen a sage or medium green cools things down; and in a family room or living room it encourages unwinding, but has enough warm energies to promote comfort and togetherness. For bedrooms it is ideal, because it creates a relaxing effect when used as the main colour. As it can also help with fertility it is a great choice for the bedroom. It can help relieve stress for most people, and help them relax. Green, combined with the refreshing and cheerful yellow, will give a perfect look to the rooms. Purple, in its darkest values, is a rich, dramatic, spiritual and sophisticated colour. It is associated with luxury as well as creativity; and as an accent or secondary colour for the rooms, it can bring in a lot of depth. Lighter versions of purple, such as lavender and lilac, bring the same resful quality to bedrooms as blue – but without the risk of feeling chilly. Orange energies evoke excitement and enthusiasm, and it is a wonderful colour for the rooms, provided it is not overused. It a good idea for the living rooms or for the bedrooms, as well as for the the exercise room or the gym. It will bring in energies and emotions that you need when jumping into your daily fitness routine. In ancient cultures orange was used to heal the lungs, and increase energy levels. Neutrals like black, gray, white and brown are basic, and are used in small doses as an accent. Some energy experts maintain that every room needs a touch of black, to ground the colour scheme and give it depth. It also helps in grounding the energies of the residents who reside there. u Tarot Reader, Author

Wonder Years { Alka Gurha }

s a young adult, between ages thirteen and seventeen, experiences seem to be extra hard. This is a phase when children seek greater personal control, and when parents and children disagree on several issues. At the same time, hormonal upheavals in children create physical and emotional changes. These wonder years are also about hopeless infatuations and heartbreaks. Needless to say most infatuations appear in the garb of ever-lasting love, and lead to heartbreaks. There are moments when children can lose track of time, staring at the sky as myriad ideas pop up. It is an age when confusion reigns supreme. Mood swings came with the territory. A warm smile from a favourite teacher can make their day, and a banal comment about clothes or weight can be hugely upsetting. Parents sometimes feel uneasy, and worry when they see their children struggle with emotions. If children are experiencing difficulty in articulating emotions, parents feel a sense of helplessness, and often react by getting angry – which only adds more fuel to the fire. At a deeper level, parents want their kids to learn how to calm down and act ‘normally’. Often children are not able to do that, because they are still learning to manage their own frustrations. Since we adults lose our temper time and again in office or traffic, we should understand that it is natural for someone to have mood swings. Maturing is all about managing emotions effectively – at least most of the time! Teen years are the time when teachers have an immense psychological effect on children. A good teacher can make a child fall in love with any subject; and can also teach a child how to cope with disappointment and success. And a good teacher is a friend who stands by their side every step of the way. However, if children do not like a particular teacher, the school becomes hell, and studies are a nightmare. A regular interaction with the teachers and the school can help in understanding the psyche of a child who is feeling uncomfortable with a particular teacher or a subject. Yes, the teen years of their children are an experience most parents would not like to ‘re-live’. However, there are some ways to cope. One way is to influence young adults in a positive manner, rather than control them. Influence comes from respecting children and their choices, and not getting mad at them or taking it personally when they disagree. If your child is struggling with his or her emotions, don’t add your own emotions. It is important to remain calm, and not to react – by yelling, worrying, punishing, or even giving-in. Once you explain things in a friendly and patient manner, most children understand and respond gradually. As children are becoming adults and transitioning, their comments can be reflective, honest, absurd – all at the same time. Yet, their comments reveal a developing wisdom, deep understanding, and a free spirit. Young adults are a generation of thinkers in the making. They are conscientious, and doing the right thing is important to them. Right guidance at this age can go a long way in shaping their adult behaviour. u

Stop For A While We need to just stop doing what cuts us off from our natural happiness. The essential intervention that is required in our lives is one which can be described as ‘stopping’. The effect of ‘stopping’ is to bring us peace and joy. It is also an everyday exercise, in which we introduce ‘stops’ into our ordinary activities. Every time we stop in this way, we have an interlude of a few moments, in which we return our attention to an immediate reality. Learning to stop is very meaningful. When you feel anger, for instance, do absolutely nothing. Do not let yourself be swept away by the rage. Cultivate stillness, by ‘stopping’ for a while. The energy of your emotion should be added to your spiritual fire, and not be dissipated in meaningless and destructive gestures. Return your attention to your breathing, and enjoy a few moments of being alive. Whatever the task in hand, stop for a while and pay attention to your breathing, and to whatever is immediately before you. Dur-

B on V ivant

ing the time of stopping, try to gain distance and detachment from your current mental state; it will allow you to ease naturally into a state of tranquility, without effort or contrivance. During this process what will count is not the ability to prevent thoughts or emotions from arising, but the ability to catch ourselves in a particular mental or emotional state. Stopping for a while grounds us. When we stop and appreciate our breath for a moment, or look at the way the sunshine blends the sky and the sea, we are—for a moment at least—no longer individual human beings. We are simply whatever that is which registers beauty, stillness, peace and tranquility. It is nameless; it is the unconditioned. Many people who have visited religious places have imbibed this practice into their lives, with good effect. When we stop and sit in meditation, we sit still. All manner of things may arise in the mind, but the body re-

mains still. The fire burns, but is contained. Things arise; we watch them arise and watch them depart. If you find that the mind wanders, notice what has come up... and then return your attention to the breath. Without losing consciousness of the breath, notice how you are conscious of other smells, sounds, sensations, surroundings and imaginings – arising from within or outside. Finally, let go the impulse. This exercise is an enlightened action. We see feelings come up in us in response to our awareness of the forms that appear in our mind; and we gently but effectively contain these feelings in a nurturing way. This practice of stopping for a while provides us an opportunity for an introspection, and puts us in touch with our deeper life. It strengthens us against the ravages of greed, hate and delusion. We learn to be still in the midst of all that is going on, and we master the fire within us. u Dr. Rajesh Bhola is President of Spastic Society of Gurgaon and is working for the cause of children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities for more than 20 years.

14-20 September 2012

A rt

Art’s Fine Ideals { Srimati Lal }

ver since its prehistoric inception as sketches on cave-walls that strove to immortalise the drama of human existence, Art, with its magic mix of form and colour, its emotive and expressive intent, beauty and visual harmony, has been like an oasis in a desert for humans striving to make sense of the difficult experience called Life. Without the vital components of Truth, Beauty and Harmony, Art fails in its very purpose. These essential aesthetic tenets remain immensely relevant to Art in our own times, with the infiltration of Absurdist, Deconstructive, and Installation modes which seem to trap art in an ‘experimental’ nether-zone of theatrically-motivated ‘messages’. Idealism is inherent in the very practice of Fine Art. Art’s purpose is to inspire, delight and elevate the human soul, that is most often trapped in banal and prosaic routines.

A leading contemporary artist once explained it thus ~ ‘But for Art, man would die of boredom’. Art’s inner eye possesses the magic of transforming the rote of routine into the transcendental: depicting a higher realm where Beauty, Inspiration and Idealism remain eternal. We are fortunate that, in spite of all the tensions and travails of modern living, and an infiltration of cynical, materialistic thoughtprocesses, Indian Art’s ideals of beauty and its essential tenets of harmony have not only survived, but continue to thrive. The best of our Art staunchly provides us with the oasis of beauty and harmony that every human craves. As an Art critic, it is extremely heartening when I observe Indian Art’s genuine ideals thriving within our own context.

The sensitive sculptures of Seema Singh Dua, on display at Quill and Canvas Gallery, are recent examples of this rarefied and harmonious aesthetic realm, containing the power to calm the senses. This emerging sculptor, trained at Delhi’s Triveni Kala Sangam, has also worked in commercial art and textile design, and practises the violin. The current Exhibition displays eight delicate sculptural works in varied media – from Murals, Fibre and Driftwood to Copper, Steel and Bronze. The best of these sculptures evoke a classical feel, yet are equally redolent with the charm of romance and Indian emotive expression. Within a medium to small format, these chiselled creations confirm that quality and

subtlety are more important than sheer size, in an aesthetic context. Dua’s dignified creations are gracefully displayed in this quiet, small gallery’s vertical expanse. Eloquent in emotional content, the sculptor’s penchant for the violin is finely-evoked in an interesting piece titled Serenade, whimsically constructed in copper, steel and fibre. Here, a pair of suspended marble-hued moulds of human hands gently play upon a fine copper and steel violin, that has been delineated in minimalist, lyrical, graphic

Within the Indian cultural context, there are hidden treasures of art-instruction in our timeless Shilpa Shastras, that methodically describe the essential aesthetic standards for sixty-four forms of Arts and Crafts – from painting and sculpture to architecture, vaastu-shastra, music and poetry. The greatest of fine artists remain those who possess the physical skills of actual drawing, painting, sculpting, composition, and such manners of intricate formation. For Fine Art to be achieved, such technical and emotional skills must manifest aesthetically – via form, colour, a clarity of ideation, and harmonious construction

lines. The piece combines the minimalist with the classical, breathing-in empty expanses of air and metal with abstract, poetic finesse. This musical evocation in sculpture bears an internationally-classical feel, as do some other semi-representational works that portray the subtle nuances of the human hand and body. Dua’s Brass and Fibre sculpture Khush Kismat, a pair of beautiful, dark human hands gracefully entwined in repose upon a beaten metal domelike base, generates optimism and hope. The sculptor says she would like her renditions “to speak in a quiet way, to protect, endear and inspire. My sculptures are not a medium to transfer a ‘message’, but are experiences in themselves, that allow the viewer to decide their meanings.” This is what I mean when I posit idealism as an essential facet of Fine Art. Elaborating upon this idea, Dua states -- “Throughout history, artists have played an important part in documenting social norms, beliefs and life. Via art, efforts are made to imitate, supplement and alter works of Nature. Presentations and perceptions may vary, but the end-product is meant to generate admiration when one beholds it.” Fine Art is, in this sense, a role-model for society – to observe, to pause, to emulate. Human figurations by Dua in Fibre and Driftwood, such as Serenity and Majestic, incorporate bold Indian colours like red, gold and turquoise as effective ‘patinas’, mirroring relevant human emotions such as energy and tranquillity. The deceptively-small sculpture entitled Serenity, portraying a dreaming blue figurine with small golden birds resting upon a piece of delicate driftwood, brings to mind both the mastery of Rodin’s imposing bronzes and the Danish sculptural classic ‘Little Mermaid’ – without abandoning the quintessen-

tial laasya and laavanya of our own Indian sculptural tradition. Dua’s romantically-entwined couples, in gold-leaf on fibre and dark bronze, convey similar timeless emotions. By contrast, the ‘RAQS Collective’s ‘Serai Reader 09’ Exhibition, on at the Devi Arts Foundation as an installatory ‘work in progress’ that will continue until April 2013, fails to simulate either aesthetic beauty or authentic emotion. Given the massive vistas of space, over two floors and four vast rooms, this assemblage of semi-formed installations is a visual disappointment. Art does not require ruthless demolition in order to be ‘cutting-edge’ or ‘contemporary’. Fine Art is a skill, a meditative discipline, a sadhana involving finesse – that deserves respect and elevation. ‘Sarai Reader 09’ leaves one instead with a sinking feeling of cultural desecration. Devoid of aesthetic parameters or valid content, this series of arid installations, comprising dry straw, blank paper scraps and empty spaces, seems a parched parody.

One of the central ‘displays’ at ‘Sarai 09’ is a mirror in a chor-bazaar carved wooden frame, bearing excerpts from an 1878 Nietzche passage scrawled across it in an immature script. The text quotes such ‘intellectual’ cliches as: ‘What remains of Art ... the metaphysical assumption of the visible world of only appearance...” – which actually cleverly conceals an inability to create great Art. India remains a country rich in the most awe-inspiring, impressive Art practices, prevalent from its remotest tribal regions to its most cosmopolitan cities. In genuine Indian Art, there is neither emptiness nor cynicism, but a wealth of truth, beauty and emotion. It is not imperative that our Art must quickly be represented in the shiny corridors of chic western artfairs in order to establish its credentials, or to be validated. Genuine Indian Art’s world-renowned skills, and contemporary relevance, can be gracefully and quietly showcased with dignity, within our own time-tested parameters. u Artist, Writer, & Curator

14-20 September 2012

Enriching Lives { Anita Jaswal }

ll of us have at some stage called up a charity to volunteer, make a donation, give food or clothes to the homeless, or teach the underprivileged. But how many of us have just been there when someone was in need; or helped someone who was on the edge? Dr. Vandita Dubey is one such understanding, empathetic person, who deals with the emotional and behavioural problems of anxiety, depression, domestic violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse, grief, divorce, and work related issues in individuals and couples. She addresses normal developmental concerns related to childhood and adolescence. Dr. Dubey also consults with educational institutions, and is actively engaged in providing supervision to students and young professionals. Jit Kumar

She is very compassionate to a client’s plight. She does not without judge or rationalise. “I spend a lot of the time just listening to them. You have to gain their trust and make them realise you’re not there to judge them. They have to trust me before the counselling can really be worthwhile. Once we’ve built a relationship, we can explore the problem and come up with solutions,” she elucidates. Dr. Dubey started her career as a social worker, after earning a Master’s Degree in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work. She has worked in both Delhi and Mumbai, largely focussing on issues related to child sexual abuse. When she moved to Chicago, she commenced her doctoral studies

in the field of Clinical Psychology, with a special focus on diagnosing and treating children, adolescents and their families – who demonstrate severe emotional and behavioural problems. “I always felt the inner urge to enrich lives. Enrich is best described as ‘to work closely with other humans, and to help them better their lives’. With this vision of bringing world class education, training and practice methods to India, she laid the foundation of Enrich Education. While the study of psychology is popular in India, it has stayed a largely academic pursuit, with limited practical application. Enrich’s current focus is to bring to India the learning and wisdom of international research – the theory and concepts, as well as their application to real situations. Dr. Dubey is based in Gurgaon. She has been married for 15 years, and has two children. An avid runner, she regularly runs full and half marathons with her long time running partner, her husband. There are two very interesting packages Enrich offers: a weekend couples workshop in Gurgaon; and a 4 day offsite retreat. The tagline of the retreat says: Come take a relationship holiday! This is a holiday with a difference. For married couples it serves as a relationship spa that helps rejuvenate and refresh your relationship. Marriages often need a little recharge to remind us as to why we got into this relationship to begin with. It also provides an opportunity for couples to lay the foundation for a stable and happy relationship. These activities have been designed based on years of international scientific research and practice in the field of Couples Therapy. In addition to some of the clinical techniques and tools used in Marriage and Family Therapy, the facilitator will be using her own knowledge and understanding, based on years of practice with couples in India and the US. Dr. Dubey firmly believes that the core of each family is the couple, and a solid core can create a happy, healthy family. All of us should understand that there are no perfect families, and there are no perfect parenting methods. Happy families have cranky kids, messy houses, and money struggles, just like everyone else. But underneath it all, they have a core of contentment that sustains them through all of life’s ups and downs.u

Accessories As Assets { Sarita Maheshwari Sharda }

hat are accessories, and do you really need them to complete the look? Accessories are the finishing touches of colour, texture and shape that impact your image. The role they play is important. They reflect your style philosophy, and pull your other selections together, to create groupings that make design sense. Accessories give you an extra dose of beauty, a little more sparkle. In a crowd, at a function, they offer a ‘natural’ icebreaker. To appreciate the impact accessories make, consider another example of a “finishing touch” - of the icing on a cake. Here are some timeless guidelines: Don’t crowd your face: Either wear big

earrings, or a major necklace, but not both. Pair a necklace and ring; or a bracelet, earrings and necklace. Avoid multiple focal points. Harmonise Accessories with your Outfit: There must be some common element or theme between the accessory and the outfit. This could be colour, perceived weight, texture – or some other style or design element. Maybe a bright colour, a striking design.  Harmonise the Accessories: It’s a good idea

to harmonise the accessories (with each other) in the same outfit. For example, similar silver buckles on shoes and a handbag. However, take care to have some contrast in your look. ‘Complete sameness’ can be boring. Consider your Body Scale: It’s always better to choose an accessory size that’s in harmony with your body scale. Small scale – choose small to medium accessories; Medium scale – any size accessory will work for you; Large scale – a medium-sized accessory will work for you. It’s easy to ruin an otherwise great outfit by choosing the wrong accessories. Conversely, it’s easy to make an ordinary outfit look great with the right accessories. u (Founder, Image Panorama and Certified Image Consultant)

B on Vivant

Tips

by ShahnaZ Herbal Cosmetic Queen Padma Shree Shahnaz Husain is the CEO of the Shahnaz Husain Group – India’s leading company in the field of natural beauty and anti-aging treatments. Q. How can I get rid of pimple marks?

SH Once daily, at any time, mix one teaspoon each of honey and

lemon juice and apply on the face. Wash it off with plain water after 15 minutes. It helps to relieve dryness, and also any marks. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice into a paste and apply on the face three times a week. Wash it off when it dries. If there are no pimples, use a facial scrub twice a week. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin with circular movements, especially on the pimple marks. Wash off with water.

Q. I use a face wash and face cream. I don’t know when to use sunscreen. Can it be applied along with face cream? Also, what is toner? When should it be used? SH A sunscreen should be used 20 minutes before going out in the sun. You can use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or 20. If your skin is oily, look for an oil-free product. A face cream does not have to be used along with a sunscreen, because most sunscreens are also moisturisers. A toner helps to close the pores and stimulate blood circulation to the skin surface. Use a skin toner after cleansing the face. The toner should be according to the skin type. Rose water is a natural skin toner. If you have an oily skin, use an astringenttoner. It will reduce oiliness and close the pores. Q. Please suggest a remedy to grow strong nails.

SH Warm some pure almond oil or olive oil. Soak the finger tips in

it for 10 minutes. Then massage the oil into the nails. Include adequate protein and calcium in your diet, like skimmed milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, egg, fish, sprouts. Follow a ten-day gelatin programme: dissolve one teaspoon gelatin in a little boiling water; cool the water and add it to fruit juice; have this daily for ten days.

Ask the beauty expert questions on skin, hair and beauty. The best question (picked by Shahnaz Husain) will receive a gift hamper from the Shahnaz Husain Group. Write to us at letters@fridaygurgaon.com

Cookery tips by Vijaylaxmi Masterchef

Baking tips Baking is not an easy task, unless you have good experience. Here are a few tips that will help make baking a cake easier. Take out all the ingredients from the refrigerator ½ hour before you start baking, so that they will be at room temperature. Grease your cake tins with butter, and dust with flour before baking. Always weigh the ingredients correctly. Don’t mix butter straight away. Fold the butter with your hands, and immediately transfer the butter to a baking dish. Bake as soon as possible. Once you’ve put the cake in the oven, don’t open the door until at least three-quarters of the baking time has passed. Let the cake cool properly, and only then start the process of icing.

14-20 September 2012

 Contd from p 1 Workers and trade union leaders are particularly unhappy with the manner in which the crisis at Maruti has been handled by the state government. It is being alleged that a criminal act committed by a group of individuals is being used by the management and state government to browbeat the workers. The workers are demanding a judicial inquiry into the incident so that the entire matter is investigated in a proper manner. B.D Pahuja, who has long been associated with the trade union movement in Gurgaon, says that most of the labour disputes in Gurgaon have taken place because of the failure of the labour officials to act. “The manner in which 546 workers have been sacked in Maruti is patently wrong, and this will create more trouble in future,” says Pahuja. There are at least 5 lakh industrial workers in and around Gurgaon, and most of them are living and working in pathetic conditions. The state has absolved itself of its duty to provide accommodation to industrial workers, as well as training, education, and medical facilities (like ESI hospitals), alleges Sarabjit Singh. A majority of the workers live in urbanised villages, where the living conditions are akin to slums; the cost of living has increased manifold, and eking out a livelihood is increasingly becoming difficult. The consistent failure of the labour department to implement labour laws – that include payment of wages on time, stopping misuse of contract labour, proper rest to workers, and improvement in living and working conditions is creating a situation where the workers are getting restive. The inability of the political leadership to punish the labour officials, and check rampant corruption in the department, has also added to the deteriorating work environment. The Minimum Wage Advisory Board has not been constituted for years, the workers do not get I-Cards, ESI cards, and there is an increasing number of contract workers. The Worker Welfare Boards have also been non-performing, and have siphoned off lakhs of rupees in the name of welfare activities, alleges S.K Yadav of INTUC. The violence in Maruti was a result of the pent-up frustration of workers, who failed to get any reliable concession from both the management and the government. As of now peace is being maintained using police pressure, and the workers are being harassed,” says Imran, a sacked worker, who was dismissed (among the 546 workers). The sacked workers and their families are going to hold a massive rally on September 21 in Gurgaon, says Imran. “We have the support of the trade unions as well as workers across Gurgaon and Manesar. This rally, for the first time, will see family members coming forward to protest,” he asserts. Earlier, on August 17, rep-

C over S tory 21

Real Jobs At Stake resentatives of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), CITU, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union (MUKU) held a rally in support of these workers. The sacked workers are demanding that the government stop the harassment of those who are innocent, and have not committed any crime in the factory. An open FIR has been registered against all 546 workers, whereby the police can pick and detain any of them without any question. “Some of the workers who were on leave on July 18, when the violence happened, have also been arrested,” says Imran. Anil Kumar, General Secretary, AITUC Gurgaon, says that resentment is brewing against the government, and the labour department in particular, for following antiworker policies. “All across the state, the workers are demanding a revision of minimum wages (that stand at Rs. 4,800), as in Delhi the minimum wage is Rs. 7,500. We have also been asking the government to put an end to the increasing ‘contractorisation’ of workforce, but nothing has moved in this direction,” he says. He further wants the company to reinstate the sacked workers, as they have been unjustly terminated. The current standoff is like the lull before a storm, says Kuldip Janghu, General Secretary, Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union, of Maruti’s Gurgaon plant. He also wants the government officials and managements to understand that workers have the right to form trade unions. “The labour department refuses to register a trade union in Haryana because the industrialists do not want this to happen. The Honda agitation, the Maruti standoff, the problems at RICO Auto took place because attempts were made to nip the trade unions in the bud,” says Janghu. The current scenario could become more complicated because neither the government nor the industry have been able to properly analyse the mood of the present day workers. Anil Kumar of AITUC says that workers these days are more educated, and aware of their rights. “Workers are ready to fight, and this will be a battle to the end,” warns Kumar, who has fought many such battles in

the past. Analysts observe that workers in Gurgaon - Manesar also come from a more affluent, and aggressive milieu, where violence is not considered an anathema, especially if one is provoked. A trade union leader says that he has been surprised by the readiness of workers to strike work, and their ability to take on powerful managements. Many workers say they want to be partners in the growth of industry. “We work hard and the company earns profits. Why should we not be given incentives? The minimum basic needs like shelter, medical facilities, training, and growth should be taken care of. The working conditions should be improved,” asserts a worker. Trade union leaders

admit that neither the government, nor they themselves, have been successful in creating an environment whereby Gurgaon could have peaceful industrial relations. Comrade Sarabjit Singh of CITU is particularly unhappy with the government for failing to ensure job security, social security or life security for the workers. The workers are being victimised through police pressure, court stays, and the inability of the labour department to deliver the goods, says Singh. The political and administrative leadership has failed to provide any solution to the worsening industrial environment in the state, he alleges. A joint delegation of trade unions had demanded time from the Chief Minister for a meeting on August 21, but nothing happened as the CM was busy. “The CM and the Labour Minister come to Gurgaon and meet FICCI, CII, GIA. But they do not have the time for trade unions and workers, who form the backbone of industry from Gurgaon to Bawal,” he says. The increasing trend of contract labour is also complicating matters as trade unions do not have much influence over them. The companies do not want to hire permanent workers in the entire industrial belt, because it is hard to fire them, and also more salaries have to be paid to them com-

pared to contract workers. S.K Yadav, General Secertary INTUC, says that their organisation has pleaded before the Prime Minister, as well as the Haryana government, to stop the spread of ‘contractisation’ of workers. “The contract workers are forced to work more, paid less salary, and given no benefits. This creates disharmony on the shop floor, and sometimes leads to violence,” he admits. Yadav also accuses the Hooda government of placating the industry, and welcoming investors at the cost of the workforce and even farmers. Land is being acquired and given to industry, but it is not ensured that farmers get jobs, education, and training, he alleges. With almost 90 per cent of the labour force coming from outside Gurgaon, the workers face further problems because they do not have ration cards and their names do not figure in the voter lists. “These people are non-existent both for the state and the politicians, and as such their problems do not figure in any list,” alleges Janghu. In this scenario, it seems the State government will have to handle the workers’ sensibilities in an intelligent manner, and ensure that bureaucratic red tape and intransigence does not lead to a point of no return. A large section of workers in Gurgaon is under ‘transformation’ as they become more united—and aggressive—in their intentions to secure their rights against what they believe is injustice. Sarabjit Singh alleges that industrial relations will be further spoiled if Gurgaon based auto majors start recruiting people from outside the state, while avoiding locals. He cites the instance of Maruti, which is holding interviews in Shimla, Chandigarh, Allahabad, Jaipur and Delhi, to recruit workers. The government and the management is allowing the problem to linger, so that it can later get it resolved on its own terms, allege union leaders. There are several companies in the Gurgaon-Manesar belt that are witnessing labour disputes, have locked out premises in violation of the law, have dismissed workers and union leaders – but no action has been taken against them, they allege. There is therefore simmering discontent and tension, which could lead to violence in future, they warn. B.D Pahuja says that workers in Gurgaon have not been able to secure their goals because they have allowed their fight to linger on. The first rule of trade unionism is to keep the fight short; secondly,

the negotiations should remain open and the route of talks should never close; thirdly, workers should avoid legal complications; last, the charter of demands should remain within the ambit of the financial status of the company, he opines. A related development, that is increasingly coming under the scanner of trade union leaders, is the role of some village elders who are stoking the fire of regionalism, in the garb of workers’ interest. Singh says that powerful real estate dealers, contractors and transporters are behind the move to create a wedge between the workers, so that they remain divided. The villagers have benefited in many ways from the workers staying in/around their area. “Workers from every part of the country have helped in the creation of Gurgaon and Manesar as industrial hubs, and no one will be allowed to break the working class in the name of regionalism,” asserts Singh. The trade unions are keeping a very close watch on the situation, as they find this as a good opportunity to revive their activities. They have not been a real force till now. A trade union leader says that with 90 per cent of the workers being on contract, the trade union movement has suffered badly. It is due to the decreasing influence of this movement that workers have been left in the lurch and directionless, he opines. The trade unions acted as a valve, and diffused the tension among the workers and the management whenever there was industrial trouble. But now the non-existent unions, and those in truck with managements, have neutralised this safety valve, thus leading to violent outbursts – as have happened in Maruti and Orient Craft in Gurgaon, say observers. Gurcharan Das, former CEO of Procter and Gamble, and now a columnist, writes on his blog that labour trouble is a vital concern for the state. Haryana has not learned this lesson. It destroyed the vibrant industrial town of Faridabad due to poor industrial relations, and it is now bent on scaring industry away from Gurgaon as well. The Maruti incident teaches that India needs an effective State. An alert police could have prevented the tragedy. Rational labour laws would have stopped Maruti from hiring contract workers, whose status and benefits are at the root of the worker unrest. It is thus clear that Gurgaon, which has become a symbol of shining India will have to look for answers from within. All the stakeholders will have to look beyond their short terms interests, to ensure that tensions are defused, and common sense prevails, so that the Millennium City remains an industrial destination of choice. Lessons from West Bengal, Mumbai, and Faridabad should not be forgotten, if Haryana has to continue its growth story, avers S.K Yadav of INTUC. u

14-20 September 2012

G lobal

A Hairy Business { Peter Janssen / Yangon / DPA }

in April. Buddhist nuns, like male monks, are required to shave their hin May Phyo, 18, fights back tears as heads upon taking their vows. Long hair is still popular in Myanshe bickers with the barber over the length of her hair. “If you want to mar, a country that has been relatively make 20,000 kyat (23 dollars), then it has isolated from Western culture for the to be cut here,” says Kay Aye Mon, signal- past five decades – first, by the xenopholing the base of her neck. “But if you only bic policies of former military strongman want 18,000 kyat, we will cut it here,” the Ne Win, who ruled from 1962 to 1988; and barber says, going 4 centimetres lower. thereafter, by Western economic sanctions, that were only eased “Can’t I get 20,000 kyat, and keep it Lynn Bo Bo this year. a bit longer?” Khin According to May Phyo asks, Myanmar love lore, while trying to hair tops the list maintain her waistof the five key atlength hair and her tributes of female composure. She beauty. The others ends up settling for are fleshiness, fair 18,000 kyat. skin, good bone In Myanmar— structure and elwhere a fourth of the egance. Given the population of 60 milaesthetic value lion people lives below Khin May Phyo, 18, getting a 20-dollar placed on beautiful, a poverty line of 1.35 haircut. long hair, and Buddollars a day, and access to micro-financing is minimal—get- dhism’s preachings against vanity, ting a haircut has long been a popular cutting one’s hair to raise money for a way for women to raise cash. The hair pagoda donation has long been a comis sold to wig factories in Yangon and mon practice among women. But for Mandalay, that export the finished most women, selling their hair is just a products to the better-off but similarly question of necessity. “I need the money dark-haired populations of China, In- to buy milk formula for my baby,” says Myo Thwin, 22, whose husband makes dia, Pakistan and Singapore. The price offered for Myanmar hair 4,000 kyat a day as a construction worker has been on the rise in recent years, as in Yangon. In fact, down at Insein Market, the ecoMyanmar’s neighbours become more prosperous, says Pho Khwer, 22, a hair nomic reforms introduced by President “harvester” at Insein Market in Yan- Thein Sein since he took office in March gon, where there are seven hair-buying last year, have had little impact on the shops. “We usually get 10 sellers a day; hair business – or life in general. A few but on the weekend, it goes up to 20 to 30. people have nice cars and houses, but we During the Water Festival we get even can’t have those things,” says an Insein more, because many women become hair buyer, Kay Aye Mon. “For most peonuns,” he says, referring to the tradi- ple, nothing has changed, but we are hoptional Myanmar New Year, celebrated ing for change in the future.” u

Basra, Bombay and Baghdad { Saad Sammak / Basra, Iraq / DPA }

the 20th century, Basra was home to several hundred Indians, and their numbers he Indian Market in this southern rose to about 1,000 by the end of World Iraqi port city, is Umm Ibrahim’s War I. “The Indians gradually left the favourite haunt. The 74-year-old en- country, and now there is no trace of joys the chance it gives her to relive past, them,” says Hassan. Umm Ibrahim is among those who safer times – when tourists and foreign loyally make their way workers thronged to to the half-dozen shops Basra, her hometown. that still sell Indian In the crowded algoods. “I’m not so keen leys of the market beon buying ground spices side the Ashar river, with fancy packaging the distinctive aroma from big Asian compaof Indian spices still nies,” she says. “I prepervades, despite the fer the spices in the changes – with many Indian Market. The stores now selling pertraders here learned fumes, beauty products how to mix them from and clothes. Basra may be best known as the cen- the Indians, who were here before tre of the country’s oil industry, but its them,” she says, as she navigates the vibrant markets were the older and first market’s narrow streets. “They were attraction. The Friday market, vegetable in Basra for more than 100 years, and market, fish market, perfumers’ market we picked up the habit of using their - each has its speciality and its regular spices in our cooking,” Ibrahim adds. The Indian Market is still considered customers. The Indian Market owes its name to the Indian spice merchants who one of the main attractions of Basra, and no visitor can leave the city withfirst established it, as Hassan, 80, one of the market’s oldest traders, explains. out spending a few hours there. “We “The Indians founded the market, and used to take pride in how everything it ended up being called after them. here was from India,” one trader reThey were famous for selling spices calls. “Whenever we were giving presents to relatives from other provinces, it and incense,” he says. Basra’s trading links with India devel- would be something from the Indian Maroped in the 19th century, historian Reidar ket - things you could not get anywhere Visser notes, as the age of steam facilitat- else,” he adds. The Indian businessed seaborne trade. “According to a com- men and traders who made the marmon saying, Bombay and Baghdad ket famous are long gone. The war had become equidistant from Basra with Iran in the 1980s, when Basra after the introduction of the steam- became a battlefield, drove away the last of them. u ship,” Visser writes. In the early years of

Arnault To Sue Newspaper

{ Clare Byrne / Paris / DPA }

rench luxury goods boss, Bernard Arnault, plans to sue Liberation over a front-page headline, in which the left-wing newspaper told him to “Get lost, you rich idiot.” Liberation was reacting to Arnault’s plans to seek dual Franco-Belgian citizenship, a move that has been widely linked to the government’s plans for a new top income tax rate of 75 per cent. The headline was a play on an infamous line by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, a friend of Arnault’s – who once ordered a man who refused to shake his hand to “Get lost, you poor idiot.” In a statement, the head of LVMH—a group that includes Christian Dior fashion house and Louis Vuitton handbags—said he would sue Liberation for public insult. Arnault is France’s richest man. He has denied any link between his Belgian citizenship application and his tax liability, saying he will continue to pay French taxes. u

Dangers of Dependency

{ Eva Neumann / Hamburg / DPA }

ouples are bound by so many important things—houses, children, money—that dependency is sometimes inevitable in a relationship; but couples can avoid it by regularly evaluating where they stand, and considering what their lives would be like without one another. The word dependency conjures up addiction to something powerful—such as drugs, nicotine or alcohol—but it applies to relationships as well. It can cause a problem when one partner is suddenly alone because of a separation, an accident or illness. It’s also important, experts say, to be able to recognize a dependency problem as early as possible. At a basic level, dependency is often financial in nature. Until only a few decades ago, women were almost always financially dependent on their husbands, because they usually didn’t pursue work. They kept themselves busy raising children, and taking care of their husbands and households. Limited educational opportunities, and inheritance laws that favoured men, were two factors that contributed to the dependency, says Andreas Klocke, a Professor of Sociology at a college in Frankfurt. “There are also many relationships in which the two partners are variably dependent on one another,” says Walter Roscher of the German Professional Association of Psychologists in Berlin. “For example, the couple buys or builds a house and the mortgage must be paid. Neither one would be able to make the payments alone.” Material dependency is easy to recognize and often unavoidable. Many partners aren’t even conscious of it, therefore, they must discuss it, advises Roland Kachler, Director of a Counselling service in Germany. Another category of dependence stems from gender roles, that can play a part in relationships. There often are gender specific jobs: he is responsible for car repair and insurance, for example, while she looks after the household and the children, Klocke says. Each takes on the jobs that he or she does best, and relieves the other partner of those tasks. However, the more singularly one partner manages his or her affairs, the more difficult it is for the other partner to do them, in the event of a separation or accident. It’s important to talk about the division of responsibilities at the beginning of a relationship. Couples should regularly evaluate who takes care of what, and whether the arrangement should be reorganized. The alternative is to become acquainted with the tasks the other partner does, and to begin working together on jobs such as cooking and filling out the annual tax declaration. The third level of dependency is emotional dependency. “It is entirely normal and belongs to the nature of a relationship that partners are alternatively dependent on one another,” says Kachler. As long as both partners have the assurance and the trust that they are not dependent on the recognition of the other, then alternating dependency can have a stabilizing effect on a relationship. What must not arise is the feeling that one of the partners rules over the other or makes the other feel inferior. u

14-20 September 2012

Oktoberfest Styles { Tina Nachtmann / Munich / DPA }

hen the Oktoberfest opens in Munich in southern Germany, people start dressing in traditional Bavarian attire – the women in dirndls (an Alpine peasant woman’s dress), and the men in lederhosen. This year the trend is traditional. Designers might have experimented with popular patterns—such as the skull-andcrossbones and cartoon characters—but it seems most Oktoberfest guests prefer to stick with tradition. “People who don’t wear traditional clothing while

visiting the Oktoberfest stand out,” says Nina Munz, a spokeswoman for Angermaier, a maker of dirndls and other traditional clothing. “More young people are getting into the fun of wearing traditional clothing,” adds Gabriele Hammerschick, Director of the traditional clothing department at Lodenfrey, in Munich. This year, with classic tailoring in style, Munich designer Lola Paltinger made her current collection a mixture of glamour and tradition. “That’s really nice because the person who wears the garment comes to the fore,” says Hammerschick. A traditional dirndl’s length

is between the knee and the calf. The apron should fall to about 2 centimetres over the hemline, and the bodice usually has a low-cut neckline. Tacky styles, such as aprons in Asian tailoring, are out, says Alois Wenger, owner of a traditional clothing maker in Salzburg, Austria. The current looks are plainer, and often in a colour that contrasts with the dress. Many aprons are reversible. A new development are petticoats that give the skirt more lift, says Munz. They also come in colours or prints, but they are not meant to peek out from under the skirt, says Hammerschick. Most dirndls are made from linen or cotton. However, there are variations made from brocade or silk, satin and jacquard. Some aprons include lace. The blouses worn under the dirndl are usually made of cotton; silk and organza also are gaining in popularity. To make them more eye-catching, the blouses are sometimes embroidered. Popular colours include the classics - navy blue, rose, forest green and black. However, there are many in red, orange, green, blue, pink and yellow. The berry and pastel colours that were popular last year are still in style. Even nude tones are included in some collections. “An absolute must for women this year is a hat with a feather,” says Munz. Hats are being offered in classic colours as well as flashy colours – such as red and pink. Paltinger recommends women also wear a choker and earrings. Hammerschick says women who wear earrings should not wear a necklace. Munz favours chains that lace up the front of the dirndl, and attach with hooks to an eyelet sewn onto the bodice. For shoes he recommends ballerina shoes, pumps or high heels in the same

G lobal 23 colour as the dirndl. While dirndls this season are longer, lederhosen are shorter. “The short variety are especially popular, particularly among young guys,” says Alexander Negovanovic, of the men’s traditional clothing department in Lodenfrey. Lederhosen this year come distressed, meaning signs of wear have been artificially added to the clothing. More showy styles have colourful embroidery, and men can choose from a variety of shirts, typically in a check pattern and in many colours. u

Tablets R Us { Andy Goldberg / San Francisco/ DPA }

S toy giant, Toys R Us, is getting into the burgeoning market for tablet computers, with a new device aimed squarely at kids. The Tabeo will sell for 149 dollars, featuring a 7-inch screen, and a pre-installed package of 50 free games and activities for children. The tablet runs on Google’s Android 4.0 operating system, and is equipped with wi-fi – but no cellular connection. A set of parental controls will help keep young eyes away from inappropriate web sites. The Tabeo will begin shipping on October 1. The Tabeo is not the first tablet aimed at the children’s market, but it could appeal to parents who don’t want to share their own tablets with their offspring, analysts say. The announcement of the new tablet comes as the market for the touch-screen mobile computers is heating up, with the launch of four new devices from web retailer Amazon; and the expected introduction of tablets running Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system, before the start of the holiday shopping season. Apple’s iPad still dominates US tablet sales, but is coming under increasing pressure from Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets, as well as Google’s Nexus. u

1. I am sick. - Wo Bing Le

Wo – ‘that’ in Hindi Bing – sing, with a P Le – the sound of the alphabet L, in Hindi

2. I need a doctor.- Wo Yao Daifu

Yao – ya+O (sound of the alphabet ‘O’) Dai – soft ta, as in tara(‘star’ in Hindi)+A (sound of the alphabet ‘A’) Fu- as in foo

3. Please call an ambulance.- Qing Jiao Jiu Hu Che

{ Kathmandu / DPA }

Qing – ching (ch as in chhatri, ‘umbrella’ in Hindi) Jiao – chi (sound as in chicken)+ aa (as in ‘come’ in Hindi) + O (sound of the alphabet ‘O’) Jiu – chi (sound as in chicken) + O (sound of the alphabet ‘O’) Che – only sound of ch, as in chhatri, ‘umbrella’ in Hindi)

4. Where is the nearest hospital?- Zui Jin De Yiyuan Zai Nar?

Nepal-Israel ‘Stamp’ Ties epal and Israel have jointly launched a commemorative stamp, featuring the highest point on earth – Mount Everest, and the lowest – the Dead Sea, to celebrate bilateral ties. The stamps were released in simultaneous functions in Kathmandu and Jerusalem. The idea of bringing together the two extremes was conceived in Israel. “We were thinking about the subject of the stamp, and because I had been to Nepal and seen the mountains, I decided we should have Mount Everest and the Dead Sea on it,” said Yaron Razon, Director of Israel’s Philatelic Services. The governments have hailed it as a marker of their longstanding relationship. “Nepal was one of first Asian countries to recognize the state of Israel, when it came into existence 64 years ago,” said Hanan Goder Goldberger, the Israeli Ambassador to Nepal. “And we have never forgotten that friendship.” Israel has launched joint stamps with 15 other countries – including France, Canada, Austria, China and The Vatican. For Nepal, it is the first such venture. The stamps are priced at thirty-five Nepali rupees, and five shekels in Israel. Nepal is one of the most popular travelling destinations for Israelis – who like to go trekking in the mountains. u

Zui – as in Zoo+ ooyi Jin – chi (sound as in chicken)+ in De - de, as in the sound of ‘da’ in daftar, ‘office’ in Hindi Yiyuan – E (sound of the alphabet ‘E’)+ U ( sound of the alphabet U) + an , as in the article an, in English By Gautam Arora For Chinese Classes, log on to: www.chinesedelhi.co.in

14-20 September 2012

G -scape

Gg 360

prakhar pandEy