Blink issue 40 november01 2014

YES SIR! Devendra Fadnavis might have politics in his genes. But has he been chosen as chief minister for his compliance p5 saturday, november 1, 2014

Ctrl + Shift + End Despite centuries of medical advances and scientific progress, death remains the ultimate mystery. The inevitable chasm we must fall through, often in slow motion. Yet, we are now engaging with it, not from a distance, but with agency and free will p9

BREAKING FREE A crop of South Indian directors are making the cliché passé with their innovative films p16

THULASI KAKKAT

BITE OF THE BIG APPLE Chef Kunal Kapoor trains his camera on New York’s many edible delights p20

know explore

BL BL 222

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

More than brooms Sure, the government needs public-private partnerships for its cleanliness drive. But given the historical inequities in the sanitation sector, it also needs to provide regulation

Shadows speak Jules Janssen captures the transit of Venus in Nagasaki, Japan (1874)

THE COMPASS CHRONICLES

Celestial cinema

The unexpected ways in which colonial astronomy gave birth to motion picture

Right to refuse Most cities encroach on rural and outlying areas to dump solid waste, leading to angry backlashes. At this landfill site in Guwahati, a young ragpicker looks for recyclable material as greater adjutant storks sit on a mound of garbage ap/anupam nath

rohit gupta

K P

ND-X _ A

ing Mongkut of Siam, also known as Rama IV of what is now Thailand, accurately predicted the total solar eclipse of August 18, 1868 that passed through India and southeast Asia, to the general acclaim of European astronomers. rime Minister Narendra Modi’s It was already known 1860 that Swachh Bharatby mission has different captured chemicalthe elements off distinctly colnationalgave imagination.

Financial oured flames when subjected Bunsen buradvisors are betting to onathe stocks of ner.

So Gustav Kirchhoff, in 1859, decided to ceramic sanitaryware companies.

Wellstudy the gases surrounding theappearing Sun during groomed men and women are in an eclipse, using the same logic.At long last, Ingroup photos, broom in hand.

A new instrument wouldthat be aimed the dians abroad are hopeful the onefor thing first time upon the eclipse — these a spectroscope, they’ve been ashamed of all years, the which would break down the will peripheral light ‘open defecation’ back home, be banished of the Sun into its constituent revealfinally.

It has been a while sincecolours, an Indian poliing thehas composition thehas sun’s atmosphere. tician given a callofthat resonated at so For this purpose, several teams of British and many levels.

French astronomers wereconcerned dispatched across Indian policy has been about the the path of totality, thedecades eclips‘unwashed masses’the forjourney nearly that three e’s shadow on the Earth’s surface.

The now — frommakes the community rural sanitation first total eclipse sinceand Kirchhoff’s this programme of 1986 the Totaltheory, Sanitation would also of be1999 the to first toBharat see a wideCampaign theeclipse Nirmal Abhispread use ofItphotography. yan of 2012. will clearly take more than morTennant, a soldier had fought al James force and aspiration forwho Swachh Bharat in to the 1857 battle forlegacy independence with the Benbreak free of the of these programmes. gal Engineers, had already worked with the It brings to attention questions of governance Great Trigonometrical Survey After (one all, of sanithe and social justice in sanitation. greatest pritation isscientific not just aexpeditions moral value.ofItits is time, business, marily to mapneeds India, but an ulterior motive and business acumen. wasCommentators to measure the curvature of the Earththe at have rightly pinpointed the tropics), and was now an financial outlays needed — astronomer. an estimatedTen₹2 nant began alerting the community to the lakh too crore divided 2:1 between rural and urcelestial event, according which would lastUnion only six minban segments, to the Governutes.

Pierre Jules Jansment.The It isFrench hopedastronomer that state governments will sen stationed less than a contribute 25 himself per centin of Guntur, this, besides generkilometre away from Tennant.

Norman ous contributions from corporate socialPogreson positioned at the Madras Observsponsibility.

A himself close reading shows that the atory.

A priest with Johnaspects Sharp commentaries havePogson focusedcalled on three described scene thus,(health “Aboutimprovement a dozen cows — positivethe externalities and in in theparticular), compoundbackward stopped and calves infant feeding mortality, grazing the totality came and on, and hurried to linkagesas(sanitary fixtures construction) the as at evening; but as theeffort). light returnandgate public morality (voluntary ed There they again dispersed over the field and beis little on sanitation infrastructure,

gan to graze as before.” subjective human observer from this equaThe events that unfolded after the eclipse tion and replace it with a rapid, clockwork were completely unexpected. An entirely new camera that could “shoot” almost one photochemical element was being observed in the graph per second. “It is the Sun itself that relight from the Sun. Biman B Nath describes it cords its transit… [and] …the stars shall problem forregister thousands of urbanising rural arin his excellent book Storydisposal, of Heliummuniciand the henceforth including toilets andThe sewage themselves,” emerged as eas, butof several local bodies have been Birth of Astrophysics.

Nath argues that Pogson pal solid-waste management, and caste and slogans a newurban astronomy. their waste problems onto rural arand not Janssen (asconditions. commonlyEach stated) was the sanitation labour of these re- displacing The reception of Janssen’s method was far eas. Most citiesand are many locating landfills in rural first discern afailure signature that hadand never flectsto a profound of governance so- from cordial, debates simmered areas with impunity.

This unequal been observed fromsystems. an element on earth. He around cial justice delivery it. Historian of science JimenadistribuCanales tion of“For the most costs scientists of sanitation has already led writes: drama discovery of has he- writes, Both“The in rural andaround urban the areas, the focus Janssen’s successes to agitations in several cities including Bangalium did not the events of the 1868 with for long beenend onwith individual toilets.

Various his revolver — although spectacular — lore and Hyderabad. solar eclipse; this wasadopted only theto beginning.

Af- were methods have been coax houseillusory.

The debate over chronophotogterwards, for three decades, scientistsforwonholds to install private toilets. Reasons per- raphy’s claims to truth and the value of the soaction quickly moved dered astronomers hadrange got it from cultural Perverse affirmative sistingif open defecation lar parallax Finally, anbeyond overwhelming majority of the all wronglocal because they could barriers, corruption and apathy at highthe confines of astronoIndian citiesofbelong never find helium on Earth. Insuch as barring sanitation workers er levels to systemic problems my andacross into the domain phystoilet owners poverty-related to the former castes. Thisfailure is true fact, Dmitrifrom Mendeleev, the entitlements. ics.untouchable In light of astronomy’s The events that However, it ischemist clear that both whether in sewage disposal or in most famous atinthat to establish a single, reputable unfolded after the ruraland andthe urban areas, access municipal managetime person behind theto value for thesolid solarwaste parallax, a new eclipse were toilets istable largely a matter of ment. has beenwith the onperiodic of elements, dis-acrole forSanitation physics emerged reunexpected cess to adequate housing.

It is a ly sector in which positive missed the idea of this elusive spect to precision measurements fact thatcalled those helium.” without housing, Sanitation is not just — discrimination in employment element in particular, regarding the dea moral value. It is without secure tenure, has virtually of lostthe all speed meaning.

In the aensuing decades,have Jans-no termination of business, and access to toilets. urban with areas, Most cities in India began outsen became more In involved light.” business the problem isAscompounded sourcing sanitation in the photography.

Samuel Coltby Improvements to work the Janssen lack inspired of access to workplac-design needs mid 1990s sohands muchof soother that today, was forsecure his revolver’s while acumen camera continued in the innoes, which aresults lack during of secure thirds watching ship’sin wheel a voyage from vators acrossover the two world, such of as sanitation Eadweard access to Calcutta toilets and health costs was now in- James Muybridge, workersThomas in Indian cities are either Boston in 1830, Janssen Edison, Étienneat the by household level.

Interestcasual workers spired the widely used Colt revolver. His Jules Marey and others.

Oneorofself theemployed. first films ingly,astronomical this crisis is not unique India. Even in by IfThe theLumière goals ofbrothers the Swachh mission new camera orto“photographic (1895)Bharat contains footNorth America, lack of to access to end public toilets are of to Janssen be accomplished through public-prirevolver” was intended put an to the de- age himself disembarking from a is a hazard for thousands who spend boat vate partnerships as announced, then the govbate surrounding the sizeof ofpeople the solar system. to attend an event in their honour. much their lives on the streets. ernment nature One of method of determining the distance to Heliumshould wouldseriously later be examine used in athe different the Indian economy, street is the of theofrevenue models—and incentive structurtheInSun was the rare event of the Venus passing in kind photography magnetic resonance workplace place) a large numes. No doubt government cannot make front of the(and Sun.resting Depending onfor where you are imaging (MRI)the to cool the superconducting berEarth of people.

Adequateor sanitation available the resources on its own.

But on — the Antarctic Siberia —infrastructhe plane- magnets.

There is nowentirely widespread concern ture calls for publicagainst investments.

Without that one input it is ahelium must: regulation.

This t’s apparent position the background all thefrom terrestrial will eventually these,disc people are forced street means statutory for context-sensitive solar changes.

This to is either knownuse as the solar pa- escape from the backing earth’s atmosphere, just as to relieve themselves or withhold and pay Janssen design, flew and operation manuals and rallax.

It had been troublesome in centuries from the siege of Paris incodes 1870 infor a with their health and productivity. governance structures. prior for astronomers scattered across the hot air balloon to catch an eclipse of the Sun. Also, is the assumed globe tosolid agreewaste on themanagement exact moment planexplores the science as and anantgupta maringanti is anhistory urbanofgeographer to Venus be an urban Butitsit’stransit increasingly et began problem. and ended across rohit t@fadesingh director of Hyderabad Urban Lab clear thatdisc. not Janssen only is decided solid waste a looming the solar to remove the Compasswallah

Q Q R R

3

BL

know

saturday, november 1, 2014

Ebola and India Why we should worry, and what we can do, if the deadly virus reaches our shores

Masked fighters Health workers in protective gear battle Ebola at the World Health Organisation centre in the Liberian capital, Monrovia afp/pascal guyot

E

bola outbreaks are not new to our world. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ebola outbreaks have been occurring since 1976 and exclusively in Africa. However, the current outbreak in West Africa is by far the largest since 1976; there have been more cases and deaths (the toll is 4,500 currently) in this outbreak than all others combined. The affected countries in Africa include Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal — all lowincome countries with weak health systems and disease surveillance.

The frightening things about this disease are its high case fatality (varies between 25 and 90 per cent, according to the WHO) and that there is no known cure for this virus. That Ebola arrived in the US, a wealthy country that had taken considerable precautions to prevent exactly such an incident from taking place, raises concerns about how countries like India, with weak health systems and disease control mechanisms, will deal with this deadly virus.

Can Ebola reach India? So far there has been no reported case of the disease here. Moreover, predictions based on flight patterns made by researchers at Northeastern University, US, indicate that India has a low risk of importing a case of Ebola. Of course the virus could land in the country, and as this epidemic continues, the risk of this progressively increases. Ebola cases that have spread outside Africa have made this journey through passengers taking flights from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa. While transport links between India and West Africa are limited, the virus can travel through a third country. More-

over, there are fairly large Indian communi- now associated with Ebola, the willingness of ties living in these countries of West Africa, health workers in India to care for Ebola paand if the situation there worsens considera- tients will be tested. Indeed, there is an imporbly, one could expect them to return to India. tant need for sensitising health workers to So health authorities here need to be vigilant, this virus. and recognise that at some time, whether durWhile the Ebola epidemic still rages, there ing this epidemic or the next ones, sporadic have been some successes in the fight to concases are likely to appear in India. The chal- tain the disease. For one, in the US it appears to lenge, of course, will be to make sure that have been contained, though fears over the these sporadic cases are contained and do not disease led to the quarantine of a nurse who spread in the general population. worked with Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, Concerns over Ebola reaching Indian shores even though she tested negative for Ebola and have motivated the government was asymptomatic. This is espeto take several steps to prevent it cially counterproductive when from spreading. Active screenthe most important way to proing of passengers at internationtect people around the world is al airports is underway. to stop the epidemic in West AfriPredictions based on Hospitals in major cities have ca. More pertinent for India’s sitflight patterns been identified for referring sus- indicate that India has uation, Nigeria appears to have pected Ebola cases for investigasuccessfully eliminated Ebola. Its a low risk of tion. Further, laboratories for government took several critical importing a case testing the virus have also been steps — it was prepared for the viof Ebola designated. Health workers rus and trained healthcare workneed to have a high index of susers on how to manage the picion for people with fever disease. It widely disseminated from Ebola-affected countries, information about the virus and as also the training and proper equipment, preventive measures; and, declared a health and follow precautions to safely screen and emergency when the first Ebola case was idencare for patients. If, however, the virus manag- tified. This enabled the Health Ministry to ores to evade these checks and reaches the gen- ganise the Ebola Emergency Operations eral population, then health authorities in Center, a group of public health experts. Such India could have a significant problem on measures hold important lessons for India as their hands. The dense population of our ci- it prepares to tackle this deadly virus. ties, the poor sanitation, weak health infrastructure and surveillance systems provide the krishna d rao is an assistant professor (Health perfect recipe for a full-blown epidemic. It will Systems Program) and prof david h peters is the be particularly problematic if the virus lands chairman of the Department of International Health, in urban slums. Further, given the fear that is John Hopkins University, Maryland

Q R

takeaway know

BL BL 204

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

Twister in the tale The damaged roof of the airport terminal in Visakhapatnam after Cyclone Hudhud battered the city on October 12 afp/andhra

pradesh state government

I SPY

New York times Kunal Kapoor, of Masterchef India fame and executive sous chef at The Leela, Gurgaon, takes a bite of the Big Apple 6.30am Jumpstarting my (every) day

8.00am Window shopping for Halloween

7.00am Early morning call for a yellow cab

7.30am You’ve got a fast car, I want a ticket to anywhere

8.30am Heading towards the iconic Brooklyn Bridge to catch a ferry to the Statue of Liberty

Rising against the elements Cyclone-wrecked Visakhapatnam rallies its forces together to build a renewed city

T

ND-X _ A

hose who love it have constantly referred to it as “a city of destiny” — namely, one singled out for great things during the next two to three decades. And Visakhapatnam — the scenic seaside pride of Andhra Pradesh — more than lived up to its glorious reputation, until, that is, cyclone Hudhud dealt it a body blow this October 12.

The timing couldn’t have been worse: with the separation of Telangana it is the largest and fastest-growing city in the truncated Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone picked for its landfall AP’s sole major industrial centre replete with the Visakhapatnam steel plant, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, BHEL, HPCL refinery and the Visakhapatnam port in the public sector and several IT companies, pharma companies and the Gangavaram port in the private sector.

These industrial assets have suffered irreparable damage and cannot resume production anytime soon. According to one estimate, the total loss suffered by the local industry is in the range of ₹10,000 crore.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu su1.00pm A shoot during lunch at Michelin-starred Tulsipervised downtownrelief operations for more than a week and claimed a loss of ₹40,000 crore across the three north-coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.

“Fortunately, we have reduced casualties to the minimum by taking up massive evacuation and alerting the people about the cyclone. The number of casualties may be 40-50 in the three districts,” he said.

The city’s green cover couldn’t escape the fury of the elements, and residents no longer recognise this battered landscape. Trees across the city and on the surrounding hills were uprooted and popular tourist destinations, such as Kailasagiri, have taken on a grim and grotesque appearance.

The fisheries sector is in a crisis as more not enough if the government provides just than 500 boats were damaged totally or par- 25kg of rice and a few kilograms of essentials. tially, leaving the fisherfolk jobless. “We need The impact is long-lasting and the livelihood loans to buy fresh gear and financial support issue should be addressed in earnest and for a few months until we can stand on our soon,” she said. feet again,” says Arjili Das, a community leader The city has been brought to its knees, but 11.00am Reborn — the World Trade in the Peda Jalaripeta fishing hamlet. the Center chief minister chose to put on a brave face now stands tall as Freedom Tower PC Appa Rao, president of the AP Mecha- to inspire confidence and revitalise the inhabnised Fishing Boat Operators’ Association, itants to the task of rebuilding. “It is only a says not even a single boat has escaped dam- temporary setback. Most of the great cities in age in the fishing harbour and “unless the gov- the world are on sea-coasts. We will rebuild ernment comes to our rescue, it is impossible the city using appropriate technologies and for us to survive. The position of the tradition- make it as cyclone-proof as possible. We will al fishermen is worse.” not let the brand image of the Chaganti Sasikala runs a small city suffer,” he said. Prime Minisbusiness supplying hometer Narendra Modi visited the cooked food at Seethammadhacity and announced a relief packIt is only a ra. After the cyclone, there was a age of ₹1,000 crore, besides temporary setback. scarcity of essentials and “a promising all help to rebuild ViMost great cities huge demand for prepared food. sakhapatnam as a smart city. are on We couldn’t meet the demand.

Schools, industrial units, sea-coasts We are slowly regaining normalNGOs and other sections of sociecy,” she says. ty have undertaken a massive At the small paper-bag unit campaign — Green Vizag — to re3.30pm Evening shot the — coming New York and owned by V Kamakshi, a paper generate city’s to greenery.

1.30pm Never too farheld from home (or chaat) not queueing As up atrebuilding Starbucks is agathers sin consignment was up and pace, some stock was damaged. “We need loans at there is greater awareness about the approprilow interest rates to normalise our oper- ate technologies and materials to be used in ations,” she says. the coastal areas, where corrosion is an everThe Visakhapatnam Co-operative Urban present hazard. The loss of natural habitats Bank has come forward to offer loans at slight- such as mangroves has also proved costly, robly lower interest rates to help small businesses bing the interior areas of their natural buffer get back on their feet. “We will open a zero-bal- against the marauding cyclone. ance account and immediately offer a loan of The state government has announced it will ₹5,000 to any small-time vendor who furnish- lay underground cables for the city’s power es a proof of residence,” says Ch Raghavendra transmission and telecommunications netRao, the chairman of the bank. work. The emphasis will be on building a Noted activist Medha Patkar visited the cy- clean and green Vizag, says G Srinivasa Rao, clone-hit slum areas of the city and urged the the HRD minister. government to implement the food-for-work scheme for the marginalised sections. “It is ch r sarma

Q R

5

BL

meet

saturday, november 1, 2014

Modi is known to have strong reservations (perhaps jealousy or competitive rivalry) about Gadkari. Yet another reason for his qualms was that Gadkari had brought Sanjay Joshi, Modi’s bête noire, into the organisation.

Modi had threatened to boycott a BJP convention in Ahmedabad if Joshi was not thrown out. Gadkari had to oblige. Modi won the intra-party duel. This was much before the Gujarat election in December 2012, which launched Modi for prime ministership.

Therefore, there was no ‘race’ between Gadkari and Fadnavis. Modi could not have chosen Gadkari, who thought of himself as the ‘original development man’. Modi could not have created a parallel power centre. The chief minister of Maharashtra, by virtue of being in Mumbai, is automatically part of the corporate world. Gadkari is savvy with the wheelingdealings of the stock market and the business community. That itself is seen by the ModiShah duo as a threat to their desire to control all levers of power across the country.

At arm’s length Nitin Gadkari (left) and Devendra Fadnavis (centre) at a Vijay Dashami function at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur last month pti

A

long with law, Fadnavis has completed a course in business management. But everybody knows that academic knowledge of business management has absolutely nothing in common with actual business practices. Fadnavis will depend heavily on Delhi (read Modi/PMO) for most decisions regarding investment or the development of Mumbai. It is a complex web of decision-making. Mumbai’s corporation is jointly controlled by Shiv Sena and BJP. Today, even if they form a ruling alliance at the state level, the relationship is so badly soured that both parties will look at each other with suspicion. The Sena leadership is paranoid and in panic that the BJP wants to swallow it.

It is a four-tier political structure and all these tiers are often mutually exclusive. The Zilla Parishads are in the hands of the NCP or Congress. All rural institutions, from banks to colleges, are in their hands. The corporations are controlled by Shiv Sena, MNS, Congress and NCP. The so-called Congress System operates at the local levels. The state will be run by a minority BJP government and the central mayor of the city, one of the youngest in India. government by Modi (not BJP really). There is a Having studied law, he is able to articulate his huge disconnect as it is between the NCP, Constand on most issues in a studious manner gress, BJP and Sena. Fadnavis will have to masand often eloquently. Known for his rather ter the trapeze act to manage this horrendous soft and accommodative nature, he has been system. It is neither a question of experience able to make friends across the political spec- nor of being well-meaning and clean. Even a trum. But that also makes him far too “obedi- classical Maratha like Prithviraj Chavan, with ently yours” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. blessings and support from Delhi, could not Indeed, that is the main reason why he has cope with the skulduggery in the state.

For Fadnavis, the governance will be a chalbeen chosen for the post. lenge on two counts. His ministers have harditin Gadkari was minister ly any roots in the dry lands of in the Shiv Sena-BJP governsouth Maharashtra. And the ‘wild ment in 1995. At that time Modi west’ that is the notorious westwas not even on Gujarat’s politiern Maharashtra, which is run by Even a classical cal horizon. Gadkari was very the neo-rich rural and feudal satMaratha like Prithviclose to the late Balasaheb raps who are beyond the political raj Chavan couldn’t Thackeray. In fact, in one of his reach of the BJP. It is here that cope with the skulleffusive moments, Balasaheb Fadnavis will need the NCP assistduggery in the state even said he would have made ance, and the NCP will require Nitin Gadkari chief minister, protection and patronage from over and above Shiv Sena leadthe government. However, the reers. Gadkari had implemented bellious, aspirant, unhinged and Balasaheb’s dream project, the Mumbai-Pune unemployed lumpen youth can’t be straightExpressway, in record time and at a relatively jacketed by any government. They provided low cost. Known for being involved with small audacious energy to social media, going on an and medium industrial projects in Vidarbha, online rampage during the Modi campaign. and promoting innovation, he is directly asso- They were the cheerleaders who raised Modiciated with ‘development’, the Modi Mantra.

Modi-Modi slogans. But the political fire-briSo the idea of becoming CM was injected in gade of Fadnavis will find it difficult to control his psyche much before Modi became the CM the inferno of this youth brigade. Unfulfilled of Gujarat. Gadkari was also close to Atal Biha- aspirations can lead to anger, and frustrations ri Vajpayee. Also, with roots in Nagpur, he has can lead to fierce violence. The seeds of that direct access and blessings of the RSS. He was kind of anarchy are everywhere. the choice of Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagkumar ketkar is a senior journalist and author wat to be the president of the BJP.

Obediently yours Maharashtra’s new chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis’s political career has been in the making for 23 years

kumar ketkar

I

f Devendra Fadnavis had not joined politics, he could have become head of the department in a law college, or general manager in some multinational company, or director of some important educational institute. Nitin Gadkari’s personality oozes politics. Not Fadnavis’s. Both are from Vidarbha, and both are Brahmins. (Those who are more curious about the caste factor could note that both are Deshastha Brahmins. Fadnavis does not have a genealogical link to the famous Peshwa Nana Fadnavis, who was a Chitpavan Brahmin).

Generally, the work culture in Vidarbha is compared with that of Goa — relaxed, laidback and unencumbered. The difference being Vidarbhaites can have their ‘susegad’, a kind of lifelong tranquility, without booze. But this easygoing culture of Vidarbha has not really affected Fadnavis. Though, like many other BJP leaders — Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, Vinod Tawde — Fadnavis had to undergo bariatric surgery to remove extra fat, he has always remained very active.

Political activity is a legacy of the family. His father was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, from the Jan Sangh. Fadnavis began to attend RSS shakhas when in school and remained physically and politically active through the Sangh. With the RSS headquarters at Nagpur, he could be ideologically and politically in close proximity to the Parivar.

At the age of 44, Fadnavis has over 23 years of political experience as he was elected corporator in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation when he was just 21. At 27, he even became

N

Q R

work read

BL BL 186

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

CUB READS

From coconut Clothing well-to-do India towers to Pahadpur False alarm ELSEWHERE

From a swadeshi mill to global denim-maker, Arvind has constantly reinvented itself. Its next big opportunity is the country’s high-earning millennials who love to dress in big brands

and the competitive framework. One has to come up with newer strategies… An eye for those kinds of details has kept the company going for so many years,” says Lalbhai.

Terming the company’s decision to become a denim-maker a “bold move”, Devangshu Dutta, chief executive at consultancy firm Third Eyesight, says it led to both ups and an math ever be fun? More than bananas downs as denim is a very cyclical business.

Have you had enough of Some other mysteries though, are “But they have been able to look ahead and not t’s a sunny afternoonbe but theback weather’s cold.

I a small apples, oranges and tougher to decipher, as Ranjit Lal held by the turned past,” he says.SoThat am sitting at my computer, all fabric the windows closed. Inof becomchocolates to illustrate writes in his young-adult novel, The playerwith in the sector thought the distance, I can hear the soundleader of a fire-engine.

Because confusing arithmetic operations Secret of Falcon Heights. Set in the ing a global in denim shows a readiness I live close to a major to thoroughfare, I hear sirens like addition and subtraction? Let’s beautiful hill-town Pahadpur, the break from the past, addsquite Dutta.often. The police are most common, with ambulances and fire-entry bananas with Captain Coconut, author’s second novel in this genre gines tying for second place. the ridiculously clever detective of plays with all-too-familiar elements Swadeshi origins On this particular occasion, thestarted harsh,out honking wailMills, of the Coconut Towers, who embarks on his — a dysfunctional family, one deArvind as Arvind founded in fire-truck seems a little more usual.(including It is, by in- Lalbhai’s first mystery — the case of the mis- ceased parent, a frosty relation who 1931persistent by threethan brothers tention, a very jarring sound, a cross between a diesel generasing bananas. When the Captain thaws later and young love. grandfather Kasturbhai Lalbhai) just as Inditor and a bassoon. In the ans US, the crewsburning go out whenever breaks into his office one morning, a hadfire begun foreign clothes inSandeep, Manish and their little there’s someone or something need of rescue, not justSwadeshi for garbled plea for help awaits him on sister Chubs arrive at their aunt’s spiredinby Mahatma Gandhi’s and fires. Across the street fromCivil where I live, for instance, there are his answering machine.

Disobedience movement.

Indigenous place in the sleepy, internet-less regular emergencies involving naughty children who resAt Mrs Y’s, he discovers the dis- town. They soon discover a desolate clothes were in demand andneed the company was cuing because they’ve locked themselves into of their traught missus sobbing over a bowl mansion called Falcon Heights and poised to cash in onthe theattic opportunity. two-storey home. of fruit. Mrs Y had bought 14 ba- the lonely girl who lives there. MysMore than six decades later, in 1992, Arvind I can still hear the siren however, to the kitchen to take nanas and the family had consumed terious, reserved and oh-so-beautibrought so toI go India Arrow, among the earliest a look. Yow! The fire-truckglobal is IN THE DRIVEWAY! thein winfour the previous night. But, instead ful, Aranya catches Sandeep’s eye, as apparel brands With arriving the country. dows closed, all sounds from are muffled. of 10 bananas, there were only six in she trains her magnificent falcons The the firstoutside outlet inworld Mumbai’s GirgaonIChowpatwonder who is stuck in the dash to myoffront the bowl! And just then, a few more to fly. Shunned by the people of Patyattic area and is a landmark sortsdoor. evenIttoday. And never occurs to me that there’s actually a firehas in 16 progress.

So bananas disappear from the room, hadpur, where gossip travels fast, 22 years on, Arvind global brands in its when I open the door I’m astounded to see thick white right from under the Captain’s nose. Aranya is a young teenager with a kitty, its relationship with eachsmoke staying strong. billowingthis outwith of Pete’s front door.

What cheek! Who was Contrast several other Indian joint dark past. Called the Half a dozen blue routinely stealing the bananas ventures with giants global wearing brands that ‘leper of Pahadpur’, evfire-retardant with such audacity? end in divorces.suits complete with eryone avoids her. Cuvisors bright yellow helmets are absolute Captain Coconut “My and grandfather taught me that rious to discover her While Ranjit Lal’s I leap back with a blocking the and tinytrust hallway.

It’s like puts on his ‘tough nut’ transparency are most important in secret and keen to bestory ends on an twang. Giants in blue being in a scienceFairness fiction movie.

And and putact, ‘does the coconut’ all relationships. in dealings friend her, Sandeep optimistic note, it is a suits have that effect I’m the resident alien,shoes haha!is a must. We have (that is, when he reting yourself in their dives into local histogrim reminder of the on me in the hallway.ofHemisunderstandhas a members a really small notPete’s had also a single instance ry, chats up talkative times we live in bemused expression on his face.

He says. fact from his elephanting with any of our partners,” Lalbhai old maids and emsees measand “The neighbours like memory), sings a Even it says, continuously signs up foreign ploys the cute charms called the Justbeing the few songs and awaits a players (GAPfire anddepartment!”

Children’s Place of Chubs. One rainy afthen, one of the giants notices me Arvind standing in my doorway and its own brainwave. The Caplatest), is assiduously growing ternoon, he chances yells, “Ma’am! Stay AWAY14from thetoo, SMOKE and Excalibur, SHUT THEFlying Matain is a bit like Chacha Chaudhary, upon her diary, where he discovers brands including DOOR!” I leap back with a twang.

Giants inRuggers. blue suitsLalbhai have that turbaned, moustachioed and very, that she was brutally sexually aschine, Colt and is preparing effect on me. very brainy. In Chacha’s fictional saulted by the local politician’s son the company for yet another emerging opporI’ve always been told these old wooden buildings can burn town, mysteries are more dhamaa- and his friends, her father died in tunity: when per capita income in to India crossthe ground in a matter of es minutes.

I wonder whether to pack spending kedar — banks are looted, people are suspicious circumstances and she $2,000 and Indians start an overnight case. Or maybe just grab my passport and some robbed, explosives and missiles are became the bad girl of Pahadpur. disproportionately on clothing.

He estimates money? What about the computer? iPad? And oh fired far too frequently. Crimes are this to be true byCellphone? the year 2020.

The tale moves in Bollywood-esheavens, all the chargers. Just then there is a hammering at the more intricate in Captain Coconut’s que fashion, when the local goons door. One of the giants is standing festooned in heavyworld, but in both cases, involves a chairman Dressed outside, to succeed try theand same Sandeep’s new In their jeansitSanjay Lalbhai, MD ofon Arvind Ltd, with sons Punit and Kulin duty electric cable. “Uhh …World Ma’am?over We need to run a power-line lot of brainpower. There’s also a bit friend Parul, who is as beautiful as the apparel category does well for the ventilator. Where’s the nearest plugincome point?”crosses In the kitchof Shikari Shambu in him, as the the falcon-keeper. Help comes in the once per capita $1,500. India is n theCaptain late ’70s,bunwhen power began denim manufacturer supplying the best of he en. “Thanktoyou, Ma’am,” says, most asArvind he connects pot-bellied, khaki-clad nearing that politely mark and is “ well-poised nick oflooms time, the baddies are roundexpand resolurapidly in the case global brands. By the mid-’90s, the wire. the company to capture this emerging opportunity”. gles his way to antounlikely edAhmedabad, up and Aranya’s reopened. worried ownersatof 74 composite half an hour the emergency is over. One the departing tion. Mrs Y is happy (she swoons The ofcompany also wants a The Pahadpurtextile folk askhad for become her for- the world’sInthirdwith camills met a young man whoshe had just outlargest giantsa knocks on my door to retrieve thefoothold cable andacross another one the clever detective’s denouement); categories and giveness, comes of her denim-maker shell pacity of 120 million metres. completed his MBA from and Mumbai’s informs me that I’m free to move in andprice out ofpoints the house once women, Captain Coconut can triumphantly — men, there’sJamnalal a hint of love blossomInstitute. The idea survival third generation in claims there was no emergency more. Pete at all.and “I fell asleep return to his Bajaj ‘Premium-strength co- was children undergarments, as ingtoincraft the aair.

While Lal’s Lalbhai, story ends powerlearnt looms were onoptimistic, a better footthe business and currently its with something on the stove!

It caught fire, value, but I had it under conut water’strategy on ice;aswe’ve also premium and bridgeon an everything-will-beMany mills folded up ing — they did not didn’t and managing direccontrol the whole time. We didn’t the fire prices. department. what is 14 bananas minus fourhave ba- unions This way it aims okayand note, it iseven a grim chairman reminder of in Ahmedabad, but needto-luxury a licence to expand young tor, has been constantly re-in- see the mess You should they made of my nanas, minusneed four more, minus one capacity. tokitchen!” cover most of the market. “We the timesThe we live in, of extra-judicial not Arvind mantoo sawmany clearly that the answer in a new venting alone The fire-truck parps and wails as it backs of athe driveway. last one, and that bananas aimout to be $2-billion brand in rekillings,lay rampant sexual abusethe andcompany. This product category onlyheady had global ap-rumour, ensured that Arvind Ltd survived will give you diarrhoea!

In Priyathat Sun-notthe tail in the next 10 years. We have mix of politics MANJULA PADMANABHAN, author and artist, tellsgrowth us tales ofplans her parallel in peal but also resonated new India. even as the rest of the over 80 texdram’s excellent illustrations and with for life everything — andthe power.

Aranya’s tale could well And that’speppy how Sanjay the of camps tile mills that existed inElsewhere, Ahmeda-US, in this fortnightly series marginalien.blogspot.in Anushka Ravishankar’s dia- Lalbhai, from international and own ring true inscion the relief of Mubad 35 textile major Arvind entered theordenim logues, the setting is tropical, theLtd, zaffarnagar brands to retail formats,” Lalbhai says. in the streets of years Delhi.ago folded up.

“It is about constantly reimagining the space.and By 1987, Arvind had transformed from a colours are bright the Captain, To expand its retail footprint, Arvind is conpriyanka kotamraju and sarees to a company and looking at the possible threats verting its Megamart stores (3,000-4,000 sqft) very funny. maker of dhotis, kurta-pyjamas

Learn math with Captain Coconut and find out about the travails of life with a group of teens

C Captain Coconut and the Case of the Missing Bananas Priya Sundram and Anushka Ravishankar Tara books ₹400

I

Q

The Secrets of Falcon Heights Ranjit Lal Penguin ₹250

When a fire-engine comes visiting the neighbourhood

R

I

Q R

Q R

ND-X _ A

7

BL

work

saturday, november 1, 2014

Welcome collaboration The manufacturing plant of Arvind OG Nonwovens, a joint venture with Japan’s OG Corporation, at Dholka, Ahmedabad

into Power Megamarts — 10,000-plus sqft outlets with international brands and no discounts. “We have evolved from a discount brand (Megamarts were factory outlets) to a branded value player. So we are not discounting at all.”

As many as 38 Power Megamarts are up and running already, and Lalbhai is pleased with their profitability — 18 per cent earnings before interest and taxes. “As the old formats go down and new formats open, Megamart will start giving even better returns,” he says.

Projecting itself as a one-stop fashion house, Arvind is reaching out to customers through all possible means, including the online market, which it sees as essential to future growth. It now has a subsidiary, Arvind Internet Ltd, focused on e-commerce and led by Lalbhai’s younger son, Kulin.

“In e-commerce, we will come up with our own marketplace, where we will sell our entire collection besides a number of private labels and new brands. It is going to be a huge initiative,” he says.

Bespoke in business Arvind’s online brand Creyate already offers customised styling solutions for shirting, suiting and jeans. The customer can personalise his clothes with a fabric, design and style of his choice. This includes fabric flown in from Paris and Milan. Customers can walk into a company outlet to give their measurements. If needed, a stylist will arrive at the customer’s doorstep for the measurements, armed with an iPad loaded with details of the products and fabrics available.

“The world is moving towards co-creating; you get involved in designing your own wardrobe, seated at a computer. It is a brick-andclick model where we have an e-commerce site as well as stores where one can feel the fabric and give measurements,” he says.

Launched in August, Creyate has had a fantastic response, says Lalbhai. “The sales are beyond budgeted numbers. We want to debug the whole thing and then scale up,” he adds.

Once a fabric is selected, it is flown in and

the garment is custom-made at a factory set up in Bangalore under a joint venture with Japan’s Goodhill Corp.

Positioned in the premium category, Creyate shirts start at ₹2,699 and suits at ₹15,000. Industry analysts peg the margins beyond a profitable 15 per cent.

Arvind’s e-commerce team is a young one, with 26 as the average age, and they are busy setting up the back end for their online marketplace. “We hope to launch it by August next year,” says Lalbhai.

customer acquisition, losing money on almost every transaction.

“But I don’t think Arvind will follow that strategy. E-commerce has to be a value-added business, and for that pricing has to be sensible,” he says. Any successful strategy would involve foreseeing where the Indian customer is headed and what needs to be done to fulfil his or her needs.

The selling point Currently, nearly two-thirds of Arvind’s revenues (expected to be over ₹8,000 crore this fisRiding the brand wagon cal) comes from its textiles business, which is Unlike most other Indian e-commerce players, growing at 10-15 per cent. Its brands and retail he doesn’t want to rely simply on discounts. segment, however, is witnessing a higher “We are not looking at profitless topline growth of 35-40 per cent annually. “Moreover, growth. We are looking at a model that is prof- we will be launching new brands. So our busiitable and satisfies the requireness volumes will grow multiments of consumers. We will try fold. GAP itself could be a biland position this through service lion-dollar business in the next and differentiation.”

10 years. It is a large opportuniIt is a brick-and-click Branded garments typically ty,” says Lalbhai. have a profit margin of 15-20 per model where we have If its textile business grows at an e-commerce site cent, and online selling further 10 per cent and brands and reas well as stores cuts costs such as real estate, tail at 35 per cent, the latter sales staff and electricity among could equal or outgrow textiles others. Arvind can easily attract in the next 10 years, he predicts. online buyers as it retails a wide Alongside the growth, the selection of brands, including company also has nearly ₹2,800 Tommy Hilfiger, US Polo, Arrow, Lee, Wrangler, crore debt on its balance sheet. Lalbhai is in no Calvin Klein and GAP besides its own brands, hurry to reduce it. The company’s growth is such as Flying Machine, Colt, Ruggers and currently funded through internal accruals. many more.

“What we are looking at is not reducing debt, The company’s fabric business and supply but to constantly bring down the gearing rachain expertise will be added advantages. Ar- tio (debt to EBITDA).” Last year, the company’s vind Singhal, chairman of Technopak Advi- operating profit was ₹987 crore, while debt sors, sees Arvind’s online effort as “a sensible stood at around ₹3,000 crore — a gearing ratio move” owing to the demand for branded ap- of nearly three. “We will try to bring it down to parels. “Already there is a massive growth in two,” he says. online apparel retailers like Myntra and JaThis would involve increasing revenues as bong. Going online will enhance the reach of well as entering high-margin businesses. To Arvind brands, which are not readily availa- that extent, Lalbhai’s retail strategy should ble,” he says. help Arvind lower its debt in the next few But Dutta of Third Eyesight cautions that in years. If its past is anything to go by, Arvind the rapidly evolving e-commerce space there will be busy reimagining its future success. is no guarantee of success. Currently, price-led e-commerce players are spending heavily on rashmi pratap

Q R

watch talk

BL BL 16 8

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

A second wind Journalism, seriously?

PRESENT IMPERFECT

A new crop of directors is making offbeat films in Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil and Caught as it isaudiences between so many constraints, state of the profession is utterly fraught capturing who don’t speak the the language Dream debut Hit Kannada thriller Lucia, produced through crowdfunding, veers nail-bitingly between nightmare and reality; (inset, from top) filmmakers Anjali Menon, Karthik Subbaraj, Balaji Mohan and Pawan Kumar

to the Naalaya Iyakkunar (tomorrow’s directors) show on the Tamil channel Kalaignar TV and gained his entry into the local film industry. Menon had worked in television and made documentaries before the film-writing bug bit her.

Social media, too, played a vital supporting role. Subbaraj and Mohan uploaded their short films on YouTube and soon had producers backing them. Pawan Kumar blogged about his struggle to find a producer for Lucia and the rest, as they say, is crowdfunding history. “It changed the way Lucia Clamour was perceived and how I was communiqué perceived.

Social You can never be media will become the true voice and valfirst, dear journalist idn sridharan source of an individual,” ll I crave is to sleep, brother,” says school and college and althe Kannada director predicts.

Nicky, a theatre who’s his was the week of the usher Lutyens vi- sufdesired to work ence ways is nearly non-existent andin our enigmatic many disclaimers and But Mohan sees a downside several warnings.

And — feringwith fromLutyens’ insomnia. rus. It started Spice, a new films. saw howand some prime“Iminister hisdireciron-fisted con- then proceeded tosocial media today give his top two piecesisofflooded in“Just before you go up to bed, Twitter handle that popped Ratnam,makes Gautham trol tors overlike hisMani colleagues everything vestment advice with content.

“There’s much — open a demat accountsoand take seemingly one these ofout these every night,” says the of nowhere.

In the andthan Selvaraghavan inspire moreMenon difficult it ever was.

Media has buy bluechipcompetition nowto—concede, betweenasamastocks. You have dealer, it smirking as he hands over first drug few tweets, was established that Lu-a botthe audience come to the transformed in thetolast decade and nothing stock tips go, even teurs and professionals — on Youa poodle could have given of red pills Lucia. tyens’tleSpice was a named Delhi Journalist, who was workstheatre, and decided to enough take like it used to. It’s bad that im- better advice in a Tube thattime. it becomes difficult shorter Beaming An- to here on, Nicky’s dreams willing From to let unprintable political storiesand havenightup direction,” Mohan. portant stories aresays increasingly harder to chor, polite but dogged, filter content.

But it’s still defipushed and pushed mares blur existence. unrecognisably reality, and a 140-character Word into of Lutyens’ In the highlychannels competi-would have re- for an actual stock tip. break; that TV news nitely the best way now to reach Ace Fund Manager, psychological thriller Spicethe spread quickly among otherLucia Delhikeeps Jour- you tiveitsouthern industry, the arrives, that trapped in a I’m-smarter-than-you ported before the newspaper out and get noticed if you’re game, re- a guessing with itsran many and turns. nalists and everyone for twists their phones to The newcomers yearned to be dofull of it before peated his two meaningless Twitter and Facebook would newcomer,” heNow, says. I am tips. end mind-blowing! follow theishandle.

But then, before you could the TV out-of-the-box work. It’s Decameraman arrives. virtually impos- aware investment managers Now that are they often have disal-been Veering oraway from the three-song-twosay Cardamom Cinnamon, another Twitter sible ciding to first. consciously to be the What is work worse is that when lowed by their companies noticed, to Subbaraj, Pawan Kuname specific fight-revenge-seeking a group handle turned up. Lutyens formula, Masala. This was of onmanage scripts to that werehands fresh,on an impor- stocks. In which case, you do get your mar they and Mohan itching should are let go of to young, new-ageInsider directors south India are followed

by Lutyens andin then Lutyens engaging appealingwith to totant story, it hasand to compete links such as some television glory try different things. and stay home.Romance Yet, ev- is a out toelse prove thatother, the clichéd is passé. something or the and within a cou-Along day’s to audience, they fat’ made ‘Five ways blast stomach or the genre that Subbaraj hasn’troles. attempteryone’s trapped in their way,there theywere are also blurring linguistic ple ofthe hours more Lutyensthe on Twitkind of films theyThe would ‘Katrina wears a bikini.’ read- enjoy ed so so he wants to dovery thatlitfor his The TVfar, channel, left with lines ministerial that have traditionally ter than bungalows segregated in centralaudiwatching themselves.

Menon, er, who was a large unknowable third feature film. number Kumar says tle choice and a large of he south Delhi.ences By the end of of the theVindhyas. day, these Lutyens ac- masswho theisNational Award out won there, far easier to needs to have a reason minutes to fill,other A generation of Delhi programming (Kannada), Jigarthanda counts Lucia abandoned all attempts at political track now, yet she for UstadtoHomanages rethan money to make a film, will ask Ace Fund Manager back, Journalists have and Kadhalil Eppa- exclu- main a mystery. And gossip and insideSodhapuvadu stories and focused tel’s so screenjournal- become Opinionators knowing “Maybe haven’t he willthat’s comewhy backIand and Bangalore Days which ists write what play sivelydion(Tamil), speculating and uncovering 2012,is — they can terminate spout nonsense they in think made anything sinceviewLucia.” again. And (Malayalam) are box office hits each of important and eventually journalists were operating behind strongly come beBut they are all aware ers will sit down and watch it for that you with their townsaccounts. that speak their lanthesein Lutyens lieves believe what that they opinions and they will 30 seconds commercial viability up is the before picking Socialtomedia willthat only guage and ofothers nationally, This recasting priorities isn’t surprising, content is think important. bedrock of the film world and their phones and clicking to see become theistrue be back Meetthat their direcfor if even thereglobally. is one thing Delhi Journalists The deIf thesource politicalking. journalist is any investing producer usually what Deepika Padukone is up to. voice and valid tors Pawan Karthik Subare fascinated by,Kumar, it is other Delhi Journalists.

A anworking to connect circumstances has his say in thecaught script. Will With journalism be- this of individualunder sire baraj, Balaji Mohan and Anjali generation of Delhi Journalists have become that are dire, the with the jouraudience business not dilute the kind of cinema tween so many constraints, the they whatMenon, can be respectively. called Opinionators — they can nalist is worse off. at an emotional With public re- level wish of to make?

Subbarajisbelieves state the profession serious-comTheyou Tamil filmtheir industry has aand they lation companieshasplanting terminate with opinions seen them several dozen ly fraught. It is only mercial viability is important a question of time before a in a global presence columns and hasinfawill be back. Comment op-ed pag- gatekeepers and plumb for simhawkishly hovering each young ‘serious’ journalist script, realises as alsothere entertainment is very big-budget mass-enteres arevoured now largely reducedcommercial to Opinionators ar- time ple stories thatmeets peoplea can a journalist CXO, absolutely little serious journalism (not going necessarily comedy) on. You can ei- vallarger-than-life guingtainers against with each other.

As soon as heroes. one is In relate KSY, for isinstance, nothing of to. relevance accomplished. Often, ther play the gameue. has iftoyou be gripor“The get movie out. And contrast, cinema works with published, it is Malayalam uploaded and then re-upped delineates suggest how one‘one-on-one guy PR companies interac- choose to play the game, pingthere foris only theoneaudience, sucsmaller and realistic marked (sic) every fewbudgets hours on Twitter, so stories more peohismeans love life. tions’,messed whichup only you’ll be served tea cessful role model today. whether a thriller or an acThe it’s man who is recby join strong The Kannada film industry ple can in.content.

Camp loyalties are constantly Since this content resofrom sparkling china cups in a sparkling office ognisable by his first tion film,” says. who namehealone, does notand boast big budgets, prefers underagain surveillance followers chimebut in exnates and the CXO,widely trainedwith as hemovieis in this, speaks sev- thunders into your living Pawan Kumar is once again room announcing banking on time, crowdfunding commercial films and words has a limited market. eral thousand pectedly with appropriate of approval goers, many of these words, all movies of which taken to- not some namby-pamby prime but a Su- to a film the way he wants to.

Today,The the next threeday, industries are at a point or criticism. a counterpoint is of aretell being inThrow other langether youremade nothing. in a ‘strategic’ per Prime Time. Ifmake he’s successful, it is because looking a crowdfunding convergence, producing small-budget published in another paper or blog and all offilms guages, Hindi, Tamil alter- he interpreted“We’re in every otherincluding sentence and a ‘paradigm’ the term mediaatcircus rather model that’s himself within its ourring legal framethat a cross-cultural, is andand it resumes all over again.cross-border This goes onaudience for a natively Telugu. everyone pretends that it is time literally. And appointed maswork.

The more the people journalism who invest, the up (with for their week,lapping by which time subtitles, each sideofiscourse) convinced In many crop ofmahurat directors is well spent.

Lastways, week,this onnew a Diwali ter. The first step to successful to- less thetoindividual losses,” he explains. treatment and powerful content. they innovative have triumphed.

Forward and onward alsoshow a product of our channel, times. Unlike previous trading on a business I watched day is discard every single principle you the coming days,buy it would interesting then,Delivering to the nextrepeated Opinion.hits, these directors have generations of asked filmmakers, theyManager have experias Beaming Anchor Ace Fund learned.InThen get out and a darkbe suit.

And watch how these small-budget stars transprovedto they are a flash in the pan. whatmented Contrary how it not mayjust sound, none of this with short documentaries his investment tips films for theand viewers were. teachtoyourself to shout. tookeasy up direction because there was a lack is fun. It“Iisn’t being a journalist anymore before venturing into feature Short Ace Fund Manager filled the studiofilms. air with a film late their vision and success to bigger budgets t@veenavenugopal of acting opportunities,” 32-year-old — in Delhi and elsewhere.

Accesssays is hard, influ- Pacompetitions by film stating companies and top stars. prologue that lastedorganised four full minutes, wan Kumar. Karthik Subbaraj and Balaji Mo- and TV channels also helped showcase their han, on the other hand, were writing plays in talent. Subbaraj sent in his short film Parallax latha srinivasan is a Chennai-based journalist

T“A

Q

Q R

ND-X _ A

Veena Venugopal is editor BLink and author of The Mother-in-Law

R

9

BL

talk

saturday, november 1, 2014

UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY

The Kashmiri

Too often names of places like Kashmir come to us through tales of grief. But there are stories untold of heroes and everyday heroism that rarely make the headlines

Help yourself A man pulls his son on an inflatable raft through the floodwaters in Srinagar PTI

M

Omair Ahmad is an author. His last book was on Bhutan

ohammad Huzaifah Lanker died at the age of 19 in Srinagar, in December 2004. His was not a death brought on by conflict, except indirectly. Jammu & Kashmir provides half of the electricity generated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, but due to the Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960, storage for hydroelectric dams is not allowed. This means that during the winter, when the cold is at its height and the flow of water at its lowest, when Kashmiris need electricity the most, they can’t receive it.

Huzi was taking a bath that cold day in December, before Friday prayers. Since electricity was unreliable, the house in which his parents and grandparents lived used a gas-based heater.

That day the gas leaked and Huzi died.

Unwilling to let him (or his name) be forgotten, Huzi’s family set up a trust to provide education and medical services to the needy; in some small way, allaying their own hurt by easing the pain of others. This year the trust had additional responsibilities thrust upon it when the floods hit J&K. A combination of freak rainfall, bad town-planning and various failures in responding to the unprecedented circumstances meant large parts of the state were affected, with many areas of Srinagar submerged under 15-20 feet of water. Military helicopters that were pressed into emergency service were often counterproductive, as the backwash from their rotors upended hastilymade rafts, and led to the collapse of houses.

And yet, in the midst of all this, during a flood that was the worst in more than a century, which directly affected more than two million people, with families stranded for days on the roofs of their houses with no food, clean water or medicines, there were comparatively

who had in the decade since Huzi’s demise, developed skills and contacts that they now put to use. The people who contributed to make this possible were even more diverse. Kashmiris, both Hindu and Muslim, contributed of course, but so did people from across India.

Some chipped in from far-off corners of the world as long as the possession of an Indian passport allowed them to do so legally because of the prohibitions of India’s stringent FEMA laws. What was most appealing for many was that this was not merely an initiative to dole out aid, but a way to help skilled ther than providing direct relief for the people re-establish themselves through their floods, the Huzaifah Lanker own hard work.

Trust was trying another tack.

Too often the names of places Among those who had lost their like Kashmir come to us through homes and livelihoods was Fatales of grief. We imagine their This was not merely rooq Ahmad. Aged around 55, residents as people who need an initiative to dole with four family members to help, and pity, because of the traout aid, but a way to take care of, his home and tailorvails that press upon and around help skilled people ing shop were ruined by the them. I know of the Huzaifah re-establish floods. Bashir Ahmad, a few years Lanker Trust’s work because of themselves through older, with a family to feed, sufmy personal involvement, but their own hard work fered a similar fate. Today they there are many such initiatives, are stitching pherans — the warm not just in J&K, but also in Assam overcoat-like outer garment and Meghalaya, among other worn by Kashmiris during the places, often working with locals cold winter months — for other people who such as Farooq and Bashir Ahmad, who are not have been affected by the floods. This is the content to be merely victims. But with a little outcome of the Stitch One Pheran campaign help from people who know them, and many organised by the Trust to kickstart the local who do not, they are willing to work hard to economy. The idea was to buy cloth from local stand on their own two feet. These are the hetraders, employ local tailors who had lost em- roes this country throws up day after day ployment and much else besides, and provide against the tragedies that dominate the headthe stitched garments to the needy. lines, and we ignore them, with hardly a line Many of those involved in this initiative to their name. Today, I would like to recall were Huzi’s cousins (full disclosure: I am mar- these names, especially that of Huzi, just once. ried to one of them); some of them employed t@OmairTAhmad or living in places like Bangalore and Delhi,

few casualties, numbering in the low hundreds. I travelled to Srinagar a few weeks ago, and was struck by how quickly people had cleaned up the streets — often without much government assistance. At Presentation Convent, the watermark was at more than 15 feet, the principal’s office was pretty much destroyed and stacks of books had been reduced to stinking pulp. But one of the former schoolteachers was helping distribute relief collected by the convent — largely donated by the parents of students.

O

Q R

watch cover shutterstock/khafizov ivan harisovich

saturday, november 1, 2014

anna mm vetticad

BL

14 10

FILM FATALE

The naked truth The increasing objectification of male stars is disrupting the status quo, making some people uncomfortable while others celebrate. But does this mean gender equality is at hand?

S

hah Rukh Khan’s naked torso caked in mud, his rippling muscles bathed in bronzed make-up, the anti-gravitational wonder of his low-rise trousers miraculously staying up, while teasing us with its revelations… If you’ve seen director Farah Khan’s Happy New Year (HNY), you know this image is not a figment of my fantasies, but a dominant visual from the film.

The past 15 years have been marked by an increasing display of the male body in mainstream Hindi cinema. With HNY though, Farah has taken the trend to a whole new level by ensuring that her heroes’ nude upper bodies overshadow even the tiny waist and endless limbs of her heroine Deepika Padukone. The objectification of the two men in the film (Shah Rukh and his perennially open-shirted or shirtless co-star Sonu Sood) is so in-yourface that it led one SRK fan to lament the exhibition of what she calls “Bollywood’s answer to cleavage” in an article on a prominent news website. The writer thought nothing though of introducing Padukone’s character in the film solely in terms of her legs. She is not alone in adopting this contradictory stance.

Why are so many people inured to skin show by a woman, but uncomfortable with a similar display of male flesh? When I discussed the double standards with friends, one gentleman in our group told us he sees nothing attractive in the six-packs paraded about by most male Bollywood stars these days. Fair enough. That’s his call. He then added though: “I don’t think even women like it.” Er… The ladies in the gang pounced on him in unison: how about letting us decide for ourselves?

Eye candy crush In was Happy New Year, Shah Rukh Khan his nothing stuff, acknowledging it seems, is ‘trending’ So thereeath, you have it: the reason why SRKright and brain tumour.

She given five to 10 years to struts most on agingtheorheterosexual frailty or female dying. gazeBut as well the homosexual maleconfirmed gaze now. Perhapsstill it isinvites the times we live live.

Sood’s exhibitionism comment in as April, further tests that How the process unfolds, how people experibereft of of bosoms, irony and filled only while the in, pageant midriffs and she was at stage four of the cancer and that her ence the end of their lives, and how it affects the certainty legs from with actresses worldwideofisentitlement, considered in health was likely to deteriorate the gym”, The Washington Postdrastically. columnistShe Ri- ual those around the point. female gazethem (not seemed to forgetbeside the homosexual onefor that a freshly- chard par themakes course.the Ourapplication reactions toofobjectificahad only about sixinmonths of quality Cohen wrote 2012: “Gary Cooperlife in male The way we saw it, the way our professors saw gaze). minted to a timeless eventuality notmost just High tion areverb governed by many factors, but aheadNoon of her. wins Grace Kelly by strength of it, Let’s the purpose of medical was to not, however, claim schooling a gender equivaacceptable, butconditioning. even appropriate. con- character, of all by social All ofPublic us — men Maynardnotimmediately tookabout 50, and lence here. These muscles. He was teach how to save not bodhow men work hardlives, on their versations and womenabout — have death grown have up onalways a diet ofbeen ads, Kelly control ofaher death. moved was mere 23... She Maybe the best example ies and show to off tendthe to their demise.” results, but they are crowd-pullers, but in body the last couple of dec- of which use the female to sell everything, to the unmuscled state of Oregon, she herowhere is Humphrey Bogart in nowhere near as Yet, demise is inevitable. many in number as theirAnd feades, eager as we have beenontofilms live that on, conincluding products for men; em- Casablanca. is allowed toBogart legally choose herolderSurgeon was 15 years than In- andmale even though we arenor the are onlytheir specounterparts worldwide, author sume onthe and looks get a bucket list of activities and death; established phasise of actresses a new home; grid Bergman and it did Atul not matcies to bereductive aware of this portrayals as isinevitabilthe case Gawande says habitually achievements accomplished, they have large- got a new driving more than actors; on film induswell ter atlicence all. He as had the experience, we are often ones with women ity, on celluloid.

Theirthe looks areleast just the medical ly been limited tothat whoare andprone how. These reports as access tothemedication tries worldwide thatthe profession’s confidence, internal one to deal with it.continue Through aspect the star package; they focus on ofprepared — of suicidal IIT students adventure seekers would help strength to discard older actressesorwhile her die. that Then canshe only come with research and anecto dominate theirstudies, films’ storylines; and we keeping patients alive case swept away a suddenly swollen river — have giving actorsbyfar greater longeviwentwho about age… trying These to finish as men seduce; older dotes, Gawande proposes a radihave them subjected to the kind of Even male stars at any cost is yet to see mainly been with (a) morbid fascinaty, based on consumed these notions: on her bucket list are not seduced.” cally different approach to leering camerawork, low-brow choreography sportinglymany offer thingsthey counterintuitive tion,good fuelled only the relief it hap- asupshe that looks areby a bonus for thatthemselves the while, About Craig,shehowever, he or insulting lyrics looking death by assessing likeat “Main toh—tandoori murgi forcould. All penedstars to someone else, when it could so easily male but essential for accontinues to wailed: campaign for triumphs more “…he physical- hoon yaar, Gatkaale how one wantsalcohol to live. se Patients saiyyaan (I’m a harmless have been oneself.

Suddenly, in the last few states to passly, tresses (b) that women lose their laws wouldHe al-does not woo piece of flesh, notthat cleverly. must askconsume themselves imcome mewhat withisalcoobjectification weeks early though, and tenor of operate public within looks (c) the thattone attractivelow the terminally ill to die with women; they just come on to hol)” with which portant to them ‘item — the girls’ ability to Bollywood’s rouconversations about death have ness is not necessarily a factor of changed. dignity.

If she sticks to her plan, then today, him.”

Boohoo!

How blasphebe mobile, or use the bathrooms themselves, tinely degrade themselves. a power structure was when it popped up on our November ageThe or first evenjolt physical beauty for her last. mouswould that abefilm should high- to So be yes, conscious, to be able to talk, attend let’s offer kudos maleto stars whoa dominated by men 1, 2014, Facebook It seemed jarring that in an men since walls. personality, charisma light a man’s physique, that sportingly wedding over thethemselves weekend, toup seefor a child who offer harmless ecosystem built around preserving the photo Confronting mortality and talent count more for them. women should be assertive lov- objectification, is on his way back place farthat away — and butfrom keepain mind they opof We’re every so moment of our to existence and every Shocking as Maynard’s accustomed the decision determiners, that an older is,male actor erate then decide the risks of the medical procewithin if a power structure dominated by random thought that misogyny intrinsic to pops theseup be-in our head, a ing the pointshould at which lifethe becomes untenable face demands that fe- men. dure are giving up any equate of thesethe goals.

Let’sworth not for a moment com29-year-old talking death.

If you liefs, that toowas many of us —about women included — male is something medical is just pulsions stars havethe always dealtcommunity with. Now considIt isn’t, of of course, as or easy as it sounds.

Ageheroines marginal actresses have been a user of the internet in theobjectifilast few er don’t question them.

The increasing about starting to think over. In women his latestto book, what it does to regular be with ing itself slow process of losing control thoseisofa their male counterparts, or asweeks,of it is likely that tooyears stumbled upon bombarded cation male stars inyou recent (especially Being Mortal,24x7 Atul with Gawande, who a general sume images of isimpossibly over things that matter.

As more and that gender equality is now atmore handdein theBollywood) story of Brittany Maynard.

At 29, Maynard by has been disquieting though good-looking and endocrine surgeonespecially in Boston, US, defysays film actresses, those cisions of what or is important yousteps are handed industries elsewhere.to Baby are alis too die. She is also, as some com- ing for theyoung status to quo-ists. thatage, themany medical profession’s focus on of whom are products notkeepjust ways over to other people — spouses, children — it worth celebrating, so long as we rememmentators have pointed toobeing prettyato die. of Feeling unsettled is oneout, thing; hypoingsimple patients alive at any cost ishabits counterintuimake-up and healthy but also ber becomes increasingly decide that that’s what theyhard are —to baby steps.on a Bothisofquite which are the reasonstowhy her story of crite another.

Reacting the spotlight tive.

“I learned about a lot of things inIn medical Botox, cosmetic surgery and so on. such a goal, much less prioritise it. The process of carmmgeriatrics vetticadisis the author of The Adventures hasDaniel gone viral.

In January year, Maynard’s on Craig’s body in this Skyfall and express- scenario, school,” Gawande starts his book, “butprovide mortal- anna men like Craig and SRK ing for intrinsically one that inan Intrepid Film Gawande Critic t@annavetticad headaches were as a malignant ing pain “from all diagnosed the hours (Craig) has spent some ity wasn’t onebyofacknowledging them. Our textbooks had al- of respite the heterosexfantilises them. sits in with a doctor

Death by design

Public conversations about death have always been crowd-pullers. In the last few weeks though, the tone and tenor of these conversations have changed

D

Q

Q R

R

ND-X _ A

BL

watch cover

saturday, november 1, 2014

Agents of mortality?

Author Atul Gawande argues that everyone has a right to decide the tipping point ; Brittany Maynard has a date with death today, on November 1 wikimedia commons

Mazel tov again

Researchers studied the effects of this programme over two years, comparing a variety of measures for Chase’s residents with those of residents at a nearby nursing home. The study found that the number of prescriptions required in Chase fell to half that of the control nursing home. Psychotropic drugs for agitation decreased in particular. The total drug costs fell to just 38 per cent of the comparison facility. Death fell 15 per cent. The study couldn’t say why. But Thomas thought he could — “I believe that the difference in death rates can be traced to the fundamental human need for a reason to live.”

‘Recalling Jewish Calcutta’ uses photos, videos, recipes and documents to tell the story of a community whose strength has dwindled from 4,000 in the 1940s to two dozen today

at the geriatrics clinic of the hospital he works in. After going through the list of problems and the medications the patient was taking, the doctor embarks on a close examination of the feet of the patient. The biggest risk that the elderly face is that of falling. In the US, of the 350,000 people who fall and break their hip every year, 40 per cent end up in a nursing home and 20 per cent are never able to walk again. Even if a patient seems fine for their age and the number of medical conditions they have, the feet often tell a different story. The patient who was examined while Gawande was sitting in, came in well dressed and looked like she maintained herself very well.

Yet, her feet were swollen. The toenails were unclipped. There were sores between her toes and the balls of gallery the feetofhad thick, rounded n the video a recently digitised calluses.

The most significant the docarchive, ‘Recalling Jewishadvice Calcutta’, Aator had her was to direct toas a podiatrist ronfor Harazi recounts hisher days a student, once clerk a month, that her feetThough were better takand so businessman.

97, he is en care of. and animated. While some of Haraarticulate isn’t just feetare care.

Like in babies, zi’sIt recollections deliciously candid,even othsomething as basic essential as swallowers demonstrate theand extent to which Jews in ing is challenging forbeen the elderly. time, Calcutta have always affectedOver by global the lordosis of the tips speaks the head events.

Harazi, for spine instance, offorward. a girl he In the angle of the throat, looking hadterms once of chased.

He mentions his father’s deahead is akintoto lookinginup. is comsire to move Palestine theChoking 1920s, and then mon.

Older peoplethe have to beofreminded describes learning secrets industry to in look down while eating, so that his foodmemories can pass Birmingham.

Having recorded through the throat.

It is then normal famfor posterity, the spirited Harazi sadlyfor passed ily members and caregivers to assume that a away a few weeks ago. His death, though, has person who isn’t capable of the eating on her own given his recollections and digital archive is incapable of deciding on“This whatarchive kind of came meda greater sense of import. ical them. justtreatment in the nickisofappropriate time,” feelsfor Flower Silliman, an octogenarian who grew up in the city. “Jews Home and away in Calcutta are dying out. A decade later, Caring elderly particularly complex there’dfor be the no one leftis toainterview.” problem in the compiled Indian context.

Traditionally, Meticulously

by Silliman’s daughthe joint‘Recalling family system in-house ter Jael, Jewishprovided Calcutta’an uses photosupport system,recipes with children, their spouses, graphs, videos, and documents to tell and grandchildren pitchingwhose in — some happithe story of a community strength in ly voluntarily, some grudgingly.

AsAfter urbana theand 1940s was estimated to be 4,000. and semi-urban India moves rapidlythe into syspersistent exodus mainly to Israel, USa and tem of nuclear families, caringaround for thethe elderly Europe, its present size hovers prebecomes an acute mark. problem. arebut often carious two-dozen “WeThey say 24, in dragged across geographically and Jews,” forciblysays infact there are less than 10 active troduced to new and environments as it Jael. Underlining thealien threat that advancing isn’t insist yearsprofessionally pose, she adds,possible “I am oneto of always the youngest on stayingin close ageing parents.

Depression members the to community and I am 59.” is With common among these geriatrics,Kolkata’s as is a its numbers fast shrinking, sense uselessness might and helplessness.

The real Jewishofcommunity well find that this estate tobuffer recognise senior cidigitalmarket archiveisisthe thefirst only it has against tizens as a credible customer base. prospective oblivion.

Moreover, forTownships Kolkata, it fitted withrepository medical and housekeeping help is the only that highlights the semiare coming up inhave suburban nal increasingly contributions that Jews madeIndia. to its As large numbers young Indians seek social fabric whileofliving here for the lastwork two outside theAs country, a relatively centuries. for Jael,these “Thisbecome effort has helped safe option for parents. me embrace mytheir identity as a Calcutta Jew, and While the number of assisted-living faciliit has also helped me give something back to ties is growing, the immense societal judgthis city.” ment of ‘abandoning one’s parents’ prevents Buildings and establishments such as the the majority from opting for them. So Ezravast Mansion and Nahoum & Sons Confectionpeople care for the elderly even ery stillcontinue survive astoJewish landmarks in Kolka-

I

Part of life What then is a reason to live? When all ambition is exhausted and there is no energy to create more, perhaps that is the point when (leftdifficult. to right) In a finding a reason toPast liveperfect becomes the 40 posters TheofGuardian lastdesigned month, charming essay inOne

by Jael Silliman; a wedding photo legendary editor Diana Athill says the of Philomena Gubbay andidea of death has never been alarming.

Thelast process of Bernard Jacob, the death is another matter.

“Death the inevitaconductor of theisCalcutta Symphony Orchestra; a day at— I ble end of an individual object’s existence the because zoo in theit 1930s; and of life. don’t say “end of life” is a part Arati Devi Rachel or Everything begins,(below) develops — iforanimal Sofaer, a prominent actor in vegetable, breeds silent — then films fades away: everyanimals, plants, thing, not just humans, courtesy ‘recalling jewish calcutta’ but things which seem to us eternal, such as rocks.

Mountains wear down from jagged peaks to flatness.

Even planetsa decay.

That natural procdoing this project few years ago, nobody ess is death.” would have sent me their original photoThe AtlanIn another much-shared essay inpictures graphs.”

While some sepia-toned in September, Emanuel, the director tic theinarchive showEzekiel an early generation of Jews of Clinical Bioethics at theones Nain the Arabic robes, other Department black-and-white tional Institutes Health, wrotetypically why he demonstrate howofthey later US, acquired wouldn’t toBut liveeven beyond 75.than He wasn’t adEuropeanwant tastes. more these picvocating euthanasia, merely listing histories the reatures perhaps, it’s the personal sons a life age holds whichwhy prove that beyond the Jewsthat of Calcutta had no alIt isup thewith tail end of a productive life, crethough they don’t often wish to. It isn’t sur- charm. ways kept the times. diminishes, are became harder and prising then that a survey by HelpAge India re- ativity Joseph Elias Ezra, activities for instance, Caljoyful chances of in active ported in June this year that 50 per cent of the less cutta’s firstand Jewish Sheriff 1888.contribution Still rememsociety are historic significantly “Once elderly were abused in their home. This is up to bered for his valourreduced. during the 1971I livedWar, to JFR 75, Jacob my approach myashealthfrom 23 per cent last year. The survey covered have Indo-Pak retired into1978 a lieucare willIndian completely change. I 1,200 elderly in Tier I and Tier II tenant general of the Army. Emmanuel won’t actively end alumnus, my life. But Indian cities. Among Tier I cities, Elias, a La Martiniere of Calcutta wasI won’t try to British prolong it, either.

ToBangalore reported 75 per cent a drummer in the 1980s’ band Tears for day, are when the doctor recomof polled elders facing abuse, Fears. But these admittedly a fraction of The real estate mendsmade a test or city’s treatment, while Delhi reported 22 per cent. achievements by the Jewish market is thethe first to especially will Verbal abuse (41 per cent), disreThe heroesone of itsthat story areextend arguarecognise community. senior ourRachel lives, itAshkenazi, becomes incumbent spect (33 per cent) and neglect bly its women. to cite an citizens as a credible upon us to give a good reason (29 per cent) were ranked the customerearly baseexample, became the first practising Jewwant it. The momost common types of abuse. ish lawyer towhy pleadwe fordon’t Muslim women in purmentum was of medicine family Sons and were ta, but thedaughters-in-law most identifiable signposts of the dah. Tabitha Solomon one of theand country’s means we will almost invariably the abusers and elders saidits three syn- pioneering woman community aremost undoubtedly dentists.

Esther Victoria get it,” Emanuel writes. became they suffered this Neve because of and Magen Abraham, better agogues — Beth-El, Shalome known as Pramila, of in Emanuel’s are emotional and economic dependence ontourthe theAlthough David. It was while guiding visitors and first Missall India 1947. Evenarguments the legendary constructed andtohe provides dataparto abuser.

Despite the places fact that ists through these ofIndians worshiplaud that‘famJael well Gauhar Jaan was born Jewish Armenian most his hypotheses, the comments ily values’ of in public, truth 40 is in posters, a large number thought designing which prove ents and firstofnamed Angelina Yeoward. written inofa of homes, the elderly are aspects stripped of love, dig- on the essay are would, in essence, detail Joalmost Cohen entirely sits on the boards tone of outrage.

Everyone, it seems, knows nity and alife desire live.contribuof Jewish andto their Kolkata’s two Jewish girls’ and someone who is 80schools. or 90 and justattributes as produc-a tion to the city. “I thought of boys’ She and creative as of they always been.

Reason to livehappen when I am what would portion herhave community’s sucThe heroestive of the may well exist. their In US,People hospice carego is to anthe increasingly at- These peoplecesses notthe here. would to the city But itself.

“Wenumhave Jewish community’s which is perhaps why the comtractive option, are made com- bers are small, synagogues, butwhere they patients wouldn’t never faced anti-Semitism here. story are arguably find them exceptional. fortable, their managed, know who we pain are,” issays Jael, a but no new mentators themselves When it comes to opportunities, its women The arguments that detail the outrage course of treatment is offered.

Nehru Fulbright fellow, who di-On paper, hosbusiness or our friendships, we often spiritual than scientifpice assisted-living facilities for the though are more videscare, herand time between New are like anybody else.

That kind that people aged, mayKolkata. seem The like idea a sort of easing into ic. But then it York and soon of isa inevitable Jew is a rarity.”

Flower hide Silligod.that Despite centuries of death, a wayand of candy the morbid. But from death behind developed, with flossing the assistman says after browsing and scientific it doesn’t to beof so.the If done right, is a way medical ance andhave support School ofitCultural through advances her daughter’s archive, aprogress, Bengali Being Mortal of finding thingsJadavpur to live for.University.

Texts and new Records, A death friend remains, called toeven ask,today, “Whythe didultimate you all mysever tells thedigitised story of Bill Thomas, It She canlaughs be viewed ashad a chasm to that fall wholly archive wasa 31-year-old built over phytwo tery. leave?” softly. “I to tell her sician who charge of Chase Memorial through, lonely journey, or years for thetook benefit of a larger audience. this is theaonly cityand thatfrightening seems to want us back.

Nursing assisted-living could beelse viewed simply, as the HaemorAfter home, havinganconvinced her facility uncles with and it Everyone is busy shooing usend. away.”

When 80 disabled residents.

The home rhaging a miscarriage, once nearly aunts to sendand all elderly the pictures and documents asked if after she regrets seeing Athill her once-vibrant was well, Thomas saw despair in died.

She writes, “I was notsurvival, in the least theyrunning could find, Jaelbut soon saw the word spread. community battle for its thealarmed 84-yearevery room.was In aflooded particularly wondered if IOmar had the strength“The left Her inbox withinspired materialexperifrom as oldI dimly is quick to quote Khayyam, ment, to introduce twopeople, dogs, to think finger some suitable Lasthaving Thought, concludacross he themanaged globe. “These were old moving writes, and writ, moves four catsinand one70s hundred birds into the facil- ed I hadn’t, said toFrom myself the words: mostly their to 90s, scanning photoon.that I don’t haveand regrets.

4,000, you’ll ity.

It wasn’t without problems. when thea ‘Oh if I now. die IFor die.’

I wasgeneration sure, then, that graphs, writing articles, sendingBut them in. As havewell, 40,000 a new across teething troubles over,substantial the results now,” were nothingness just that.” result, the archivewere is fairly the globe, thiswas archive preserves their history.” evident. changed thetoplace around, says Jael.ItReady access scanners, shebringadds, venugopal ing in birdsong and life the residents’ shreevatsa nevatia is a Kolkata-based writer significantly helped hertocause.

“If I had lives. tried veena

Q R

Q R

ND-X _ A

11 15

shoot

saturday, november 1, 2014

BL

12

The slow march At its own pace, the Kolkata tram gently meanders through the city, unchanged by events that have shaped the world in the last 141 years

All aboard The tramcar departs from the depot at Esplanade for Khidirpur

L

ike an electric reptile, the tram rattles through the lanes of Kolkata, its two bogies inching along the steel tracks as a matter of habit. The Calcutta Tramway Company (CTC) has been ferrying people non-stop since 1902. Although first introduced to the city in 1873, when a 3.9km route was established from the Sealdah area to Armenian Ghat Street, trams were discontinued in 1880. Once the service resumed at the dawn of the new century though, it never came to a halt again.

In its 141-year history, the CTC has remained a constant in an ever-changing world, witnessing the partition of Bengal, the nation’s independence and the naxal movement.

“While I could have probably moved onto other government jobs, I never wanted to leave this one,” says Chanchal Das, a graduate

who joined the CTC as a conductor and recently completed 32 years of service. Das has seen the trams evolve from rickety streetcars to airconditioned refuges for harried commuters.

Set at a pace synchronous with a certain age, no one gets on the tram for its speed. Or punctuality. Trams are known to make unplanned stops, halting mid-journey so the conductor can readjust the knobs and levers before it can start chugging again, winding through crowded bazaars and empty maidans all day.

While financial constraints periodically threaten CTC’s future, until the tram pulls into its last stop, and long after it does, the unmistakeable sound of its bell will ring in the ears of those who lived in the city in gentler times. shome basu is a freelance photojournalist currently based in Delhi

BL

shoot

saturday, november 1, 2014

Lines of control Electrification of the tramway, and reconstruction of the tracks to 4 feet 8.5 inches or standard gauge, started in 1900. It continues to be the standard track system here

Room for more Daily commuters jostle for space

The cockpit The engine or the driver’s console. Today, a tram manufactured by the CTC at its workshop costs around ₹65 lakh

The line-up At a depot, a conductor sorts tickets used by commuters on tramcars and CTC-owned buses

A breather Tramcar conductors chat awhile and tally their accounts before starting on the next route

No quick fix Conductors wait for repairs after their tram breaks down

Keeping count Even the smallest change is accepted on these trams

ND-X _ A

13

watch cover shutterstock/khafizov ivan harisovich

saturday, november 1, 2014

anna mm vetticad

BL

14 10

FILM FATALE

The naked truth The increasing objectification of male stars is disrupting the status quo, making some people uncomfortable while others celebrate. But does this mean gender equality is at hand?

S

hah Rukh Khan’s naked torso caked in mud, his rippling muscles bathed in bronzed make-up, the anti-gravitational wonder of his low-rise trousers miraculously staying up, while teasing us with its revelations… If you’ve seen director Farah Khan’s Happy New Year (HNY), you know this image is not a figment of my fantasies, but a dominant visual from the film.

The past 15 years have been marked by an increasing display of the male body in mainstream Hindi cinema. With HNY though, Farah has taken the trend to a whole new level by ensuring that her heroes’ nude upper bodies overshadow even the tiny waist and endless limbs of her heroine Deepika Padukone. The objectification of the two men in the film (Shah Rukh and his perennially open-shirted or shirtless co-star Sonu Sood) is so in-yourface that it led one SRK fan to lament the exhibition of what she calls “Bollywood’s answer to cleavage” in an article on a prominent news website. The writer thought nothing though of introducing Padukone’s character in the film solely in terms of her legs. She is not alone in adopting this contradictory stance.

Why are so many people inured to skin show by a woman, but uncomfortable with a similar display of male flesh? When I discussed the double standards with friends, one gentleman in our group told us he sees nothing attractive in the six-packs paraded about by most male Bollywood stars these days. Fair enough. That’s his call. He then added though: “I don’t think even women like it.” Er… The ladies in the gang pounced on him in unison: how about letting us decide for ourselves?

Eye candy crush In was Happy New five Year,to Shah Rukh Khan hisnothing stuff, acknowledging it seems, is ‘trending’ So thereeath, you have it: the reason why SRKright and brain tumour.

She given 10 years to struts most on agingthe orheterosexual frailty or female dying. gazeBut as well the homosexual maleconfirmed gaze now. Perhapsstill it isinvites the times we live live.

Sood’s exhibitionism comment in as April, further tests that How the process unfolds, how people experibereft of of bosoms, irony and filled only while the in, pageant midriffs and she was at stage four of the cancer and that her ence the end of their lives, and how it affects the certainty legs from with actresses worldwideofisentitlement, considered in health was likely to deteriorate the gym”, The Washington Postdrastically. columnistShe Ri- ual those around them the point. female gaze (not seemed to forgetbeside the homosexual onefor that a freshly- chard par themakes course.the Ourapplication reactions toofobjectificahad only about sixinmonths of quality Cohen wrote 2012: “Gary Cooperlife in male The way we saw it, the way our professors saw gaze). minted to a timeless eventuality notmost just High tion areverb governed by many factors, but aheadNoon of her.wins Grace Kelly by strength of it, Let’s the purpose of medical was to not, however, claim schooling a gender equivaacceptable, butconditioning. even appropriate. con- character, of all by social All ofPublic us — men Maynardnotimmediately tookabout 50, and lence here. These muscles. He was teach how to save not bodhow men work hardlives, on their versations and womenabout — havedeath grown have up onalways a diet ofbeen ads, Kelly control ofaher death. moved was mere 23... She Maybe the best example ies and show to off tendthe to their demise.” results, but they are crowd-pullers, but in body the last couple of dec- of which use the female to sell everything, to the state of Oregon, she unmuscled herowhere is Humphrey Bogart in nowhere near as Yet, demise is inevitable. many in number as theirAnd feades, eagerproducts as we have beenon tofilms live that on, conincluding for men; em- Casablanca. is allowed toBogart legallywas choose herolderSurgeon 15 years than In- andmale even though we arenor the are onlytheir specounterparts worldwide, author sume on the and looks get a bucket list of activities and death; established phasise of actresses a new home; grid Bergman and it did Atul not matcies to bereductive aware of this portrayals as isinevitabilthe case Gawande says habitually achievements accomplished, they have large- got a new driving more than actors; on film induswell ter atlicence all. He as had the experience, we are often ones with women ity, on celluloid.

Theirthe looks areleast just the medical ly been limited tothat whoare andprone how. These reports as access tothe tries worldwide medication thatthe profession’s confidence, internal one to deal with it.continue Through aspect the star package; they focus on ofprepared — of suicidal IIT students adventure seekers would help strength to discard older actressesorwhile her die. that Thencan she only come with anecto dominate theirstudies, films’ research storylines;and and we keeping patients alive case swept away a suddenly swollen river — have giving actorsbyfar greater longeviwentwho about age… trying These to finish as men seduce; older dotes, Gawande proposes a radihave them subjected to the kind of Even male stars at any cost is yet to see mainly been with (a) morbid fascinaty, based on consumed these notions: on her bucket list are not seduced.” cally different approach to leering camerawork, low-brow choreography sportinglymany offer thingsthey counterintuitive tion, good fuelled only the relief it hap- asupshe that looks arebya bonus for thatthemselves the while, About Craig,shehowever, he or insulting lyrics looking death by assessing likeat “Main toh—tandoori murgi forcould. All penedstars to someone else, when male but essential for it ac-could so easily continues to wailed: campaign for triumphs more “…he physical- hoon yaar, Gatkaale how one wants alcohol to live. se Patients saiyyaan (I’m a harmless have been oneself.

Suddenly, in the last few states to passly, tresses (b) that women lose their laws wouldHe al-does not woo piece of flesh, notthat cleverly. must askconsume themselves imcome mewhat withisalcoobjectification weeks early though, and tenor of public looks (c) the thattone attractivelow the terminally ill to die with women; they just come on to hol)” with which portant to them — the girls’ ability to Bollywood’s ‘item rouoperate within conversations about death have ness is not necessarily a factor of changed. dignity.

If she sticks to her plan, then today, him.”

Boohoo!

How blasphebe mobile, or use the bathrooms themselves, tinely degrade themselves. a power structure was when it popped on our November ageThe orfirst evenjolt physical beauty for up her last. mouswould that abefilm should high- to So be yes, conscious, to be able to talk, attend let’s offer kudos maletostars whoa dominated by men 1, 2014, Facebook It seemed jarring that in an men sincewalls. personality, charisma light a man’s physique, that sportingly wedding over thethemselves weekend, toup seefor a child who offer harmless ecosystem built around preserving and talent count more for them. the photo Confronting mortality women should be assertive lov- objectification, is on his way back place farthat away — and butfrom keepain mind they opof We’re every moment of our existence so accustomed to the and every Shocking as Maynard’s decision determiners, that an older is,male actor erate then decide the risks of the medical procewithin ifa power structure dominated by random thought that misogyny intrinsic to pops theseup be-in our head, a ing the pointshould at which lifethe becomes untenable face demands that fe- men. dure are worth giving up any equate of thesethe goals.

Let’s not for a moment com29-year-old talking about death.

If you liefs, that toowas many of us — women included — male is something medical is just pulsions stars havethe always dealtcommunity with. Now considIt isn’t, of course, as or easy as it sounds.

Ageheroines marginal actresses have been a user of theThe internet in theobjectifilast few er don’t question them. increasing about starting to think over. In his latest to book, what it does to regular women be with ing itself slow process of losing control thoseisofa their male counterparts, or asweeks, of it is likely that tooyears stumbled upon bombarded cation male stars inyou recent (especially Being Mortal,24x7 Atul with Gawande, who a general sume images of isimpossibly over things that matter.

As more and that gender equality is now atmore handdein theBollywood) story of Brittany Maynard.

At 29, Maynard by has been disquieting though good-looking and endocrineactresses, surgeonespecially in Boston, US, defysays film those cisions of what is yousteps are handed industries orimportant elsewhere.toBaby are alis too die. She is also, as some com- ing for theyoung status to quo-ists. thatage, the many medical profession’s focus on of whom are products notkeepjust ways over to other people — spouses, children — it worth celebrating, so long as we rememmentators have pointed toobeing prettyato die. of Feeling unsettled is oneout, thing; hypoingsimple patients alive at any cost ishabits counterintuimake-up and healthy but also ber becomes increasingly decide that that’s what theyhard are —to baby steps.on a Both isofquite which are theReacting reasonstowhy story of crite another. the her spotlight tive.

“I learned about a lot ofand things inIn medical Botox, cosmetic surgery so on. such a goal, much less prioritise it. The process of carmm vetticadisis the author of The Adventures hasDaniel gone viral.

In January year, Maynard’s on Craig’s body in this Skyfall and express- scenario, school,” Gawande starts his book, “butprovide mortal- anna men like Craig and SRK ing for geriatrics intrinsically one that inan Intrepid Film Gawande Critic t@annavetticad headaches were as a malignant ing pain “from alldiagnosed the hours (Craig) has spent some ity wasn’t onebyofacknowledging them. Our textbooks had al- of respite the heterosexfantilises them. sits in with a doctor

Death by design

Public conversations about death have always been crowd-pullers. In the last few weeks though, the tone and tenor of these conversations have changed

D

Q

Q R

R

ND-X _ A

BL

watch cover

saturday, november 1, 2014

Agents of mortality?

Author Atul Gawande argues that everyone has a right to decide the tipping point ; Brittany Maynard has a date with death today, on November 1 wikimedia commons

Mazel tov again

Researchers studied the effects of this programme over two years, comparing a variety of measures for Chase’s residents with those of residents at a nearby nursing home. The study found that the number of prescriptions required in Chase fell to half that of the control nursing home. Psychotropic drugs for agitation decreased in particular. The total drug costs fell to just 38 per cent of the comparison facility. Death fell 15 per cent. The study couldn’t say why. But Thomas thought he could — “I believe that the difference in death rates can be traced to the fundamental human need for a reason to live.”

‘Recalling Jewish Calcutta’ uses photos, videos, recipes and documents to tell the story of a community whose strength has dwindled from 4,000 in the 1940s to two dozen today

at the geriatrics clinic of the hospital he works in. After going through the list of problems and the medications the patient was taking, the doctor embarks on a close examination of the feet of the patient. The biggest risk that the elderly face is that of falling. In the US, of the 350,000 people who fall and break their hip every year, 40 per cent end up in a nursing home and 20 per cent are never able to walk again. Even if a patient seems fine for their age and the number of medical conditions they have, the feet often tell a different story. The patient who was examined while Gawande was sitting in, came in well dressed and looked like she maintained herself very well.

Yet, her feet were swollen. The toenails were unclipped. There were sores between her toes and the balls of gallery the feetofhad thick, digitised rounded n the video a recently calluses.

The most significant the docarchive, ‘Recalling Jewishadvice Calcutta’, Aator had her was to direct toas a podiatrist ronfor Harazi recounts hisher days a student, once clerk a month, that her feetThough were better takand so businessman.

97, he is en care of. and animated. While some of Haraarticulate isn’t just feetare care.

Like in babies, zi’sIt recollections deliciously candid, even othsomething as basic essential as swallowers demonstrate theand extent to which Jews in ing is challenging forbeen the elderly. time, Calcutta have always affectedOver by global the lordosis of the tipsspeaks the head events.

Harazi, for spine instance, of forward. a girl he In the angle of the throat, looking hadterms once of chased.

He mentions his father’s deahead is akintoto lookinginup. is comsire to move Palestine theChoking 1920s, and then mon.

Older peoplethe have to beofreminded describes learning secrets industry to in look down while eating, so that his food can pass Birmingham.

Having recorded memories through the throat.

It is then normal famfor posterity, the spirited Harazi sadlyfor passed ily members and caregivers to assume that away a few weeks ago. His death, though, hasa person who isn’t capable of the eating on her own given his recollections and digital archive is incapable of deciding on“This whatarchive kind of came meda greater sense of import. ical them. just treatment in the nickisofappropriate time,” feels for Flower Silliman, an octogenarian who grew up in the city. “Jews Home and away in Calcutta are dying out. A decade later, Caring elderly particularly complex there’dfor be the no one left is toainterview.” problem in the compiled Indian context.

Traditionally, Meticulously

by Silliman’s daughthe joint‘Recalling family system in-house ter Jael, Jewishprovided Calcutta’an uses photosupport system,recipes with children, their spouses, graphs, videos, and documents to tell and grandchildren pitchingwhose in — some happithe story of a community strength in ly voluntarily, some grudgingly.

AsAfter urbana theand 1940s was estimated to be 4,000. and semi-urban India moves rapidlythe into syspersistent exodus mainly to Israel, USaand tem of nuclear families, caringaround for thethe elderly Europe, its present size hovers prebecomes an acute mark. problem. arebut often carious two-dozen “WeThey say 24, in dragged across geographically and Jews,” forciblysays infact there are less than 10 active troduced to new and environments as it Jael. Underlining thealien threat that advancing isn’t insist yearsprofessionally pose, she adds, possible “I am oneto of always the youngest on stayingin close ageing parents.

Depression members the to community and I am 59.” is With common among fast theseshrinking, geriatrics,Kolkata’s as is a its numbers sense uselessness might and helplessness.

The real Jewishofcommunity well find that this estate recognise cidigitalmarket archiveisisthe thefirst onlytobuffer it hassenior against tizens as a credible customer base. prospective oblivion.

Moreover, forTownships Kolkata, it fitted withrepository medical and housekeeping help is the only that highlights the semiare coming up inhave suburban nal increasingly contributions that Jews made India. to its As large numbers young Indians seek social fabric whileofliving here for the lastwork two outside theAscountry, a relatively centuries. for Jael,these “Thisbecome effort has helped safe option for parents. me embrace mytheir identity as a Calcutta Jew, and While number of assisted-living faciliit has alsothe helped me give something back to ties is growing, the immense societal judgthis city.” ment of ‘abandoning one’s parents’ prevents Buildings and establishments such as the the majority from opting them. So Ezravast Mansion and Nahoum & Sonsfor Confectionpeople care for the elderly even ery still continue survive asto Jewish landmarks in Kolka-

I

Part of life What then is a reason to live? When all ambition is exhausted and there is no energy to create more, perhaps that is the point when (leftdifficult. to right) In a finding a reason toPast liveperfect becomes the 40 posters TheofGuardian lastdesigned month, charming essay inOne

by Jael Silliman; a wedding photo legendary editor Diana Athill says the of Philomena Gubbay andidea of death has never been alarming.

Thelast process of Bernard Jacob, the death is another matter.

“Death the inevitaconductor of theis Calcutta Symphony Orchestra; a day at— I ble end of an individual object’s existence the zoo in the it 1930s; and of life. don’t say “end of life” because is a part (below) Arati Devi Rachel or Everything begins, develops — iforanimal Sofaer, a prominent actor in vegetable, breeds silent — then films fades away: everyanimals, thing, not just humans, courtesy ‘recalling jewishplants, calcutta’ but things which seem to us eternal, such as rocks.

Mountains wear down from jagged peaks to flatness.

Even planets That natural procdoing this project a decay. few years ago, nobody ess is death.” would have sent me their original photoThe AtlanIn another much-shared essay inpictures graphs.”

While some sepia-toned in September, Emanuel, the director tic theinarchive showEzekiel an early generation of Jews of Clinical Bioethics at theones Nain the Arabic robes, other Department black-and-white tional Institutes Health, US, wrotetypically why he demonstrate howofthey later acquired wouldn’t toBut liveeven beyond 75.than He wasn’t adEuropeanwant tastes. more these picvocating euthanasia, merely listing histories the reatures perhaps, it’s the personal sons a that life beyond age holds whichwhy prove the Jewsthat of Calcutta had no alIt isup thewith tail the endtimes. of a productive life, crethough they don’t often wish to. It isn’t sur- charm. ways kept diminishes, are became harder and prising then that a survey by HelpAge India re- ativity Joseph Elias Ezra, activities for instance, Caljoyful chances of in active ported in June this year that 50 per cent of the less cutta’s firstand Jewish Sheriff 1888.contribution Still rememsociety are historic significantly “Once elderly were abused in their home. This is up to bered for his valourreduced. during the 1971I lived to JFR 75, Jacob my approach myashealthfrom 23 per cent last year. The survey covered have Indo-Pak War, retired into1978 a lieucare willIndian completely change. I 1,200 elderly in Tier I and Tier II tenant general of the Army. Emmanuel won’t actively end alumnus, my life. But Indian cities. Among Tier I cities, Elias, a La Martiniere of Calcutta wasI try toBritish prolong it, either.

ToBangalore reported 75 per cent a drummer inwon’t the 1980s’ band Tears for day, are when the doctor recomof polled elders facing abuse, Fears. But these admittedly a fraction of The real estate mendsmade a test or city’s treatment, while Delhi reported 22 per cent. achievements by the Jewish market is thethe first to especially Verbal abuse (41 per cent), disreThe heroes one of itsthat storywill areextend arguarecognise community. senior ourRachel lives, itAshkenazi, becomes incumbent spect (33 per cent) and neglect bly its women. to cite an citizens as a credible upon us to give a good reason (29 per cent) were ranked the customerearly baseexample, became the first practising Jewwant it. The momost common types of abuse. ish lawyer to why pleadwe fordon’t Muslim women in purmentum was of medicine family Sons and were ta, but thedaughters-in-law most identifiable signposts of the dah. Tabitha Solomon one of theand country’s means we will almost invariably the abusers and elders saidits three syn- pioneering woman community aremost undoubtedly dentists.

Esther Victoria get it,” Emanuel writes. became they suffered thisNeve because of and Magen Abraham, better agogues — Beth-El, Shalome known as Pramila, of in Emanuel’s are emotional and economic dependence the theAlthough David. It was while guiding visitors andontourfirst Missall India 1947. Evenarguments the legendary constructed andtohe provides dataparto abuser.

Despite the places fact that ists through these ofIndians worshiplaud that‘famJael well Gauhar Jaan was born Jewish Armenian most his hypotheses, the comments ily values’ of in public, truth 40 is inposters, a large number thought designing which prove ents and firstofnamed Angelina Yeoward. entirely written inofa of homes, the elderly are aspects stripped of love, dig- on the essay are would, in essence, detail Jo almost Cohen sits on the boards tone of outrage.

Everyone, it seems, knows nity and alife desire live.contribuof Jewish andto their Kolkata’s two Jewish girls’ and someone who is 80schools. or 90 and just as produc-a tion to the city. “I thought of boys’ She attributes and creative as of they always been.

Reason to livehappen when I am what would portion herhave community’s sucThe heroestive of the may well exist. their In US,People hospice carego is to anthe increasingly at- These peoplecesses notthe here. would to the city But itself.

“Wenumhave Jewish community’s which is perhaps why the here. comtractive option, synagogues, butwhere they patients wouldn’tare made com- bers are small, never faced anti-Semitism story are arguably find them exceptional. fortable, their managed, know who we pain are,” issays Jael, a but no new mentators themselves When it comes to opportunities, its women The arguments that detail the outrage course of treatment is offered.

Nehru Fulbright fellow, who di-On paper, hosbusiness or our friendships, we often spiritual than scientifpice assisted-living facilities for the though are more videscare, her and time between New are like anybody else.

That kind it isa Jew inevitable that people aged, may seem The like idea a sort of easing into ic. But then of York and Kolkata. soon is a rarity.”

Flower hide Silligod.that Despite of death, a wayand of candy the morbid. But from death behind developed, with flossing the assistman says aftercenturies browsing and scientific it doesn’t to beof so.the If done right, is a way medical ance and have support School ofitCultural through advances her daughter’s archive, aprogress, Bengali Being Mortal of finding thingsJadavpur to live for.University.

Texts and new Records, A death friend remains, called toeven ask,today, “Whythe didultimate you all mysever tells thedigitised story of Bill Thomas, It She canlaughs be viewed ashad a chasm to that fall wholly archive wasa 31-year-old built over phytwo tery. leave?” softly. “I to tell her sician who charge of Chase Memorial through, lonely journey, or years for thetook benefit of a larger audience. this is theaonly cityand thatfrightening seems to want us back.

Nursing home, anconvinced assisted-living could beelse viewed simply, as the HaemorAfter having her facility uncles with and it Everyone is busy shooing usend. away.”

When 80 disabled elderly residents.

The home rhaging a miscarriage, once nearly aunts to sendand all the pictures and documents asked if after she regrets seeing Athill her once-vibrant was well, Thomas saw despair in died.

She writes, “I was notsurvival, in the least theyrunning could find, Jaelbut soon saw the word spread. community battle for its thealarmed 84-yearevery room.was In aflooded particularly wondered if IOmar had the strength“The left Her inbox withinspired materialexperifrom as oldI dimly is quick to quote Khayyam, ment, to introduce twopeople, dogs, to think finger some suitable Lasthaving Thought, concludacross he themanaged globe. “These were old moving writes, and writ, moves four catsinand one70s hundred into the facil- ed I hadn’t, said toFrom myself the words: mostly their to 90s,birds scanning photoon.that I don’t haveand regrets.

4,000, you’ll ity.

It wasn’t without problems. when thea ‘Oh if I now. die IFor die.’

I was sure, then, that graphs, writing articles, sendingBut them in. As havewell, 40,000 a new generation across teething troubles over,substantial the resultsnow,” were nothingness just that.” result, the archivewere is fairly the globe, thiswas archive preserves their history.” evident. changed thetoplace around, says Jael.ItReady access scanners, shebringadds, venugopal ing in birdsong and life the residents’ shreevatsa nevatia is a Kolkata-based writer significantly helped hertocause.

“If I had lives. tried veena

Q R

Q R

ND-X _ A

11 15

watch talk

BL BL 168

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

A second wind Journalism, seriously?

PRESENT IMPERFECT

A new crop of directors is making offbeat films in Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil and Caught as it isaudiences between so many constraints, state of the profession is utterly fraught capturing who don’t speak the the language Dream debut Hit Kannada thriller Lucia, produced through crowdfunding, veers nail-bitingly between nightmare and reality; (inset, from top) filmmakers Anjali Menon, Karthik Subbaraj, Balaji Mohan and Pawan Kumar

to the Naalaya Iyakkunar (tomorrow’s directors) show on the Tamil channel Kalaignar TV and gained his entry into the local film industry. Menon had worked in television and made documentaries before the film-writing bug bit her.

Social media, too, played a vital supporting role. Subbaraj and Mohan uploaded their short films on YouTube and soon had producers backing them. Pawan Kumar blogged about his struggle to find a producer for Lucia and the rest, as they say, is crowdfunding history. “It changed the way Lucia Clamour was perceived and how I was communiqué perceived.

Social You can never be media will become the true voice and valfirst, dear journalist idn sridharan source of an individual,” ll I crave is to sleep, brother,” says school and college and althe Kannada director predicts.

Nicky, a theatre who’s his was the week of the usher Lutyens vi- sufdesired to work ence ways is nearly non-existent andin our enigmatic many disclaimers and But Mohan sees a downside several warnings.

And — feringwith fromLutyens’ insomnia. rus. It started Spice, a new films. saw howand some prime“Iminister hisdireciron-fisted con- then proceeded tosocial media today give his top two piecesisofflooded in“Just before you go to Twitter handle that popped up bed, Ratnam,makes Gautham trol tors overlike hisMani colleagues everything vestment advice with content.

“There’s much — open a demat accountsoand take seemingly one these ofout these every night,” says the of nowhere.

In the andthan Selvaraghavan inspire moreMenon difficult it ever was.

Media has buy bluechipcompetition nowto—concede, betweenasamastocks. You have dealer, smirking as he hands over first drug few tweets, it was established that Lu-a botthe audience come to the transformed in thetolast decade and nothing stock tips go, even teurs and professionals — on Youa poodle could have given of red pills Lucia. tyens’tleSpice was a named Delhi Journalist, who was works theatre, and decided to take like it used to. It’s bad enough that im- better advice in a Tube thattime. it becomes difficult shorter Beaming An- to here on, Nicky’s dreams nightwilling From to let unprintable political storiesand have up direction,” says Mohan. portant stories are increasingly harder to chor, polite but dogged, filter content.

But it’s still defipushed and pushed mares blur existence. unrecognisably reality, and a 140-character Word into of Lutyens’ In the competi-would have re- for an actual stock tip. break; that TV highly news channels nitely the best way now to reach Ace Fund Manager, psychological thriller Spicethe spread quickly among otherLucia Delhikeeps Jour- you tiveitsouthern industry, the arrives, that trapped in a I’m-smarter-than-you ported before the newspaper out and get noticed if you’re game, re- a guessing with itsran many and turns. nalists and everyone for twists their phones to The newcomers yearned to be dofull of it before peated his two meaningless Twitter and Facebook would newcomer,” heNow, says. I am tips. end mind-blowing! follow theishandle.

But then, before you could the TV out-of-the-box work. It’s Decameraman arrives. virtually impos- aware investment managers Now that are they oftenhave disal-been Veering or away from the three-song-twosay Cardamom Cinnamon, another Twitter sible ciding to first. consciously to be the What iswork worse is that when lowed by their companies noticed, to Subbaraj, Pawan Kuname specific fight-revenge-seeking a group handle turned up. Lutyens formula, Masala. This was of onmanage scripts to that were hands fresh,on an impor- stocks. In which case, you do get your mar they and Mohan should are let itching go of to young, new-ageInsider directors south India are followed

by Lutyens andinthen Lutyens engaging appealingwith to totant story, it hasand to compete links such as some television glory try different things. and stay home.Romance Yet, ev- is a out to else prove thatother, the clichéd is passé. something or the and within a cou-Along day’s to audience, they fat’ made ‘Five ways blast stomach or the genre that Subbaraj hasn’troles. attempteryone’s trapped in their way,there theywere are also blurring linguistic ple ofthe hours more Lutyensthe on Twitkindwears of films theyThe would ‘Katrina a bikini.’ read- enjoy ed soTVfar, so he wants to dovery thatlitfor his The channel, left with lines ministerial that have traditionally ter than bungalowssegregated in centralaudiwatching themselves.

Menon, er, who was a large unknowable third feature film. number Kumar says tle choice and a large of he south Delhi.ences By the end of ofthe theVindhyas. day, these Lutyens ac- masswho theisNational Award outwon there, far easier to needs to have a reason minutes to fill,other A generation of Delhi programming (Kannada), Jigarthanda counts Lucia abandoned all attempts at political track now, yet she for UstadtoHomanages rethan money to make a film, will ask Ace Fund Manager back, Journalists have and Kadhalil Eppa- exclu- main a mystery. And gossip and insideSodhapuvadu stories and focused tel’s so screenjournal- become Opinionators knowing “Maybe haven’t he willthat’s comewhy backI and and Bangalore Days which ists write what play sivelydion(Tamil), speculating and uncovering 2012,is — they can terminate spout nonsense they in think made anything sinceviewLucia.” again. And (Malayalam) are box office hits each of important and eventually journalists were operating behind strongly come beBut they are all aware ers will sit down and watch it for that you with their townsaccounts. that speak their lanthesein Lutyens lieves believe whatthat they opinions and they will 30 seconds commercial viability up is the before picking Socialtomedia willthat only guage and ofothers nationally, This recasting priorities isn’t surprising, content is think important. bedrock of the film world and their phones and clicking to see become theistrue be back Meetthat their direcfor ifeven thereglobally. is one thing Delhi Journalists The deIf the politicalking. journalist is any investing producer usually what Deepika Padukone is up to. voice and valid source tors Pawan Karthik Subare fascinated by,Kumar, it is other Delhi Journalists.

A anworking to connect circumstances has his say in thecaught script. Will With journalism be- this of individualunder sire baraj, Balaji Mohan and Anjali generation of Delhi Journalists have become that are dire, the with the jouraudience business not dilute the kind of cinema tween so many constraints, the they whatMenon, can be respectively. called Opinionators — they can nalist is worse off. at an emotional With public re- level wish of to make?

Subbarajisbelieves state the profession serious-comTheyou Tamil filmtheir industry has aand they lation companieshasplanting terminate with opinions seen them several dozen ly fraught. It is only mercial viability is important a question of time before a in a global presence columns and hasinfawill be back. Comment op-ed pag- gatekeepers and plumb for simhawkishly hovering each young ‘serious’ journalist script, realises as alsothere entertainment is very big-budget mass-enteres arevoured now largely reducedcommercial to Opinionators ar- time ple stories thatmeets peoplea can a journalist CXO, absolutely little serious journalism (not necessarily comedy) going on. You can ei- vallarger-than-life guingtainers against with each other.

As soon as heroes. one is In relate KSY, for isinstance, nothing of to. relevance accomplished. Often, ther play the gameue. has ifto you be gripor“The get movie out. And contrast, cinema works with published, it is Malayalam uploaded and then re-upped delineates suggest how one‘one-on-one guy PR companies interac- choose to play the game, pingthere foris only theoneaudience, sucsmaller and realistic marked (sic) every fewbudgets hours on Twitter, so stories more peomessed hismeans love life. tions’, whichup only you’ll be served tea cessful role model today. whether a thriller The it’s man who is or rec-an acby strong The Kannada film industry ple can join in.content.

Camp loyalties are constantly Since this content resofrom sparkling china cups in a sparkling office ognisable by his first tion film,” says. who namehealone, again does notand boast big budgets, prefers under surveillance followers chimebut in exnates widely and the CXO, trainedwith as hemovieis in this, speaks sev- thunders into your living Pawan Kumar is once again room announcing banking on time, crowdfunding commercial films and words has a limited market. eral thousand pectedly with appropriate of approval goers, many of these words, all movies of which taken to- not some namby-pamby prime but a Su- to a film the way he wants to.

Today,The the three industries are at a point or criticism. next day, a counterpoint is of aretell being inThrow other langether youremade nothing. in a ‘strategic’ per Prime Time. Ifmake he’s successful, it is because looking a crowdfunding convergence, producing published in another paper or small-budget blog and all offilms guages, Hindi, Tamil in every otherincluding sentence and a ‘paradigm’ alter- he interpreted“We’re the term mediaatcircus rather model that’s himself within its ourring legal framethat a cross-cultural, it resumes all over again.cross-border This goes onaudience for a is andand Telugu. natively everyone pretends that it is time literally. And appointed maswork.

The more people journalism who invest, the up (with for their week,lapping by which time subtitles, each sideofiscourse) convinced In many crop ofmahurat directors is well spent.

Lastways, week,this onnew a Diwali ter. The first step to the successful to- less thetoindividual losses,” he explains. treatment and powerful content. they innovative have triumphed.

Forward and onward alsoshow a product of our channel, times. Unlike previous trading on a business I watched day is discard every single principle you the coming days,buy it would interesting then,Delivering to the nextrepeated Opinion.hits, these directors have generations of filmmakers, theyManager have experias Beaming Anchor asked Ace Fund learned.InThen get out and a darkbe suit.

And watch how these small-budget stars transprovedto they areitnot a flash in the pan. whatmented Contrary how mayjust sound, none of this with short and documentaries his investment tips films for the viewers were. teachtoyourself to shout. tookeasy up direction because there was a lack is fun. It“Iisn’t being a journalist anymore before venturing into feature Short Ace Fund Manager filled the studiofilms. air with a film late their vision and success to bigger budgets t@veenavenugopal of acting opportunities,” 32-year-old — in Delhi and elsewhere.

Accesssays is hard, influ- Pacompetitions by film stating companies and top stars. prologue that lastedorganised four full minutes, wan Kumar. Karthik Subbaraj and Balaji Mo- and TV channels also helped showcase their han, on the other hand, were writing plays in talent. Subbaraj sent in his short film Parallax latha srinivasan is a Chennai-based journalist

T“A

Q

Q R

ND-X _ A

Veena Venugopal is editor BLink and author of The Mother-in-Law

R

read talk

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

Creating distance British writer Martin Amis at his home in New York jennifer s

UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY

The Kashmiri

altman/the new york times

Too often names of places like Kashmir come to us through tales of grief. But there are stories untold of heroes and everyday heroism that rarely make the headlines

Help yourself A man pulls his son on an inflatable raft through the floodwaters in Srinagar PTI

M Farce as the glue

ohammad Huzaifah Lanker died few casualties, numbering in the low hun- who had in the decade since Huzi’s demise, deat the age of 19 in Srinagar, in De- dreds. I travelled to Srinagar a few weeks ago, veloped skills and contacts that they now put cember 2004. His was not a and was struck by how quickly people had to use. The people who contributed to make death brought on by conflict, ex- cleaned up the streets — often without much this possible were even more diverse. Kashmicept indirectly. Jammu & Kashmir provides government assistance. At Presentation Con- ris, both Hindu and Muslim, contributed of half of the electricity generated by the Nation- vent, the watermark was at more than 15 feet, course, but so did people from across India. al Hydroelectric Power Corporation, but due the principal’s office was pretty much de- Some chipped in from far-off corners of the to the Indus Waters Treaty signed by India and stroyed and stacks of books had been reduced world as long as the possession of an Indian Pakistan in 1960, storage for hydroelectric to stinking pulp. But one of the former school- passport allowed them to do so legally bedams is not allowed. This means that during teachers was helping distribute relief collect- cause of the prohibitions of India’s stringent the winter, when the cold is at its height and ed by the convent — largely donated by the FEMA laws. What was most appealing for the flow of water its lowest, when heatHolocaust mustKashmiris mean many manycated was that not merelycamp, an initiaparents of students.

Angelus “Golo” Thomsen, whose job descripwith this the was concentration and the need electricitythings the most, theydescendants can’t receive it. to the of the tion is slightly mysterious, and whose glad eye tive to dole out aid,drama but a are wayjust to like helphelpless skilled emplayers in this than providing directhe relief the with Huzi was takingprincipal a bath that coldas day in Decemactors well as reluctant ther people re-establish through eventually turns soft when falls for in love ployees driven themselves by a corporate logic their they canfloods,wife the Hannah; Huzaifah and Lanker ber, before Friday prayers.The Since electricity was alive Doll’s observers. subject remains own hard work.

Szmul, a victim who not comprehend, while at the same time Trustbecomes was trying another tack. unreliable, the houseof in Europe which his parents andsomein the literature and England, Tooof often names of all. places an accomplice. keenly aware the the lunacy of it Against AmongUsing thosethese who had lost grandparents lived and usedsometimes a gas-based heater. For times directly obliquely. like Kashmirthe come to us through live points oftheir view, Amis slyly decon- this same backdrop, three storytellers homes and the livelihoods That day the gas leaked and in Huzi died. the rest of us, removed both space and time, of grief.

We imagine structs actions ofwas theFaofficers, whose grim out theirtales personal trajectories that their intersect This was not merely rooqoutcome Ahmad. isAged 55, to Unwilling to let him his name) forgot- in it is difficult to (or imagine the be Holocaust residents as people who need neveraround in question, in insanity. an initiative to dole with afour family members to As ten, Huzi’s set up aact trust to provide edutermsfamily of a human of any sort. The horror help, and pity, because of theThe tra-Zone sequence of bizarre hilarity.

Eventually, however, out aid, but a way to of, his home cation andthe medical services to the needy; in take care and utter lack of humanity effortlessly vailsof that pressgets upon and around a counterpoint toand this tailorthe unreqInterest carried away by its help skilled people someovershadow small way, allaying own hurt by ing shop any othertheir aspect that historians them.

I know of the Huzaifah uited were love ruined story by thattheruns own cleverness.

Amis’s dexterity re-establish At the end, you might Bashir the Ahmad, a few years easing thecare pain others.

This year may toof draw attention to. the trust floods.

Lanker Trust’s because of it to through events, symbolising with voice,work his skill at using themselves well bethrough left asking older,the with a family—toand feed, suf- — had additional thrust upon Perhapsresponsibilities it needed the imagination ofita novmy depict personal desperate doomed theinvolvement, character of itsbut owner, their ownthe hard work what point of it all feredattempt a similar whenelist thetofloods hit actual J&K. Aevents combination of the push the largely into thereand are his many such initiatives, byfate. the Today playersthey in this sheer verbal inventiveis, other than are stitching pheransto— regain the warm freakbackground rainfall, badof town-planning and various a story that traces, instead, the not just J&K, but also in Assam black comedy a semnessinfrequently makes the surcompelling the sort of overcoat-like outer garment failures in responding to the unprecedented absurdities in the lives of those in charge of exand face Meghalaya, among other that blance of humanity. of the prose so alluring mindful reading that worn by the circumstances large parts is, ofwhile the state ecuting themeant pogrom.

Trouble this may places, working with localsdoes ButKashmiris this is notduring the hackneyed theoften meaning lying beneath is becoming rare in winter months — for other people who such as Farooq and were add affected, many areas of Srinagar of cold to thewith multilayered understanding a strategy Bashir who are not that fiction uses to tell a not drawAhmad, attention. the age of digital have tale beenofaffected by the floods.

This is the content to be merelyAnd submerged 15-20 feet ofafford water.toMilitary horror under the world cannot forget, it alvictims. little well evil from perpetraat theBut end,with you amight skimming outcome the Stitch One campaign help from people be helicopters thata were pressed emergency so creates distance that into almost seems unethwho them, tor’s ofperspective.

On Pheran the conleftknow asking whatand themany point of it Trust to argument kickstart the local who do not, they all service were often counterproductive, as the of organised ical, an artifice rather than the rawness a trary, by areis,willing to work hard to the it the builds the other than compelling TheHolocaust idea was to buy cloth from local stand on their own backwash rotors upended hastily- economy. realityfrom that their cannot be flavoured. twooffeet.

These reading are the hethat the cannot be exsort mindful that is traders, employ tailors who made rafts, the collapse of houses.

Amisand is led no to stranger to gaming the Holothrows up after plained bylocal assuming any had hu- lost em- roes this countrybecoming rareday in the ageday of digiployment much else besides, And yet, His in the midst of all this, during a told caust. earlier treatment, Time’s Arrow, against the tragedies that dominate the headman and qualities on the partand of provide those who tal skimming. garments theisneedy. floodthe thatstory was the in moredoctor than a backwards, centu- the stitched of worst a Holocaust lines, and ignore them, with hardly line engineered it. Butto what the source of this deAn we illuminating afterword is a asatisfying of those involved in this ry, which directly moreand thanreversing two mil- into Many starting withaffected retirement to their name.

Today, would Still, like for to the recall humanisation?

Is it merely theinitiative diktat of the dessert to this mainI course. best of wereFuehrer Huzi’s cousins disclosure: I am mar- theseAmis lion people, with In families stranded for dayshe onpicks Auschwitz.

The Zone Of Interest, names, especially that of Huzi, just once. on — never(full mentioned by name? on Nazi history, read his observations ried to one them);another some ofidea, them employed the roofs houses withtogether no food,three clean farceof as their the glue holding narraThisof is where the brain-numb- Hitler’s anodyne sex life instead. t@OmairTAhmad or living in places Bangalore Delhi, is watertive or medicines, there comparatively voices from thewere German management: ing impact of like working for a and corporation, camp commander Paul Doll, an effortless cari- neatly conflated with the concentration arunava sinha translates classic and contemporary cature of anyone Paul Doll could actually be; camp. As it happens, a rubber factory is co-lo- Bengali fiction and non-fiction into English

A telling of the Holocaust that gets carried away by its own cleverness

T

The Zone of Interest Martin Amis Random House (Jonathan Cape) Fiction ₹650

Omair Ahmad is an author. His last book was on Bhutan

O

Q Q R R

ND-X _ A

9 17BL BL

work read

BL BL 186

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

CUB READS

From coconut Clothing well-to-do India towers to Pahadpur False alarm ELSEWHERE

From a swadeshi mill to global denim-maker, Arvind has constantly reinvented itself. Its next big opportunity is the country’s high-earning millennials who love to dress in big brands

and the competitive framework. One has to come up with newer strategies… An eye for those kinds of details has kept the company going for so many years,” says Lalbhai.

Terming the company’s decision to become a denim-maker a “bold move”, Devangshu Dutta, chief executive at consultancy firm Third Eyesight, says it led to both ups and an math ever be fun? More than bananas downs as denim is a very cyclical business.

Have you had enough of Some other mysteries though, are “But they have been able to look ahead and not t’s a sunny afternoonbe but theback weather’s I a small apples, oranges and tougher to decipher, as Ranjit Lal held by the turned past,” hecold. says.So That am sitting at my computer, all fabric the windows closed. Inof becomchocolates to illustrate writes in his young-adult novel, The playerwith in the sector thought the distance, I can hear the soundleader of a fire-engine.

Because confusing arithmetic operations Secret of Falcon Heights. Set in the ing a global in denim shows a readiness I live close to a majorto thoroughfare, I hear sirens like addition and subtraction? Let’s beautiful hill-town Pahadpur, the break from the past, addsquite Dutta.often. The police are most common, with ambulances and fire-entry bananas with Captain Coconut, author’s second novel in this genre gines tying for second place. the ridiculously clever detective of plays with all-too-familiar elements Swadeshi origins On this particular occasion, thestarted harsh,out honking wailMills, of the Coconut Towers, who embarks on his — a dysfunctional family, one deArvind as Arvind founded in fire-truck seems a little more usual.(including It is, by in- Lalbhai’s first mystery — the case of the mis- ceased parent, a frosty relation who 1931persistent by three than brothers tention, a very jarring sound, a cross between a diesel generasing bananas. When the Captain thaws later and young love. grandfather Kasturbhai Lalbhai) just as Inditor and a bassoon. In the ans US, the crews go out foreign whenever breaks into his office one morning, a hadfire begun burning clothes inSandeep, Manish and their little there’s someone or something need of rescue, not just for garbled plea for help awaits him on sister Chubs arrive at their aunt’s spiredinby Mahatma Gandhi’s Swadeshi and fires. Across the street from where I live, for instance, there are his answering machine.

Civil Disobedience movement.

Indigenous place in the sleepy, internet-less regular emergencies involving naughty children who resAt Mrs Y’s, he discovers the dis- town. They soon discover a desolate clothes were in demand andneed the company was cuing because they’ve locked themselves into of their traught missus sobbing over a bowl mansion called Falcon Heights and poised to cash in on the the attic opportunity. two-storey home. of fruit. Mrs Y had bought 14 ba- the lonely girl who lives there. MysMore than six decades later, in 1992, Arvind I can still hear the siren however, go to the kitchen to take nanas and the family had consumed terious, reserved and oh-so-beautibrought so toI India Arrow, among the earliest a look. Yow! The fire-truckglobal is IN THE DRIVEWAY! thein winfour the previous night. But, instead ful, Aranya catches Sandeep’s eye, as apparel brands With arriving the country. dows closed, all sounds from are muffled. of 10 bananas, there were only six in she trains her magnificent falcons The the firstoutside outlet inworld Mumbai’s GirgaonIChowpatwonder who is stuck in the dash to myoffront the bowl! And just then, a few more to fly. Shunned by the people of Patyattic area and is a landmark sortsdoor. even Ittoday. And never occurs to me that there’s actually a firehas in 16 progress.

So bananas disappear from the room, hadpur, where gossip travels fast, 22 years on, Arvind global brands in its when I open the door I’m astounded to see thick white right from under the Captain’s nose. Aranya is a young teenager with a kitty, its relationship with eachsmoke staying strong. billowingthis outwith of Pete’s front door.

What cheek! Who was Contrast several other Indian joint dark past. Called the Half a dozen blue routinely stealing the bananas ventures with giants global wearing brands that ‘leper of Pahadpur’, evfire-retardant with such audacity? end in divorces.suits complete with eryone avoids her. Cuvisors bright yellow helmets are absolute Captain Coconut “My and grandfather taught me that rious to discover her While Ranjit Lal’s I leap back with a blocking the and tinytrust hallway.

It’s like puts on his ‘tough nut’ transparency are most important in secret and keen to bestory ends on an twang. Giants in blue being in a scienceFairness fiction movie.

And and putact, ‘does the coconut’ all relationships. in dealings friend her, Sandeep optimistic note, it is a suits have that effect I’m the resident alien,shoes haha!is a must. We have (that is, when he reting yourself in their dives into local histogrim reminder of the on me in the hallway.ofHemisunderstandhas a members a really small notPete’s had also a single instance ry, chats up talkative times we live in bemused expression on his face.

He says. fact from his elephanting with any of our partners,” Lalbhai old maids and emsees measand says, “The neighbours like memory), sings a Even it continuously signs up foreign ploys the cute charms called the Justbeing the few songs and awaits a players (GAPfire anddepartment!”

Children’s Place of Chubs. One rainy afthen, one of the giants notices meArvind standing in my doorway and its own brainwave. The Caplatest), is assiduously growing ternoon, he chances yells, “Ma’am! Stay AWAY14from thetoo, SMOKE and Excalibur, SHUT THEFlying Matain is a bit like Chacha Chaudhary, upon her diary, where he discovers brands including DOOR!” I leap back with a twang.

Giants inRuggers. blue suitsLalbhai have that turbaned, moustachioed and very, that she was brutally sexually aschine, Colt and is preparing effect on me. very brainy. In Chacha’s fictional saulted by the local politician’s son the company for yet another emerging opporI’ve always been told these old wooden buildings can burn town, mysteries are more dhamaa- and his friends, her father died in tunity: when per capita income in to India crossthe ground in a matter of es minutes. whether to packspending kedar — banks are looted, people are suspicious circumstances and she $2,000I wonder and Indians start an overnight case. Or maybe just grab my passport and some robbed, explosives and missiles are became the bad girl of Pahadpur. disproportionately on clothing.

He estimates money? What about the computer? iPad? And oh fired far too frequently. Crimes are this to be true byCellphone? the year 2020.

The tale moves in Bollywood-esheavens, all the chargers. Just then there is a hammering at the more intricate in Captain Coconut’s que fashion, when the local goons door. One of the giants is standing festooned in heavyworld, but in In both cases, involves a chairman Dressed outside, to succeed try theand same Sandeep’s new their jeansitSanjay Lalbhai, MD ofon Arvind Ltd, with sons Punit and Kulin duty electric cable. “Uhh …World Ma’am?

We need to run a power-line lot of brainpower. There’s also a bit friend Parul, who is as beautiful as over the apparel category does well for the ventilator. Where’s the nearest plugincome point?”crosses In the kitchof Shikari Shambu in him, as the the falcon-keeper. Help comes in the once per capita $1,500. India is n theCaptain late ’70s,bunwhen power began denim manufacturer supplying the best of he en. “Thanktoyou, Ma’am,” says, most asArvind he connects pot-bellied, khaki-clad nearing that politely mark and is “ well-poised nick oflooms time, the baddies are roundexpand resolurapidly in the case global brands. By the mid-’90s, the wire. the company to capture this emerging opportunity”. gles his way to antounlikely edAhmedabad, up and Aranya’s reopened. worried ownersatof 74The composite half an hour the emergency is over. One the departing tion. Mrs Y is happy (she swoons The ofcompany also wants a Pahadpurtextile folk askhad for become her for- the world’sInthirdwith camills met a young man whoshe had just outlargest giantsa knocks on my door to retrieve thefoothold cable andacross another one the clever detective’s denouement); categories and giveness, comes of her denim-maker shell pacity of 120 million metres. completed his MBA from and Mumbai’s informs me that I’m free to move in andprice out ofpoints the house once women, Captain Coconut can triumphantly — men, there’sJamnalal a hint of love blossomInstitute. The idea survival third generation in claims there was no emergency more. Pete at all.and “I fell asleep return to his Bajaj ‘Premium-strength co- was children undergarments, as ingtoincraft the aair.

While Lal’s Lalbhai, story ends powerlearnt looms were onoptimistic, a better footthe business and currently its with something on the stove!

It caught fire, value, but I had it under conut water’strategy on ice;aswe’ve also premium and bridgeon an everything-will-beMany mills folded up ing — they did not didn’t direccontrol the whole time. We didn’t the fire prices. department. what is 14 bananas minus fourhave ba- unions This way it aims okayand note, it iseven a grim chairman reminder and of managing in Ahmedabad, but needto-luxury licence to expand young tor, has been constantly re-in- see the mess You should they made of my nanas, minusneed four amore, minus one capacity. tokitchen!” cover most of the market. “We the timesThe we live in, of extra-judicial not Arvind mantoo sawmany clearly that the answer in a new venting alone The fire-truck parps and wails as it backs of athe driveway. last one, and that bananas aimout to be $2-billion brand in rekillings,lay rampant sexual abusethe andcompany. This product category onlyheady had global ap-rumour, ensured that Arvind Ltd survived will give you diarrhoea!

In Priyathat Sun-not the tail in the next 10 years. We have mix of politics MANJULA PADMANABHAN, author and artist, tellsgrowth us tales ofplans her parallel in peal but also resonated the new India. even as the rest of the over 80 texdram’s excellent illustrations and with for life everything — and power.

Aranya’s tale could well And that’speppy how Sanjay the of camps tile mills that existed inElsewhere, Ahmeda-US, in this fortnightly series marginalien.blogspot.in Anushka Ravishankar’s dia- Lalbhai, from international and own ring true inscion the relief of Mubad 35 textile major Arvind entered theordenim logues, the setting is tropical, theLtd, zaffarnagar brands to retail formats,” Lalbhai says. in the streets of years Delhi.ago folded up.

“It is about constantly reimagining the space.and By 1987, colours are bright the Arvind Captain,had transformed from a To expand its retail footprint, Arvind is conpriyanka kotamraju and sarees to a company and looking at the possible threats verting its Megamart stores (3,000-4,000 sqft) very funny. maker of dhotis, kurta-pyjamas

Learn math with Captain Coconut and find out about the travails of life with a group of teens

C Captain Coconut and the Case of the Missing Bananas Priya Sundram and Anushka Ravishankar Tara books ₹400

I

Q

The Secrets of Falcon Heights Ranjit Lal Penguin ₹250

When a fire-engine comes visiting the neighbourhood

R

I

Q R

Q R

ND-X _ A

work takeaway

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

A BUTTERFLY BREEZE FROM MP

The bee all and end all What is the connection between our lack of salad and cyclone damage? To what degree are animal-mediated pollination and climate change interlinked?

joanna van gruisen

W

ith the monsoon over and cooler weather around the corner, tourist season begins in Madhya Pradesh. The rains were not so plentiful this year, and the grass is not as high, yet all is lush and green. What is plentiful this year is the insect population.

Some loved for their beauty or appreciated for their benefits — the butterflies, dragonflies, mayflies and a few gloriously coloured beetles fall into this category. Others, the aphids and stink beetle family, are not so well loved. Indeed, the latter are in such numbers this year that much of our planting has failed — no delicious rocket and lettuce salads, no beans, no spinach; these are some of their favoured foods and the seedlings are sucked dry before they have time to greet the world.

We received a touch of tail-end wind and rain from Hudhud, but by the time it reached us, it was miles (literally and figuratively) Collateral damage Spraying pesticide on a paddy field near Thrissur, perhaps killing useful insects too kk mustafah from being cyclonic weather.

Andhra Pradesh Welcome collaboration The manufacturing plant of Arvind OG Nonwovens, a joint venture with Japan’s OG Corporation, at Dholka, Ahmedabad and Orissa, of course, fared very differently — cause and net result are similar. The speed of the death of midges, its main pollinator. winds of up to 200kmph lashed the coast the changes we are bringing to the climate is Animal-mediated pollination occurs in 90 into Power Megamarts — 10,000-plus sqfttooutcausing massive disruption and damage in- the increasing extreme weather patterns, but also garment is custom-made at a factory set customer per cent ofacquisition, the world’s losing flowering plants. money on Reallets with international brands and no disfrastructure and property.

Less considered is up thein temperature differences creating critiBangalore under a jointare venture with Ja- most member those birds, bats, bees, insects everyalltransaction. counts.

“We have from a discount the long-term effectevolved of the extraordinary de- pan’s cal changes to insect Goodhill Corp. life and to vegetation cy- whose swept by that the “But homes I don’t were think also Arvind willaway follow brand (Megamarts were factory outlets)ofto nudation and damage to the vegetation thea cles.

This can result pests strategy.

Positioned in in thean increase premiumin crop category, Hudhud?E-commerce About one-third of be oura food sources has to value-added branded value player.

Soand we are not discountregion; trees stand bare broken, Visakha- Creyate and a reduction in their It can also, shirts start at predators. ₹2,699 and suits at business, derives from beeand animal-pollinated, for that pricing hasmostly to be sensiing at all.”proudly maintained green cover is ₹15,000. patnam’s rather worryingly, result inpeg a mismatch be- ble,” Industry analysts the margins pollinated, Such pollination he says.crops.

Any successful strategy improves would inAs many Power are up and history, forasa 38 while at Megamarts least. The concern is beyond tween pollinators thecent. pollinated — as in- volve a profitableand 15 per the fruit and seedwhere quality quantity of 70 per foreseeing theorIndian customer is running and is pleased with what thisalready, may do to theLalbhai birds and the bees.

We sect pollinators and plants differential Arvind’s e-commerce teamhave is a young one, headed cent of our crops, so done we can and tropical what needs to be to imagine fulfil his their profitability — 18until per cent take these for granted, they earnings disappear.be- with reactions variations temperatures.

26 astothe average in age, and they are busy or how drastic her needs.the effect on food production will fore interest taxes.

“As the old formatsour go setting But what and is the connection between Few people aware paramount im- be with their loss or even with mismatches beup theare back endof forthe their online mardown new formats open, Megamart will ketplace. lack ofand salad and cyclone damage?

The root portance “We of natural biodiversity to human hope to launch it by August next The tween the flowering of the plant and the foselling point start giving even better returns,” he says. life. Nor that, in Asia, 50 per cent of this is at Currently, year,” says Lalbhai. raging activities the pollinator.

Added to nearly of two-thirds of Arvind’s reveProjecting itself as a one-stop fashion risk due to climate change. Visakhapatnam nues this is(expected a potential increase in vulnerability to to be over ₹8,000 crore this fishouse, Arvind is reaching out to customers Riding may bethe learning tough lesson this year, given cal) brandawagon pathogens and diseases likebusiness, Colony Collapse comes from its textiles which is through all possible means, including the on- Unlike the huge Hudhud’s destruction mostimbalance other Indian e-commerce players, growing Disorder at(CCD) in bees, which hasand become 10-15 per cent. Its brands retail line market, which it sees as essential to future he willdoesn’t bring towant the birds, and segment, to relybutterflies, simply oninsects discounts. part of thehowever, Western lexicon. is witnessing a higher growth. It now has a subsidiary, Arvind Inter- “We smallare mammals that lived its greenery, and growth not looking at in profitless topline Fortunately India the best “Moreover, bee region of 35-40 per lies centinannually. net Ltd, focused on e-commerce and led by growth. on whichWe weare alllooking depend.atSuch life is so easy to we a model that is prof— five species arenew found here So andour a sixth, willkey be launching brands. busiLalbhai’s younger son, Kulin. destroyand but satisfies so much the harder to recreate. itable requirethe European ness honeyvolumes bee, has will beengrow introduced. multi“In e-commerce, we will come up with our ments The storm’s damage of consumers.

Wemay will be try Some theitself mostcould delicious fold. of GAP be a and bilown marketplace, where we will sell our en- and obvious and easily recognisable, position this through service healthy wildbusiness honey is found lion-dollar in the here. next tire collection besides a number of private la- and but more subtle changes are ocdifferentiation.”

But muchItasiswe mightopportunivalue the 10 years. a large It is a brick-and-click bees’ bels and new brands. It is going to be a huge curring withgarments as profoundtypically an imBranded sweet produce, the bees’ ty,” says Lalbhai.

The estimated cropwhere we have roleIfas initiative,” he says. pact. aItprofit seemsmargin we are of waking have 15-20 up per model pollinator is considered itsatextile business grows at pollinating valuesite of an e-commerce late toand study this,selling and the relacent, online further to be many times more valuable 10 per cent and brands and rebees worldwide is as well as stores Bespoke in business tionships complex andestate, delicuts costsare such as real (15-20 times in India). tail at 35 per cent, Worldwide the latter nearly $200 billion Arvind’s online brand Creyate already offers sales cate, staff but already scientists are and electricity among their crop-pollinating couldestimated equal or outgrow textiles customised styling solutions for shirting, suit- others. warningArvind of the immense can easilydanger attract value nearly $200 he billion.

The in theisnext 10 years, predicts. ing and jeans. The customer can personalise online to the world’s buyersfood as itsecurity. retails aIndiwide bees’ significance economic Alongside the and growth, the his clothes with a fabric, design and style of his selection an agriculture, whereincluding 60 per of brands, value is also clearly visible₹2,800 in the company also has nearly choice. This includes fabric flown in from Pa- Tommy cent areHilfiger, dependent on rainfall per cent crore US Polo, Arrow,and Lee,80 Wrangler, fact that even in India, where — Lalbhai in contrast, debt on its balance sheet. is in for no ris and Milan. Customers can walk into a com- Calvin are small andand marginal farmers, already vul- hurry Klein GAP besides itsisown brands, example, to the US we still enjoy much natuto reduce it.—The company’s growth is pany outlet to give their measurements. If such nerable weather inconsistencies.

This and is a currently as to Flying Machine, Colt, Ruggers ral pollination, installation of three-five bee funded through internal accruals. needed, a stylist will arrive at the customer’s many seriousmore. issue — agriculture contributes 25 per “What colonies of crop canreducing increase debt, seed weper are acre looking at is not doorstep for the measurements, armed with cent our GDP and employs 65 and per cent of but Thetocompany’s fabric business supply yield. may be good todown reflectthe ongearing this when toItconstantly bring raan iPad loaded with details of the products chain our workforce, mention the 100 million expertisenot willtobe added advantages.

Ar- tio considering pesticides, since are a cru(debt to EBITDA).”

Last year,these the company’s and fabrics available. dependent on non-timber produce.Advi- operating vind Singhal, chairman offorest Technopak cial factor in the CCD Europe andwhile the US. No profit wasof₹987 crore, debt “The world is moving towards co-creating; sors, Of sees course, different areas will affected stood Arvind’s online effort as be “a sensible harm at learning others’ aroundfrom ₹3,000 croremistakes.

— a gearing ratio you get involved in designing your own war- move” differently buttoinsect ecology for willbranded be an issue owing the demand ap- of If only three.

I could“We find a predator foritmy saladnearly will try to bring down to drobe, seated at a computer. It is a brick-and- parels. everywhere andthere affectis afood production.

It two,” “Already massive growth in eatinghepest. says.One answer, as for agriculture in click model where we have an e-commerce online would be a mistake to believe can deal with apparel retailers like we Myntra and Ja- our climate-changed is to revenues adjust crop This would involve world, increasing as site as well as stores where one can feel the fab- bong. the increase pestswill by using more pesticides.

Goingin online enhance the reach of well and planting time.

Which? And When? We as entering high-margin businesses.

To ric and give measurements,” he says. Arvind One of brands, the problems pesticides that that which with are not readily is availashall extent, have to learn by experience.

Would it not Lalbhai’s retail strategy should Launched in August, Creyate has had a fantas- ble,” they often hit the beneficial insects along with help he says. have Arvind been simpler notincause climate lower itstodebt the next few tic response, says Lalbhai. “The sales are be- pests, and kill agents of production — the But Dutta of the Third Eyesight cautions that in years. changeIfinitsthe first past isplace? anything to go by, Arvind yond budgeted numbers. We want to debug the pollinators.

For example, it’s said,space in Ghana rapidly evolving e-commerce there will be busy reimagining its future success. the whole thing and then scale up,” he adds. mass spraying of cocoaCurrently, crop could result joanna van gruisen is a wildlife photographer, is no guarantee of the success. price-led pratap conservationist and hotelier based near Panna, MP Once a fabric is selected, it is flown in and e-commerce in as much asplayers a 90 perare cent drop in yield dueon to rashmi spending heavily

Q R

ND-X _ A

7 19BL BL

takeaway know

BL BL 20 4

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

Twister in the tale The damaged roof of the airport terminal in Visakhapatnam after Cyclone Hudhud battered the city on October 12 afp/andhra

pradesh state government

I SPY

New York times Kunal Kapoor, of Masterchef India fame and executive sous chef at The Leela, Gurgaon, takes a bite of the Big Apple 6.30am Jumpstarting my (every) day

8.00am Window shopping for Halloween

7.00am Early morning call for a yellow cab

7.30am You’ve got a fast car, I want a ticket to anywhere

8.30am Heading towards the iconic Brooklyn Bridge to catch a ferry to the Statue of Liberty

Rising against the elements Cyclone-wrecked Visakhapatnam rallies its forces together to build a renewed city

T

ND-X _ A

hose who love it have constantly referred to it as “a city of destiny” — namely, one singled out for great things during the next two to three decades. And Visakhapatnam — the scenic seaside pride of Andhra Pradesh — more than lived up to its glorious reputation, until, that is, cyclone Hudhud dealt it a body blow this October 12.

The timing couldn’t have been worse: with the separation of Telangana it is the largest and fastest-growing city in the truncated Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone picked for its landfall AP’s sole major industrial centre replete with the Visakhapatnam steel plant, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, BHEL, HPCL refinery and the Visakhapatnam port in the public sector and several IT companies, pharma companies and the Gangavaram port in the private sector.

These industrial assets have suffered irreparable damage and cannot resume production anytime soon. According to one estimate, the total loss suffered by the local industry is in the range of ₹10,000 crore.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu su1.00pm A shoot during lunch at Michelin-starred pervised Tulsi downtownrelief operations for more than a week and claimed a loss of ₹40,000 crore across the three north-coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.

“Fortunately, we have reduced casualties to the minimum by taking up massive evacuation and alerting the people about the cyclone. The number of casualties may be 40-50 in the three districts,” he said.

The city’s green cover couldn’t escape the fury of the elements, and residents no longer recognise this battered landscape. Trees across the city and on the surrounding hills were uprooted and popular tourist destinations, such as Kailasagiri, have taken on a grim and grotesque appearance.

The fisheries sector is in a crisis as more not enough if the government provides just than 500 boats were damaged totally or par- 25kg of rice and a few kilograms of essentials. tially, leaving the fisherfolk jobless. “We need The impact is long-lasting and the livelihood loans to buy fresh gear and financial support issue should be addressed in earnest and for a few months until we can stand on our soon,” she said. feet again,” says Arjili Das, a community leader The city has been brought to its knees, but 11.00am Reborn — the World Trade in the Peda Jalaripeta fishing hamlet. the chief minister chose to put on a brave face Center now stands tall as Freedom Tower PC Appa Rao, president of the AP Mecha- to inspire confidence and revitalise the inhabnised Fishing Boat Operators’ Association, itants to the task of rebuilding. “It is only a says not even a single boat has escaped dam- temporary setback. Most of the great cities in age in the fishing harbour and “unless the gov- the world are on sea-coasts. We will rebuild ernment comes to our rescue, it is impossible the city using appropriate technologies and for us to survive. The position of the tradition- make it as cyclone-proof as possible. We will al fishermen is worse.” not let the brand image of the Chaganti Sasikala runs a small city suffer,” he said. Prime Minisbusiness supplying hometer Narendra Modi visited the cooked food at Seethammadhacity and announced a relief packIt is only a ra. After the cyclone, there was a age of ₹1,000 crore, besides temporary setback. scarcity of essentials and “a promising all help to rebuild ViMost great cities huge demand for prepared food. sakhapatnam as a smart city. are on We couldn’t meet the demand.

Schools, industrial units, sea-coasts We are slowly regaining normalNGOs and other sections of sociecy,” she says. ty have undertaken a massive At the small paper-bag unit campaign — Green Vizag — to re3.30pm Evening shot the — coming New York and owned by V Kamakshi, a paper generate city’s to greenery.

1.30pm Never too farheld from home (or chaat) not queueing As up atrebuilding Starbucks is agathers sin consignment was up and pace, some stock was damaged. “We need loans at there is greater awareness about the approprilow interest rates to normalise our oper- ate technologies and materials to be used in ations,” she says. the coastal areas, where corrosion is an everThe Visakhapatnam Co-operative Urban present hazard. The loss of natural habitats Bank has come forward to offer loans at slight- such as mangroves has also proved costly, robly lower interest rates to help small businesses bing the interior areas of their natural buffer get back on their feet. “We will open a zero-bal- against the marauding cyclone. ance account and immediately offer a loan of The state government has announced it will ₹5,000 to any small-time vendor who furnish- lay underground cables for the city’s power es a proof of residence,” says Ch Raghavendra transmission and telecommunications netRao, the chairman of the bank. work. The emphasis will be on building a Noted activist Medha Patkar visited the cy- clean and green Vizag, says G Srinivasa Rao, clone-hit slum areas of the city and urged the the HRD minister. government to implement the food-for-work scheme for the marginalised sections. “It is ch r sarma

Q R

meet takeaway

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

Modi is known to have strong reservations (perhaps jealousy or competitive rivalry) about Gadkari. Yet another reason for his qualms was that Gadkari had brought Sanjay Joshi, Modi’s bête noire, into the organisation.

Modi had threatened to boycott a BJP convention in Ahmedabad if Joshi was not thrown out. Gadkari had to oblige. Modi won the intra-party duel. This was much before the Gujarat election in December 2012, which launched Modi for prime ministership.

Therefore, there was no ‘race’ between Gadkari and Fadnavis. Modi could not have chosen Gadkari, who thought of himself as the 5.00pm Walking is the best part of being in NYC ‘original development man’. Modi could not have created a parallel power centre. The chief minister of Maharashtra, by virtue of being in Mumbai, is automatically part of the corporate world. Gadkari is savvy with the wheelingdealings of the stock market and the business community. That itself is seen by the ModiShah duo as a threat to their desire to control all levers of power across the country.

At arm’s length Nitin Gadkari (left) and Devendra Fadnavis (centre) at a Vijay Dashami function at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur last month pti

4.00pm Taking a bite of my new Apple iPhone 6

4.30pm Some serious M&M shopping

A

6.00pm Avocados in the market

long with law, Fadnavis has completed a course in business management. But everybody knows that academic knowledge of business management has absolutely nothing in common with actual business practices. Fadnavis will depend heavily on Delhi (read Modi/PMO) for most decisions regarding investment development ofatMumbai.

8.00pmor A the cutting-edge welcome the Indo- It is a complex of decision-making.

Mumbai’s Chinese web restaurant Nanking 7.00pm Look what I found corporation is jointly controlled by Shiv Sena and BJP. Today, even if they form a ruling alliance at the state level, the relationship is so badly soured that both parties will look at each other with suspicion. The Sena leadership is paranoid and in panic that the BJP wants to swallow it.

It is a four-tier political structure and all these tiers are often mutually exclusive. The Zilla Parishads are in the hands of the NCP or Congress. All rural institutions, from banks to colleges, are in their hands. The corporations are controlled by Shiv Sena, MNS, Congress and NCP. The so-called Congress System operates at the local levels. The state will be run by a minority BJP government and the central mayor of the city, one of the youngest in India. government by Modi (not BJP really). There is a 9.00pm Dinner at the famous movie-theatre9.15pm Giant fortune cookie with custard and disconnect asno, it isI’mbetween the NCP, ConHaving studied law, is ableEast to articulate his huge turned-restaurant Tao, he Midtown fresh berries (and not telling!) stand on most issues in a studious manner gress, BJP and Sena. Fadnavis will have to masand often eloquently. Known for his rather ter the trapeze act to manage this horrendous soft and accommodative nature, he has been system. It is neither a question of experience able to make friends across the political spec- nor of being well-meaning and clean. Even a trum. But that also makes him far too “obedi- classical Maratha like Prithviraj Chavan, with ently yours” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. blessings and support from Delhi, could not Indeed, that is the main reason why he has cope with the skulduggery in the state.

For Fadnavis, the governance will be a chalbeen chosen for the post. lenge on two counts. His ministers have harditin Gadkari was minister ly any roots in the dry lands of in the Shiv Sena-BJP governsouth Maharashtra. And the ‘wild ment in 1995. At that time Modi west’ that is the notorious westwas not even on Gujarat’s politiern Maharashtra, which is run by Even a classical cal horizon. Gadkari was very the neo-rich rural and feudal satMaratha like Prithviclose to the late Balasaheb raps who are beyond the political raj Chavan couldn’t Thackeray. In fact, in one of his reach of the BJP. It is here that cope with the skulleffusive moments, Balasaheb Fadnavis will need the NCP assistduggery in the state 1.00am Straight out of the movies — a proposal 2.00am Signout Times Square the city even said he would have made ance,selfie andatthe NCP willin require at Times Square. And she said YES! that truly never sleeps Nitin Gadkari chief minister, protection and patronage from over and above Shiv Sena leadthe government. However, the reers. Gadkari had implemented bellious, aspirant, unhinged and Balasaheb’s dream project, the Mumbai-Pune unemployed lumpen youth can’t be straightExpressway, in record time and at a relatively jacketed by any government. They provided low cost. Known for being involved with small audacious energy to social media, going on an and medium industrial projects in Vidarbha, online rampage during the Modi campaign. and promoting innovation, he is directly asso- They were the cheerleaders who raised Modiciated with ‘development’, the Modi Mantra.

Modi-Modi slogans. But the political fire-briSo the idea of becoming CM was injected in gade of Fadnavis will find it difficult to control his psyche much before Modi became the CM the inferno of this youth brigade. Unfulfilled of Gujarat. Gadkari was also close to Atal Biha- aspirations can lead to anger, and frustrations ri Vajpayee. Also, with roots in Nagpur, he has can lead to fierce violence. The seeds of that direct access and blessings of the RSS. He was kind of anarchy are everywhere. the choice of Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagkumar ketkar is a senior journalist and author wat to be the president of the BJP.

Obediently yours Maharashtra’s new chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis’s political career has been in the making for 23 years

kumar ketkar

I

NZ AVOCADO ANDFadnavis COCONUT f Devendra had STEW not joined poliServes: 2tics, he could have become head of the Time: 30department minutes in a law college, or general Ingredients manager in some multinational compa1 NZ just of ripesome and firm ny,avocado, or director important educational 4tbsp coconut Nitin oil institute.

Gadkari’s personality oozes 2 dried red chillies politics. Not Fadnavis’s. Both are from Vidarb2tsp mustard seeds ha, and both are Brahmins. (Those who are 1 sprig of curry leaves curious about the caste factor could 1/4 more cup ginger, julienned that both 1/4 note cup garlic, sliced are Deshastha Brahmins. Fadnavis does not have a genealogical link to the 1 cup onion, sliced famous Nana Fadnavis, who was a 1 green chilli,Peshwa slit 1tspChitpavan turmeric Brahmin).

1tsp red chilli powder Generally, the work culture in Vidarbha is 1tbsp corianderwith powder compared that of Goa — relaxed, laidback Saltand to taste unencumbered. The difference being Vi2 1/2 cups thick coconut milk darbhaites can have their ‘susegad’, a kind of 2tbsp tamarind pulp lifelong tranquility, without booze. But this 1tbsp rice flour easygoing culture of Vidarbha has not really Method affected Fadnavis.

Though, 1 Run a sharp knife from the like top many of theother BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, Vinod avocado in a— circular motion.Nitin TwistGadkari, it slightly and—separate thehad halves.

Remove bariatric Tawde Fadnavis to undergo the surgery stone, peel the skinextra and cut to remove fat, he has always relengthwise slices. Set aside. mainedinto verythick active.

2 Heat oil, addactivity dried red and Political is a chilli legacy of the family. His mustard seeds.

Once they crackle, add father was a member of the Maharashtra Legcurry leaves, ginger, garlic, chilli and onion. islative Council, from Janflame.

Sangh. Fadnavis Sauté for 3-4 minutes on the a low began to attend when in school 3 Add turmeric, red RSS chillishakhas and coriander and remained and politically active powder, stir a littlephysically before adding a cup through thetoSangh. the RSSmilk headquarof water.

Bring a boil, With add coconut at on Nagpur, could and andters cook a low he flame for be fiveideologically minutes.

4 Add tamarind and check seasoning. politically in close proximity to theMix Parivar. the rice in 2tbsp andhas slowly At flour the age of 44, water Fadnavis over 23 years pour the curry while stirring it. elected corof into political experience as he was 5 Inporator a bowlinarrange the sliced avocados the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and pour the curry. Serve hot with rice. when he was just 21. At 27, he even became

N

Q R

ND-X _ A

5 BL 21 BL

know explore

BL BL 222

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

More than brooms Sure, the government needs public-private partnerships for its cleanliness drive. But given the historical inequities in the sanitation sector, it also needs to provide regulation

Shadows speak Jules Janssen captures the transit of Venus in Nagasaki, Japan (1874)

THE COMPASS CHRONICLES

Celestial cinema

The unexpected ways in which colonial astronomy gave birth to motion picture

Right to refuse Most cities encroach on rural and outlying areas to dump solid waste, leading to angry backlashes. At this landfill site in Guwahati, a young ragpicker looks for recyclable material as greater adjutant storks sit on a mound of garbage ap/anupam nath

rohit gupta

K P

ND-X _ A

ing Mongkut of Siam, also known as Rama IV of what is now Thailand, accurately predicted the total solar eclipse of August 18, 1868 that passed through India and southeast Asia, to the general acclaim of European astronomers. rime Minister Narendra Modi’s It was already 1860 that different Swachhknown Bharatby mission has captured chemicalthe elements off distinctly colnationalgave imagination.

Financial oured flames when subjected to athe Bunsen buradvisors are betting on stocks of ner.

So Gustav Kirchhoff, in 1859, decided to ceramic sanitaryware companies.

Wellstudy the men gasesand surrounding theappearing Sun during groomed women are in an eclipse, using the same logic.At long last, Ingroup photos, broom in hand.

A new instrument would be the aimed the dians abroad are hopeful that onefor thing first time upon the eclipse a spectroscope, they’ve been ashamed of all— these years, the which would break down the will peripheral light ‘open defecation’ back home, be banished of the Sun into its aconstituent revealfinally.

It has been while sincecolours, an Indian poliing thehas composition thehas sun’s atmosphere. tician given a callofthat resonated at so For this purpose, several teams of British and many levels.

French astronomers were dispatched across Indian policy has been concerned about the the path of totality, eclips‘unwashed masses’the forjourney nearly that threethe decades e’s shadow on the Earth’s The now — frommakes the community ruralsurface. sanitation first total eclipse since Kirchhoff’s this programme of 1986 and the Totaltheory, Sanitation would alsoofbe1999 the to first see a wideCampaign theeclipse NirmaltoBharat Abhispread use of yan of 2012.

It photography. will clearly take more than morTennant, a soldier had Bharat fought to in al James force and aspiration for who Swachh the 1857 battle forlegacy independence with the Benbreak free of the of these programmes. gal Engineers, had already worked with the It brings to attention questions of governance Great Trigonometrical Survey After (one all, of sanithe and social justice in sanitation. greatest pritation is scientific not just aexpeditions moral value.ofItits is time, business, marily to map India, but an ulterior motive and business needs acumen. was to measure the curvature of the Earththe at Commentators have rightly pinpointed the tropics), and was now an astronomer. financial outlays needed — an estimatedTen₹2 nant began alerting the community to the lakh too crore divided 2:1 between rural and urcelestial event,according which would lastUnion only six minban segments, to the Governutes.

Pierre Jules Jansment.The It isFrench hopedastronomer that state governments will sen stationed himself less than contribute 25 per cent in of Guntur, this, besides gener-a kilometre away from Tennant.

Norman ous contributions from corporate socialPogreson positioned himself at the shows Madrasthat Observsponsibility.

A close reading the atory.

A priest with Johnaspects Sharp commentaries havePogson focusedcalled on three described scene thus,(health “Aboutimprovement a dozen cows — positive the externalities and infant calves feeding inin the compoundbackward stopped mortality, particular), grazing the totality cameand on, and hurried to linkagesas(sanitary fixtures construction) the as morality at evening; but as the light returnandgate public (voluntary effort). edThere they again dispersed over the field and beis little on sanitation infrastructure,

gan to graze as before.” subjective human observer from this equaThe events that unfolded after the eclipse tion and replace it with a rapid, clockwork were completely unexpected. An entirely new camera that could “shoot” almost one photochemical element was being observed in the graph per second. “It is the Sun itself that relight from the Sun. Biman B Nath describes it cords its transit… [and] …the stars shall problem forregister thousands of urbanising rural arin his excellent book Storydisposal, of Heliummuniciand the henceforth including toilets andThe sewage themselves,” emerged as eas, but of several local bodies have been Birth of Astrophysics.

Nath argues that Pogson pal solid-waste management, and caste and slogans a newurban astronomy. their waste problems onto rural arand not Janssen (as commonlyEach stated) was the sanitation labour conditions. of these re- displacing The reception of Janssen’s method was far eas. Most citiesand are many locating landfills in rural first discern afailure signature that hadand never flectsto a profound of governance so- from cordial, debates simmered areas with impunity. unequal been observed fromsystems. an element on earth. He around cial justice delivery it. Historian of This science JimenadistribuCanales tion of “For the costs sanitation has already led writes: drama the discovery ofhas he- writes, Both“The in rural andaround urban areas, the focus most of scientists Janssen’s successes to agitations in several cities including Bangalium did been not end the events of the 1868 with for long on with individual toilets.

Various his revolver — although spectacular — lore and Hyderabad. solar eclipse; wasadopted only theto beginning.

Af- were methods havethis been coax houseillusory.

The debate over chronophotogterwards, for three decades, scientists holds to install private toilets. Reasons forwonper- raphy’s claims to truth and the value of the soaction quickly moved dered astronomers hadrange got itfrom cultural Perverse affirmative sistingifopen defecation lar parallax Finally, anbeyond overwhelming majority of the all wronglocal because they and could barriers, corruption apathy at highthe confines of astronoIndian citiesofbelong never find helium on Earth. In er levels to systemic problems such as barring sanitation workers my andacross into the domain phystoilet owners poverty-related to the formerics. untouchable castes. This failure is true fact, Dmitrifrom Mendeleev, the entitlements.

In light of astronomy’s The events that However, it ischemist clear thatatinthat both whether in sewage disposal or in most famous to establish a single, reputable unfolded after the rural and andthe urban areas, access municipal managetime person behind theto value for thesolid solarwaste parallax, a new eclipse were toilets is table largely matter ofdisacment.

Sanitation has beenwith the onperiodic of aelements, role for physics emerged reunexpected cess to adequate housing.

It is a ly sector in which positive missed the idea of this elusive spect to precision measurements fact that called those helium.” without housing, Sanitation is not just discrimination in employment element — in particular, regarding the dea moral value. It is without secure tenure, have no has virtually of lostthe all speed meaning.

In the aensuing decades, Janstermination of business, and access to toilets. urban with areas, Most sen became moreIn involved light.”cities in India began outbusiness the problem isAs compounded by sourcing sanitation in the photography.

Samuel Colt Improvements to work the Janssen lack of access to workplac-design needs mid 1990s sohands much of soother that today, was inspired forsecure his revolver’s while acumen camera continued in the innoes, which results lack of secure over thirds watching a ship’sin wheel during a voyage from vators across the two world, such ofas sanitation Eadweard access to and costs was now in- James Muybridge, workersThomas in IndianEdison, cities are either Boston totoilets Calcutta in health 1830, Janssen Étienneat the household level.

Interestworkers spired by the widely used Colt revolver. His Jules Marey casual and others.

Oneorofself theemployed. first films ingly,astronomical this crisis is not unique India. Even in byIfThe theLumière goals ofbrothers the Swachh mission new camera orto“photographic (1895)Bharat contains footNorth America, lack of access to end public toilets be accomplished through public-prirevolver” was intended to put an to the de- are age to of Janssen himself disembarking from a is a hazard for thousands who spend vate as announced, then the govbate surrounding the sizeofofpeople the solar system. boatpartnerships to attend an event in their honour. much their lives on the streets. nature Oneof method of determining the distance to ernment Heliumshould wouldseriously later be examine used in athe different thewas Indian economy, street is the theofrevenue models — and incentiveresonance structurtheInSun the rare event ofthe Venus passing in of kind photography magnetic workplace place)on for a large numNo doubt cannot make front of the(and Sun.resting Depending where you are es. imaging (MRI)the to government cool the superconducting berEarth of people. sanitation resources on its own.

But on — the Adequate Antarctic or Siberia —infrastructhe plane- available magnets.the There is nowentirely widespread concern ture calls for publicagainst investments.

Without one it is a helium must: regulation.

This t’s apparent position the background that input all thefrom terrestrial will eventually these,disc people are forced use street for context-sensitive solar changes.

Thisto iseither known asthe solar pa- means escape statutory from thebacking earth’s atmosphere, just as to relieve themselves or withhold and pay design, manuals andincodes fora rallax.

It had been troublesome in centuries Janssen and flewoperation from the siege of Paris 1870 in with their and productivity. structures. prior for health astronomers scattered across the governance hot air balloon to catch an eclipse of the Sun. Also,tosolid management is assumed globe agreewaste on the exact moment the planexplores isthe science as and anantgupta maringanti anhistory urbanofgeographer to be an urban Butits it’stransit increasingly et Venus beganproblem. and ended across rohit Compasswallah t@fadesingh of Hyderabad Urban Lab clearsolar thatdisc. not Janssen only is solid waste a looming the decided to remove the director

Q Q R R

know scan

saturday, november 1, 2014 saturday, november 1, 2014

What’s in your shopping bag?

Ebola and India

A family places an online order for Why we should worry, and what we can do, if the deadly virus reaches our shores bananas, and the world’s deadliest spider arrives instead

I

t was just another day for Tim’s family (they didn’t want to disclose their surname) in south London.

They had just placed an order on the supermarket chain Waitrose’s website for an assortment of fruits. When the bags arrived, Tim reached out for some bananas, only to find a Brazilian Wandering Spider lurking beneath them. What’s more, when pest control was called in, they discovered thousands of little spider eggs waiting to be hatched under the bananas. While the pest experts got the situation under control by freezing the eggs and capturing the spider, Tim and his family, according to a local daily, was left “deeply traumatised”. The Wandering Spider, whose Greek scientific name translates to “Murderess”, is listed as the most venomous spider in the Guinness Book of World Records. One bite can lead to great pain, swelling, paralysis and, wait for it, painful erections for men that can last for as long as four hours.

Now, that’s what you call a shopping disaster.

A message from beyond

Not your heroes!

The police give the public a reality check

W

hat can the police do when they can’t live up to the common man’s expectations? Send out plaintive messages on WhatsApp! “Reel police ko taali aur real police ko gaali” is the cry ringing out from the troubled policing forces of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The pubhings are getting positively creepy in the sleepy town lic, growing up on a robust diet of of South Shield in coastal England, where a 22-year-old dabangg cop films, has “unreal exwoman started receiving text messages from her grandpectations” of the cops, they have mother last week. But what’s so strange about that? Sheri claimed. “The depiction of policeEmerson’s granny has been dead for more than three men in Bollywood is making things years. Thoroughly spooked, Emerson and her family eneven harder for us,” cops have quired with the phone company only to find out that her cribbed on the message-sharing dead grandmother’s number had been assigned to someplatform. Their records are hardly one else. This, when the phone company, O2, had promised stellar, as crimes in UP, especially, to discontinue the number after her death. The company continue unabated. This chat group, has since apologised, as also the user who had replied prehowever, seems to have given voice tending to be Emerson’s granny. He claims that he to cops’ growing list of grievances. It thought the texts he received were just a prank and had relooks like they’re jealous of everyplied only to play along. Hopefully, now that it is resolved, one from Amitabh Bachchan, Salboth Emerson’s grandma and her erstwhile mobile numman Khan afp/pascal and Akshay Kumar to Masked fighters Health workers in protective gear battle Ebola at the World Health Organisation centre in the Liberian capital, Monrovia guyot ber can rest in peace. soldiers of the Indian Army. Time for some TLC?

What would you do if your dead granny replies to your texts?

T

E

bola outbreaks are not new to our over, there are fairly large Indian communi- now associated with Ebola, the willingness of world. According to the World ties living in these countries of West Africa, health workers in India to care for Ebola paHealth Organisation (WHO), Ebola and if the situation there worsens considera- tients will be tested. Indeed, there is an imporoutbreaks have been occurring since bly, one could expect them to return to India. tant need for sensitising health workers to 1976 and exclusively in Africa. However, the So health authorities here need to be vigilant, this virus. current outbreak in West Africa is by far the and recognise that at some time, whether durWhile the Ebola epidemic still rages, there largest since 1976; there have been more cases ing this epidemic or the next ones, sporadic have been some successes in the fight to conand deaths (the toll is 4,500 currently) in this cases are likely to appear in India. The chal- tain the disease. For one, in the US it appears to outbreak than all others combined. The affect- lenge, of course, will be to make sure that have been contained, though fears over the ed countries in Africa include Guinea, Sierra these sporadic cases are contained and do not disease led to the quarantine of a nurse who Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal — all low- spread in the general population. worked with Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, income countries with weak health systems Concerns over Ebola reaching Indian shores even though she tested negative for Ebola and and disease surveillance. have motivated the government was asymptomatic. This is espeThe frightening things about this disease to take several steps to prevent it cially counterproductive when are its high case fatality (varies between 25 from spreading. Active screenthe most important way to proand 90 per cent, according to the WHO) and ing of passengers at internationtect people around the world is that there is no known cure for this virus.about That the orget what is underway. al movie, airports to stop the epidemic in West AfriPredictions based on Ebola arrived in the US, a wealthy goes country on that after its release seems Hospitals in major cities have ca. More pertinent for India’s sitflight patterns had taken considerable precautions to apreenough for blockbuster thriller infor referring sus- indicate that India has uation, Nigeria appears to have been identified vent exactly such an incident from taking Tamil Nadu.

Film star Vijay,Ebola dubbed pected cases for investigasuccessfully eliminated Ebola. Its a low risk of place, raises concerns aboutthe how countries ‘Ilaya Thalapathi’tion.

(Young Gener-laboratories for Further, government took several critical importing a case like India, with weak health systems al) by hisand fans,dishas come outthe with his have also been testing virus steps — it was prepared for the viof Ebola ease control mechanisms, will deal film with Kaththi this designated. latest (sword), and Health it workers rus and trained healthcare workdeadly virus. seems to have drawn in aits needblood to have high index of susers on how to manage the Canweek, Ebola reach India? So far there has On been first week. the day of release, a picion for people with fever disease. It widely disseminated t’s a script straight out of a Bollywood film. Last thieves noGohana, reported case of the disease here. fan fell to Morehis deathfrom whileEbola-affected performcountries, information about the virus and broke into a Punjab National Bank branch in Haryana, predictions flight patterns as(milk paalabhishekham on also puja) the training and proper equipment, preventive measures; and, declared a health cleaning out 89 of the 350 lockers of cash andover, jewellery, worth al-based on ing made byask? researchers Universithe actor’s cut-out. and In another incifollow precautions to safely screen and emergency when the first Ebola case was idenmost ₹100 crore. How did they get into the bank, you By dig- at Northeastern ty, US, indicate that a low risk of im- care a 74-year-old theatre owner If, however, the virus manag- tified. This enabled the Health Ministry to orfor patients. ging a 125-feet long, 7-feet high and 2.5-feet wide tunnel from anIndia has dent, porting a case Ebola. Of course virusinjuries sufferedthefatal es toafter evadebeing these checks and reaches the gen- ganise the Ebola Emergency Operations abandoned building next door. The robbers bore through theofcecould in the country, andpushed as this epidemaround by aeral mob trying to then health authorities in Center, a group of public health experts. Such population, ment floor of the safe room with ease and opened theland lockers with continues, risk of this progressively in- toIndia enter his theatre watchcould the film. have a significant problem on measures hold important lessons for India as ordinary tools. Yet, nobody noticed any telltale ic activity at thethe buildEbola cases spread outside in another of the theirpart hands.

The dense population of our ci- it prepares to tackle this deadly virus. ing during the past month. With little evidencecreases. collected so far — a that haveMeanwhile, Africa have through pas- group, state, a Facebook Vijay Fans ties, the poor sanitation, weak health infrasrazor blade and dug-up dirt, this looks like a textbook heist.made A wor-this journey sengers taking flights fromClub, Ebola-affected unveiled a waxtructure statue ofand thesurveillance acsystems provide the krishna d rao is an assistant professor (Health ried PMO has dispatched one of its top intelligence officers to invescountries in West Africa.

Whiletor transport links that cost a whopping lakh. perfect₹1.5 recipe for a full-blown epidemic. It will Systems Program) and prof david h peters is the tigate matters. Speculation is rife that the modus operandi is between India and West AfricaPhew! are limited, the Truth is stranger than fictionproblematic if the virus lands chairman of the Department of International Health, be particularly similar to a robbery in another state. The plot thickens. virus can travel through a third More- in urban slums. Further, given the fear that is John Hopkins University, Maryland incountry.

Tamil Nadu.

A Kaththi melee Tamil film star Vijay’s latest film sees plenty of action onscreen and off it

Heist of the year

Even the PMO is worried about this audacious bank robbery

I

F

Q R

ND-X _ A

3 23BL BL

HANG

saturday, november 1, 2014

BL

24

cornerstone in-faq by joy bhattacharjya Name of the job

T 1

he holidays are over. Time to get back to work. This week we look at a few unusual jobs and titles.

Ronald Klain is the latest American to be anointed by which East European title? Hint: often used by the US president for ad hoc executive positions to deal with a single important issue.

2

Who has served as the ‘Chief Belief Officer’ of the Future Group apart from being the author of many bestselling books and writing a regular column for Mid Day?

3

Which organisation put out this advertisement in America in the early 20th century — “Wanted brave soldiers, to stir up rebellion in India. Pay — death; Price — martyrdom; Pension — liberty; Field of battle — India”?

4 5

What kind of person has the designation, ‘Swiss Army Knife’?

Which prolific author and professor of Biochemistry at Boston University had as his job description the title ‘Natural Resource’? No, modesty was not one of his virtues.

6

To get this job, you need to be the citizen of a specific country, male, Catholic, have completed basic military training, aged between 19 and 30, and at least 174cm tall. Your normal uniform is blue, red, orange and yellow with a renaissance appearance. Name the job.

the new york times crossword-0921

celebrity spoonerisms

7 8 9

Which organisation has the following designations: Genii, Imperial Scribe, Grand Dragon, Hydra and Grand Scribe?

In 2009, in which job at the All England Lawn Tennis and Crocquet Club did Rufus replace Hamish?

For which specific culinary job do you need a licence and need to pass a written test and a practical examination after a two- or three-year apprenticeship. The pass rate is only 35 per cent, and the examination was instituted in 1958 after a series of mishaps.

10

Other than being writers, what professionally connects F Scott Fitzgerald, Joseph Heller, Dorothy Sayers, Helen Gurley Brown and Don DeLillo?

Answers

1. Czar — he has been appointed the ‘Ebola Czar.’

Former ‘Czar’ appointments include Nixon’s Drug Czar and Energy Czar.

2. Devdutt Pattanaik, who is actually a doctor by training.

3. The Ghadar Party. Prominent members included Lala Hardayal, Sohan Singh and Karim Bux. They got hundreds of applications.

4. A generalised gofer, deployed for any important job because of her/his versatility and strong commitment. Quite a few companies use the designation now.

5. Isaac Asimov, who has written over 500 books, which have been published in nine of the 10 categories of the Dewey Decimal Classification.

6. Swiss Guards, who are the official security unit of the Pope. There is still no evidence to support the popular theory that their uniforms were designed by Michelangelo.

7. All important positions in the Klu Klux Klan.

8. Rufus is a Harris Hawk who scares away pigeons from the venue. He works a couple of days a week throughout the year, and every day during the Wimbledon.

9. Fugu chefs, who are allowed to prepare the puffer fish, whose liver is extremely toxic.

10. All worked as copywriters. Fitzgerald is remembered for the immortal ‘We Keep You Clean In Muscatine’ slogan which ran in Iowa. Rushdie is the obvious omission.

ND-X _ A

joy bhattacharjya is a quizmaster and author of Junior Premier League — The First XI t@joybhattacharj

ACROSS 1 Sissy who’s not a sissy 7 Benefits 13 Blade in the back?

20 Lost lady in “The Raven” 21 Refresher 22 Cleaning aid 23 Bid 24 Something given when someone has been taken 25 Tranquil 26 Actor Michael’s means of support?

28 Comic Tina recovered from her wound?

30 Early “Project Runway” sponsor 31 No-see-ums 32 Obama caricature feature 33 Ocho ___ (Jamaican resort) 35 Blood products 37 Big name in ice cream 38 Positive signs of life in outer space?

42 Heir of martial artist Bruce?

46 Tennis champ Monica 48 Square

125 Not totally against 126 Aces the test 127 Some mounts 128 Oil giant based in Memphis DOWN 1 Piece of cake 2 Kind of code 3 Rural block 49 Hip-hop record mogul athletic footwear?

4 Creative word people Gotti 92 “His wife could ___ lean” 5 Folies-Bergère costume 50 Civil rights leader Roy 93 Q.&A. part: Abbr. designer 52 Annoyance for actor 94 Branch of Islam 6 “Don’t stop!”

Colin?

95 Dental unit 7 Speedy Northeast 55 Org. that takes donations 97 Urban legend about conveyance for the strapped? rapper Kanye?

8 Leaps 56 Caroler’s quaff 99 “The Great White Hope” 9 They go around the world 58 2007 3x platinum Alicia director Martin 10 “___ out?” (question to a Keys album 100 It came down in 2001 pet) 59 2012 gold-medal gymnast 102 Out of the wind 11 Fail to keep up Raisman 104 Bring down, in England 12 Ian Fleming genre 60 Person whose number is 105 “Me, me, me” sort 13 Influenced up 108 Cleaning aid since 1889 14 Polo grounds?

62 Ins 110 Aquatic organism 15 In accordance with 65 Sag 114 Musician David’s 16 Partridge family member 67 Flamenco cries equestrian 17 Russia’s ___ Airlines 68 Thunderstruck critic’s accouterments?

18 Teddy material review for actor Richard? 117 Tart cocktail named for 19 Kept underground, maybe 72 Studies: Abbr. comic Amy? 75 Ball-club position 119 Components for wireless 27 One way to break out 29 Casts out 77 Word in a Yale fight song networks 78 Popular airfare 120 Philippine province with 32 “Eat, Pray, Love” setting 34 More slick, in a way comparison site a repetitive name 36 Call 79 Trojan’s home, for short 122 “Good riddance!”

39 “Praise the Lord!”

81 Sirs’ counterparts 123 Suspected cause of 40 German city on the Baltic 84 Thriller writer DeMille Napoleon’s death 41 Surprisingly agile 87 The Judds, e.g.

124 Subject of a Scottish 42 Jargon 88 What actor Martin calls his mystery, informally

43 “The Fog of War” director Morris 44 Ephemeral 45 San Francisco gridder 47 Time piece 48 Man, in Milan 51 Foot-long part 53 Stay out of sight 54 Set on a cellphone 57 Bandmate Barry, Maurice or Robin 61 Get-out-of-full-screen button 63 As well 64 Dr. ___ Spengler (“Ghostbusters” role) 66 ___ pro nobis 68 Some chip dip, informally 69 List abbr.

70 Elation 71 Old NBC drama 73 Heckle 74 Little bit 76 Bygone Dodge 78 Clove hitch and sheepshank 79 Boycotter of the ’84 L.A. Olympics 80 Feng ___ 82 Not in pounds, say 83 ___ Paulo

85 Organic compound 86 Tempting words for shopaholics 89 Accords 90 Impeccably 91 Home to the Blues and once the Browns: Abbr.

96 Noted hint giver 98 German ___ 100 Advil competitor 101 Lake that’s the source of the Mississippi 103 Lens cover 106 Davis of “Commander in Chief” 107 One side in a pickup basketball game 109 Department store section 111 Nut jobs 112 Verve 113 Burning desire?

114 What 105-Acrosses do 115 Days gone by 116 “Too much rest is ___”: Sir Walter Scott 117 Sit to be shot 118 Tug-of-war need 121 Call from the sidelines

By Tony Orbach and Patrick Blindauer.

Edited by Will Shortz

Reach us at blink@thehindu.co.in. Follow us on t@Ink_BL and facebook.com/hbl.blink or log on to thehindubusinessline.com/blink