3-9 November

DHONI-KOHLI BATTLE UNDERWAY >> pg 21

patriot NEW DELHI, THURSDAY 3-9 NOVEMBER 2016 | PRICE:

inside the issue

JAZZ

10 | PAGES: 24 VOL.1 ISSUE 42

E H T RAMP

FROM ALISON MOYET, THE JASS B’STARDS TO SONA MOHAPATRA, CATWALKS ARE SEEING A RENAISSANCE OF SORTS AS LIVE MUSIC TAKES CENTERSTAGE

GOVERNANCE ANOTHER FRUITLESS SACRIFICE >> pg 02 CITIZEN DELHI HOUSES HOMELESS pg 04

K THE SO N G AL W

TECHNOLOGY CHAOTIC FREEDOM >> pg 06 LUXURY CONTRASTING TEXTURES >> pg 13

details on art&culture >>

pg 16 PHOTO: AFP

governance patriot

02

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

Another fruitless sacrifice DESPITE THE OROP ANNOUNCEMENT, THERE ARE UNMET DEMANDS OF THE EXSERVICEMEN. THEY WANT A YEARLY HIKE, RATHER THAN ONCE IN FIVE YEARS

Press Trust of India AN EX-SERVICEMAN allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison over the issue of One Rank One Pension scheme (OROP).

The 70-year-old ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal from Haryana’s Bhiwani district ended his life in the lawns behind the Jawahar Bhavan, which houses the Ministry of External Affairs, in the Capital.

Police said he along with three of his companions had come to the city apparently to submit a memorandum to the Defence Ministry over the issue of OROP. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said he was saddened over the death of Grewal. “Saddened by the death of subedar Ram Kishen Grewal. I express my heartfelt condolences. I have asked officials to provide me with details,” Parrikar said in a tweet.

According to his friends, Grewal, who served in the Army and the Defence Security Corps for 30 years, had been upset over the issue for sometime.

Defence Ministry sources said as

OROP CONDITIONS: ONE OF THE DEMANDS IS THAT OROP SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THOSE WHO RETIRE PREMATURELY FROM THE ARMED FORCES. EXSERVICEMEN CONTINUE TO PROTEST AT DELHI’S JANTAR MANTAR

per records, no request for appointment with Parrikar was made.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the suicide of an ex-serviceman here, saying both farmers and soldiers were ending their lives in his regime.

Kejriwal, a bitter critic of Modi, also alleged that the Prime Minister was “lying” that the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme was being implemented by the Centre, contending that ex-serviceman, Ram Kishan Grewal, would not have committed suicide if the scheme was being executed by the Centre.

A group of ex-servicemen led by Major General Satbir Singh (Retd) have been protesting against the OROP scheme introduced by the government.

He is now an advisor to a new political party, Fauji Janta Party, which will fight in the upcoming Punjab Assembly Polls.

The alleged suicide came just days after a one-man judicial committee on OROP submitted its report to Parrikar.

The Centre, which has implemented the OROP, a demand which had been pending for decades, had appointed the committee under the Chairmanship of Justice L Narasimha Reddy, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court to look into the anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. The Ministry is currently studying the report and sources had said it will take a decision soon.

The ex-servicemen have been hold-

PENSION PLAN: Ex-servicemen demand a revision of pension every year

ing protests at Jantar Mantar, Delhi’s designated site for protests, to demand changes in OROP. Protesters say four of their primary conditions have not been met by the government.

The main demands are revision of pension every year rather than the five years as decided by the government and OROP being extended to premature retirees.

An appeal for ‘national’ media Press Trust of India PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi has said credibility is the biggest challenge for media in the age of technology and it is important for media establishments to maintain it.

Speaking after giving away the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards organised by The Indian Express, he said earlier people with certain training and qualification came to journalism but today anybody with a mobile phone can click a picture and upload it.

“People now have a lot of news. In this context, maintaining credibility is a big issue and the biggest demand of time,” he said. In a lighter vein, the Prime Minister said while media had full freedom to comment on everything and everybody, it does not like others’ views on it.

Tongue-in-cheek, he said he must

be the only privileged politician after Independence to have got so much of media attention and he is eternally grateful to it.

Setting two important matters before the media, Modi said he does not have any issue with the government being criticised by the media but there should be no mistake in reporting. National unity, he added, should be the priority as India is a diverse country.

“Any compromise is a news for you and you move on to the next news but such a compromise leaves behind deep wounds.”

He also pitched for a world-class Indian media organisation to propagate the country’s view strongly across the globe and cited current debate on environment and global warming. He said such an organisation should not belong to the government.

MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said he is anguished by the suicide of Grewal of 105 Infantry Btn (TA) and DSC. “He died at Jantar Mantar where veterans have protested in the past and some continue to protest despite my calls to call off the protest. My deepest condolences to his family and his friends,” he said in a statement.

The MP urged Parrikar to urgently

PHOTOS: PTI

resolve the outstanding issues/anomalies of OROP and also the 7th Central Pay Commission that continue to agitate and worry those serving and the veterans.

“I urge him, as I have done repeatedly, to involve direct representation from the armed forces in resolving these issues and not leave it only to the bureaucrats,” he said.

LIST OF WINNERS Investigative reporting Print | Maneesha Pandey, Sandeep Pai (Newslaundry.com) Broadcast | Ganesh Suratchand Thakur (ABP news) On-the-spot reporting Print | Nayantara Narayan (Scroll.in) Broadcast | Aamir Rafiq Peerzada, Rakesh Solanky (NDTV) Uncovering India Invisible Print | Ashwaq Masoodi (Mint) Broadcast | Sarada Lahangir (Kalinga TV) Sports Journalism Print | Devendra Pandey (The Indian Express) Broadcast | Sanjeeb

Mukherjea (CNN-IBN) Reporting from J&K and the Northeast Print | Esha Roy (The Indian Express) and Maddipatla Rajshekhar (Scroll.in) Broadcast| Shubhajit Sengupta (CNN_IBN) Environmental reporting Print | Pritha Chatterjee, Aniruddha Ghoshal (The Indian Express) Broadcast | Sushil Chandra Bahuguna (NDTV India) Business and Economic Journalism Print | Khushboo Narayan (The Indian Express) and Rajeev Dubey (Business Today)

Broadcast | Archana Shukla (CNBC TV18) Foreign Correspondent covering India Print | Victor John Mallet (Financial Times) Reporting on Politics and Government Print | Ashutosh Bhardwaj (The Indian Express) Broadcast | Halimabi Abdul Kureshi (IBN Lokmat) Photo Journalism Burhan Kinu (Hindustan Times) Books Non-fiction | Author: Akshaya Mukul Book: Gita Press & The Making of Hindu India Publication: Harper Collins

governance

PATRIOT|NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

THE ELECTORAL BATTLE IN UP IS TO START SOON. THE POLITICAL OUTFITS ARE REORGANISING THEMSELVES. REBELS ARE JOINING NEW PARTIES. NEW ALLIANCES ARE BEING MADE, EVEN AS OLD ADVERSARIES JOIN HANDS

03

Election fever

Mihir Srivastava AS THE cold descends and temperatures plummet in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh, the election fever is on the rise. Early next year, the assembly election promises to be an interesting one. As of now, there are no clear favourites, it’s an open battle.

There is much political hyper-activity; rath yatras, rallies, renewed attempts to forge political alliances.

Congress’ Rahul Gandhi just concluded a month-long road trip, the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP) is about to embark on another; BJP is also planning one later this month. The politicians are out on the street to woo the electorate.

Attempts to forge new alliances are being made while burying the old animosities. SP’s Shivpal Singh Yadav is trying to rope in Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal, but it is yet to materialise. SP is divided on this question. Ajit Singh is not open to the idea of merger with SP and many of the Yadav clan don’t feel confident about the seriousness of his commitment. Singh is known to be a pragmatic politician, aligning with the winner and deserting a loser.

The official position is that it’s “too early to speculate on an alliance.”

The Congress’s strategist, Prashant Kishor, met SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav in the presence of Amar Singh in Delhi.

The idea of a united front along the lines of Bihar-like ‘Grand Alliance’ is being worked out to defeat the BJP. Though the meeting went on for three hours, Akhilesh was conspicuous by his absence.

Nitish Kumar, the Bihar Chief Minister, is non-committal as a constituent of a ‘grand alliance’ for UP. Shivpal has extended invitation to all the ‘like-minded’ socialists to join the 25th anniversary celebrations of SP. Nitish doesn’t seem too keen. He has kept his options open and is playing his cards close to the chest. Mulayam Singh is hoping to forge an alliance, not just to counter the rise of the BJP, but also to contain Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Many would reckon, given SP is a divided house and battling against anti-incumbency, Mayawati is the favourite. After the surgical strikes — by the Indian Army inside the

GRAND ALLIANCE: THOUGH EARLY DAYS, PRASHANT KISHOR HAS MET MULAYAM SINGH IN THE PRESENCE OF AMAR SINGH. FEELERS WERE SENT TO NITISH KUMAR. AJIT SINGH IS NON-COMMITTAL

TOP CONTENDERS: (Clockwise), Amit Shah’s acid test; Mayawati’s lying low; Akhilesh Yadav’s family feud and; Rahul Gandhi hires a consultant

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir – under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the equations seem to have changed. BJP’s prospects have improved. This fact is evident given many senior leaders from the Mayawati’s BSP and Congress are beelining to join the BJP. Recently, Rita Bahuguna of the Congress joined BJP; four BSP MLAs — Roshanlal Verma, Mahavir Rana, Harbinder Sahani and Om Kumar — were inducted earlier.

Mayawati on her part is trying to solicit the Muslims votes away from the SP. Though, it’s commendable for Akhilesh Yadav to have lead a government for five years under most testing and trying circumstances, and conflicting interests within the Yadav clan that now threatens the unity of his party, Muslims are wary of SP. Muslims vote en bloc. Muslim sup-

port may turn the tables in favour of BSP. The new Muslim face within the BSP is Afzal Siddiqui, a 28-year-old law graduate. He has been campaigning for the party, and Mayawati is impressed by his organisational abilities. Son of a senior BSP leader, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, he’s critical of Akhilesh Yadav’s failure to contain communal frenzy against the minorities in the name of ‘gau raksha,’ particularly the riots of Muzaffarnagar, and the lynching in Shamli and Dadri.

Within BJP, it’s increasingly becoming clear who wouldn’t be the chief minister candidate. Varun Gandhi — the most popular face of BJP in the state — was pulled into an unsavoury controversy based on allegations by an arms dealer. Amit Shah is the one who’s the in charge, and will leave no stone unturned to ensure a victory for

his party. His resounding success in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 has been a source of encouragement to the cadres, who are upbeat about the prospects. A chief ministerial face is a bonus in the complex fabric of UP’s polity. Party sources confirm they don’t want to project a CM candidate. In the past assembly elections, BJP did well despite having not projected a CM face, Haryana and Maharashtra are good examples. But, in Bihar and Delhi this strategy proved to be a disaster.

As far as SP is concerned, they are experiencing a lull after the storm. One thing is for certain, patriarch Mulayam Singh is not going to preside over the split of the party he created 25 years ago. There are two power centres within the party and working against each other. The rift is wide open. This is not going to help SP’s electoral challenge.

PHOTO: PTI

However, Akhilesh Yadav seems confident. Though there’s a rift, he has told his supporters, it is an important process that the party has to undergo to reinvent itself to remain politically relevant in the changing times. He will undertake a state-wide tour — Vikas Rath Yatra — to make known the good work his government has done, primarily development and improved law and order situation, and seek to convert it into electoral dividends.

Congress is resting its hope, as is always the case, on the Gandhis.

Congress’s contender for the top post, Sheila Dikshit is hopeful, and believes Priyanka Gandhi campaigning will turn the tides in favour of the grand old party.

UP voted decisively in the last few elections. Only time will tell which way the wind will blow this time.

citizen patriot

04

QUOTE THERE IS A TRIANGULAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POVERTY, CHILD LABOUR AND ILLITERACY. WE WILL HAVE TO BREAK THIS VICIOUS CIRCLE. KAILASH SATYARTHI, Nobel Peace Prize winner

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

Delhi houses homeless NIGHT SHELTER IS CRUCIAL, BUT IT IS NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION. THE STATE HAS TO ATTACK THE STREET ECONOMY, PROVIDE LOW-COST HOUSES TO THE POOR Mihir Srivastava THE HOMELESS. It’s a reality that Delhi has learned to live with. It doesn’t even spur a reaction.

Thousands of homeless have become an integral part of the cityscape. They are either begging or selling at a traffic junctions, or huddled in a circle smoking pot by flyovers; these are common sights in the capital. Many photographers, particularly from the West, find the homeless tantalising to their artistic bud.

The problem is internalised, so much so that it doesn’t even appear to be a problem. Perhaps, that’s why we don’t have conclusive figures for the homeless in the capital, and elsewhere in the country. There are vague estimates, according to one of them, there are 150,000 homeless lurking on the streets of Delhi. The capital has a population fast approaching 20 million, given this, the homeless’ figure seems to be a manageable problem.

But little has been done about it.

Remember, we are the largest democracy committed to the welfare of ‘we the people’. Now temperatures are dipping, and it’s fairly nippy after sundown. The government agencies will soon come into play, and some of the many homeless will be offered night shelters.

A night shelter is an important and sadly the only government intervention to provide relief to the homeless.

As many as 20,000 get a roof over their head during the biting winters, which is just scratching the surface of the problem. A politician or two would make noises, some new shelters will be opened, as is the case year after year. There will be photo opportunities and, as far as the government is concerned, action will be deemed to have been taken.

The number of the homeless is spiralling, so is the throbbing informal economy manned by people who live below subsistence, under inhuman conditions. The organised beggary, drug peddling by addicts, selling odd items at the traffic junctions, most of

A DOG'S LIFE: HOMELESSNESS IS AN ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION TO BE PART OF THE STREET ECONOMY. MANY HOMELESS SEEM HAPPY BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER EXPOSED TO A DECENT LIFE

BITING COLD: A foggy morning after cold winter night

these people are homeless. They have to make enough money to make their ends meet. Or to fund their deviations — drug and alcohol.

There are many who live by the river-side, hidden away. For urban planning in Delhi, as has been the experience in the last few decades, is essentially about beautification. The poor are an eyesore, and have to be hidden away in desolate peripheries.

The holes have not been provided for, just hidden away to make the rest of us feel comfortable.

Apart from the criminal activities, most homeless — men, women and children — run the street economy.

With no help from the welfare state, they fend for themselves. They sell periodicals and magazines, plastic items, decoration pieces, eatables.

Lately, they are selling pets — caged rabbits, dogs and birds. Many end up being ragpickers — collect garbage surreptitiously and supply it to the recycling industry.

Each red light seems to be allotted to a set of people, many a times they are part of an extended family. It goes without saying that no such organised network, sort of parallel, informal economy can work without the connivance of the authorities — civil and police. Homelessness is an essential professional requirement for the street economy. Many homeless seem to be happy with the way things are, perhaps because they have never been

exposed to a decent life.

Talk to the activists and they point out the same issue. Homeless people are the most glaring symbol of the failure of urban planning. The state, let alone providing for housing, carried out evictions. Slum dwellers who managed to create housing were rendered homeless again. There have been consistent slum eviction drives, relocation was inadequate to say the least. There are about 6,343 slums with over 10 lakh

PHOTOS: AFP

households in urban Delhi as per the 2012 figures. On an average, 161 households were located in each slum.

In addition, there are 1,642 unauthorised settlement in Delhi. Their residents have voting rights. So, lately there has been conserted efforts to regularise them. But none so far, that deal with the issue of homelessness.

The homeless don’t have voting rights; this possibly explains why they have remained homeless for years.

This can’t be an excuse. Particularly for the state. The moot point is: why is nothing done about the homeless in the capital city of the largest democracy in the world? The governmentsponsored night shelters, is at best a piecemeal measure or just a recognition that there’s a problem.

Next time you sight emaciated people cuddled together under a sullied blanket in the firelight of a foggy winter night, wish them a home!

globe patriot

QUOTE

COMMUNISM IS NOT LOVE. COMMUNISM IS A HAMMER WHICH WE USE TO CRUSH THE ENEMY MAO ZEDONG, Revolutionary

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

Core or collective

05

IT IS UNCLEAR IF XI JINPING GOT MORE POWER OR LESS AFTER CCP'S 18TH CONGRESS. BUT HE NOW HAS AN ALL-POWERFUL IMAGE Pinaki Bhattacharya

Liberation Army were tainted by it.

The term ‘core leadership’ was UNDERSTANDING THE Chinese elite coined by Deng Xiaoping, who took politics is not quite so linear an exer- the country to unprecedented heights cise as that of the Indian one. In India, and created the modern China. It was the rewards are often distributed on meant to institutionalise the system the basis of the a-historicity of the of ‘strongman’ politics. Deng individual’s record of serving those described Mao as the first generation who have power — political, eco- of the ‘core,’ and himself as the second nomic or social. There is a certain one. Jiang Zemin, who had replaced immediacy attached to this system. Zhao Ziyang during the Tiananmen But there can be a loss of the inherent Square upsurge, was the third generavalue even before the fruit is handed tion. over. The Chinese elite politics has Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao — the certain circularity attached to it. fourth-generation leadership — were For example, the current head, Xi obscured by external events. Hu was Jinping, who was among the youth not able to exert himself within the during the Cultural Revolution, which CCP, or even its ultimate Standing was led by Mao Tse Tung. But Jinping’s Committee of nine members. (Jinping father was close to Zhou has now reduced the Enlai, who was opposed number to seven.) As a POWER SHIFT: to several leaders of the re s u l t , h i s l i n e o f JINPING HAS Cultural Revolution. The ‘Harmonious Growth’ SIDELINED HIS father worked under and ‘Peaceful Rise’ conPRIME MINISTER Zhou as a vice premier. trasted with the drive AND TAKEN AWAY Although the elite poliagainst endemic corrupTHE ECONOMICS tics of the Chinese tion.

POST. BUT Communist Party is Jinping, however, was HE IS STILL somewhat opaque, there sure of his position ANSWERABLE TO are some transparent because of the deep THE DISCIPLINE moments. An unnamed roots within the PLA. In COMMITTEE friend of Jinping’s, who his earlier days, he was now teaches in a western the Mishu (Assistant) of university, told an interviewer that Geng Biao, who was a secretary genwhen they — the Cultural Revolution eral of the Central Military young princelings — returned from Commission, one of the most powertheir forced exiles, they gave in to what ful bodies in China. The people who can be called ‘good life’. hold high offices today are those who But Jinping was different. He worked with Jinping in his capacity as returned from Xian — the final loca- a governor in the province of Fujian, tion of his own exile — as an even big- and then as the Governor and the ger communist. He became immersed Party Committee Secretary of the in the practice of ‘Maoist Communism’. neighbouring Zhejiang. Following the He was, in fact, cut off from the top dismissal of Chen Liangyu, Jinping leadership. He seemed to be driven by transferred to Shanghai as the Party an ambition to climb the ladder of the Secretary for a brief period in 2007.

China Communist Party (CCP). His Brookings scholar, Cheng Li, who first marriage broke down because Ke has an amazing database on the perLingling — a daughter of a Chinese sonal details of CCP leaders, says these envoy to Britain — was feisty. She mentioned that while Jinping was deliberate in his actions, thinking each step of the way, she was passionate and ‘in love.’

Swati Dey This is quite an insight into a character of a man who only last week was BESIDES THE theatrics – Hillary anointed as the ‘core leadership’ of Clinton using a private server for China. This statement is important ‘classified’ and ‘top secret’ docubecause the country is going through ments or Donald Trump’s misogynist tough times. The unemployment rate diatribe – one wonders how they has risen in the Pearl River Delta; independent trade unions, though illegal would fix the issues that affect in China, have protested against low Americans: taxes, health, immigrawages; and the problems of a comtion, security, and international relaparative slowdown in the economy tions. We look at their views on them. needs to be absorbed. Plus, there is l Trump agrees and Clinton disstill corruption in high places; even agrees on the privatization of social the army generals of the People’s

UPSHOT: Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R)

lieutenants were blooded over the decades by Jinping through a process of rigorous testing in various offices.

Jinping had a similar network built assiduously within the PLA during his Mishu days. He prepared for the top job, not from the past few years, but for decades.

The way he centralised power in the past four years shows his mastery.

Reams of newsprint and scholarly

tomes were written about how the prime minister, Li Keqiang, will share power at the top. But what we witnessed at the Sixth Plenum was the complete eclipse of Keqiang. This was evident in the way the economics portfolio, which was his domain, was taken away.

At a later date, we can talk about why Jinping is a neo-Maoist in many ways. But what remains to be said is a

Trumped or Clintonied? security and expansion of free trade.

Clinton wants to introduce a new tax bracket for the high-income groups, while Trump wants to cut the existing brackets. Clinton proposes to increase the minimum wage to $12 nationwide. Trump, who seemed unclear earlier, wants the states to decide the minimum wage. l While both support gun ownership, Clinton emphasises on stronger background check. l On abortion, Trump wants the

various states, and Clinton the mother to decide. l Both disagree on legalising Marijuana, except for medicinal use.

Clinton wants to reduce restrictions on its recreational use with a ‘wait and see’ approach. Trump has supported drugs legalisation and called the US Drug enforcement ‘a joke’. l Global warming, for Trump, is a Chinese concept to make US manufacturing non-competitive. He wants to renegotiate the obligations under

PHOTO: AFP

general disclaimer that Cheng Li has provided in a short note on the sixth plenum. That is, the plenum resolution clearly states that making Jinping the ‘core leadership’ doesn’t exempt him from the ‘collective leadership’ established after the 12th CCP Congress.

Additionally, Jinping will not be above the Central Discipline Inspection Committee’s eagle eye, irrespective of his ‘all powerful’ image. the UN global climate pact. He finds the regulations by Environment Protection Agency too restrictive.

Expressing concerns over several environmental issues, Clinton favors stringent regulations. l Given seeming-hatred for minorities and refugees, Trump opposes Clinton’s proposal to mandate companies to hire women and minorities. But both want the fencing of the Mexican border, and allow legal immigration. Clinton prefers negotiating citizenship legalization for undocumented immigrants, whereas Trump wants to deport them.

technology patriot

06

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

WELCOME TO THE GREY WORLD OF DARK NET. HERE YOU CAN MEET DRUG SELLERS AND CHILD ABUSERS, AS ALSO ETHICAL HACKERS AND WHISTLE BLOWERS

Chaotic freedom

Sashikala VP and Swati Dey IMAGINE ANOTHER universe, where boundaries don’t exist. Where every want can be fulfilled. The one such land without limits is the ‘Dark Net’.

The parallel universe of the internet, where technology is giving a place for people to live out their deepest and darkest desires. Although the dark net provides a safe house for individuals like whistle blowers, ethical hackers, and revolutionaries, it is also the ‘Dark Underbelly’, a cesspool of illegal trade, and ghastly fantasies.

Dark net exists right beneath the regular Internet we spend our time on.

The space is inaccessible through the normal search engines. These confidential networks can be accessed by those users who are invited through specific software, configurations or authorisation. However, one of the most popular software, easily acquired and free, is called the Tor Browser.

Tor, short for The Onion Routing project (as messages are encapsulated in ‘layers’ of encryption), enables anonymous communication.

Originally a US Naval Research project, the browser makes it difficult for any Internet activity to be traced by COUNTER CULTURE: The Anonymous have become synonymous with the revolution of cyberspace and its use creating and obscuring a path between two computers. So, there is no visibil- under the headings like stimulants, a platform for whistle-blowers. Fawkes mask, the group sways ity of a connection between a person psychedelics, precursors, opioids, Anonymous, a group of ethical hack- between the realms of good and bad. ecstasy, and steroids. and a website. ers, is an example. Growing out of a This constant jostle between good The dark net’s other form, and the meme indulgent tribe of geeks from and bad, white and dark, was visible Unfortunately, like most things unmonitored, the dark net websites most odious, is the use to trade imag- the 4chan platform, Anonymous has in the now-infamous hacking of the and encryption technology is being es of sexual abuse, by paedophiles. In become the leader in ‘hacktivism’.

Ashley Madison site. Calling themutilised by criminals. From the drugs 2011, the largest paedophile ring was One of its foremost actions was selves the ‘Impact Team’, a group of trade and illegal arms purchases, to busted. This forum had 70,000 follow- Operation Dark Net. In October 2011, hackers published data of 37 million paedophiles, it is used to attack young ers, with links in 30 countries. it targeted websites that hosted child members on the Madison site, which Then there was Operation Daylight, pornography. The group hacked a is for people looking to cheat on their children and share files of their which was launched last year after child pornography site, Lolita City, spouses or partners. It led to several depravity.

Europol received infor- hosted by Freedom Hosting, and disruptions in relationships and This is the ultimate mation from the Swiss released 1,589 usernames on the site. divorces. Was it good or bad? destination for drug sellpolice about a vast net- In 2012, Anonymous leaked the names ers and its users. Almost REMOTE AREA: work trafficking in the of users of a suspected child pornogany type of drug can be DARK NET SITS sexual exploitation of raphy site in OpDarknetV2. bought online on the UNDETECTED children. Coordinated dark net, allowing buyers Using the Tor platform, the group RIGHT BENEATH operations found links in also took a number of actions known and sellers to remain FREEMASONS THE REGULAR dozens of countries. completely anonymous.

It is the longest-lasting secret society. initially as Operation Tunisia in supINTERNET T h i s a by s s o f t h e port of the Arab Spring.

Money used to exchange To become a member, one needs to WE SPEND Internet provides a cosy such goods are through be of a sound mind, at least 18 years One of its subgroups created a script OUR TIME ON, home for people to carry that Tunisians could use to protect the Bitcoin system — old and endorsed by three existing INACCESSIBLE out their fixations, which their web browsers from government where transactions take masons. The Freemasons have secret VIA SEARCH would be impossible in surveillance, while others hijacked place directly, without an handshakes — thumbs are pressed ENGINES the normal world. And it servers from a London web-hosting intermediary. against knuckles or wrists in various includes hackers, for company to launch a DDoS attack on permutations depending on the whom the Internet is a playground. Tunisian government websites, taking members’ position within the society.

ON THE SILK ROAD The commercial dark net grew with The hackers have even taken down the them offline. the coverage of the Silk Road, an online mighty Sony (Japan), with the infiltraTHE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR Anonymous helped Tunisian dissiblack market and the first modern tion of its PlayStation Network.

Early in the twelfth century, nine dents share videos online about the dark net one. Founded in February knights took a vow to protect pilgrims uprising, but was consequently criti2011 — and busted in 2013 by the ON A SMOOTH ROAD traveling through the Holy Land. But, cised for carrying out attacks on govFederal Bureau of Investigation — the While the dark net certainly has a ernment websites in Bahrain, Egypt, in 1307, most of them were either site was used to sell drugs. According disastrous side, it has shown its unique Libya, Jordan, and Zimbabwe. The killed, arrested, tortured, or forced to to a report in the IB Times, the site had ability to help change and mobilise the group has become a fighter of injusconfess to some crimes.

13,756 listings for drugs, grouped masses — not discounting its usage as tice. But just as its trademark, Guy

PHOTO: AFP

In 2015, Anonymous declared war on the ‘white’ supremacy group, Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and revealed the names of 1,000 members. On November 2, a list of 57 phone numbers and 23 email addresses (that allegedly belong to KKK members) was published online.

The Dark Net is a strange domain where although you are relatively safe from the eyes of the law, the habitants themselves could strip you off your invisible garb.

Secret Societies ILLUMUNATI

Illuminati was the name given to followers of an intellectual movement in the 17th-18th century in Europe.

They opposed notions of superstition and religion. The society, although outlawed, gained influence after several politicians and influential intellectuals joined.

THE ELDERS OF ZION

In 1920, a newspaper owned by Henry Ford, ran articles based on a Russian document, Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The articles became a book, The International Jew: The World’s Foremost Problem. Adolph Hitler was influenced by it.

technology

PATRIOT|NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|6-9 NOVEMBER|2016

07

Review

PETITION FOR CLEAN AIR

MOCK FRIEND: Toyota’s newest innovation is the Kirobo Mini, a robot designed to talk, gesture and detect and respond to your emotions

PHOTO: AFP

Tech companionship

Change.org is flooded with petitions, supported by those who want a ban on firecrackers. There were similar petitions before, but the issue has become charged after this year’s Diwali, when Delhi was covered with dense smog. A few days after the festival, Delhi witnessed a worse smog, when visibility was reduced to a few hundred metres. Delhi’s particulate matters shot up around ten times the safe limit. Delhiites initially mistook the haze as fog and welcomed it as a sign of the coming winters. A petition created on 31 October, 2016 — addressed to the Government of India, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control Committee — has received over 50,000 signatures. Another petition, dated 2 November, which has 5,000 supporters, was addressed to the prime minister. It also embraced other issues, including burnt hay in the neighbouring states, construction dust, heavy vehicle movement across NCR, and the polluting diesel vehicles. Realising that a single authority cannot fix the issue, the petitioner urged for a multiauthoritative intervention.

IF YOU FEEL LONELY, IT MAY BE TIME TO CALL FOR NADINE AND KIROBO MINI. NOW, EMOTIONAL ROBOTS ARE ON SALE

OS HELP: Her dealt with the leads answer for loneliness

Sashikala VP COMPANIONSHIP IN the 21st century is confusing and chaotic. Social media, in some senses, creates an illusion, and makes it seem that one has hundreds, even thousands, of friends.

But in reality, these friends are peripheral, most of them are never there for you. So, one spends their days alone, staring at the innocuous TV screen.

Loneliness is evident everywhere, and John Cacioppo, a professor of psychology and director of the Centre for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago, has studied it since the 1990s. Cacioppo argues that loneliness is a survival impulse like hunger or thirst. And one of the solutions to quench this thirst is Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Japan, which possibly has the larg-

PHOTO: WARNER BROS

est proportion of aged population and single-household numbers, has invented several technology-based equipment to deal with loneliness. A new invention is Toyota’s Kirobo Mini.

The 10cm robot-companion can talk to you, gesture at you, and detect and respond to your emotions.

Kirobo’s name is derived from the Japanese word for ‘hope’, and the robot can help the growing number of aged, which comprises 26.7% of the population, up 3.7% from five years ago, as per a report of Japan’s 2015 national census. Elderly people feel the most neglected, especially in the developed world as children lead their independent lives. And when a spouse passes away it only increases the drought of company. A figure by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, showed there were some 3,700 “unaccompa-

nied deaths” in Japan in 2013.

The makers of Nadine — the world’s most-human like robot — believe that she can be used as a companion for the elderly and the young. Nanyang Technological University’s humanoid is just one of the technology-based interfaces. It believes that the humanoid can be made virtual and appear on a TV or computer screen, and become a low-cost virtual companion.

“As countries worldwide face challenges of an aging population, social robots can be one solution to address the shrinking workforce, become personal companions for children and the elderly at home, and even serve as a platform for healthcare services in future,” explained Nadia Thalmann, an expert in virtual humans and one of Nadine’s creator’s.

AI will take a different turn in the future, as it will totally mimic a person.

Japan’s society is apparently the hotbed of loneliness, and so the best solutions come from there. But it isn’t a problem with the elderly alone. Even the young, with their focus on jobs and

ROBOTS WITH A HEART: EXPERTS SAY THAT HUMANOIDS CAN BE REAL, APPEAR ON TV OR COMPUTER SCREENS, AND BECOME LOWCOST VIRTUAL COMPANIONS. THIS CAN BE OF GREAT HELP IN AGING NATIONS LIKE JAPAN AND ITALY

professions, find themselves alone. A dating website provides the answer for them — as computerized females.

The LovePlus girls were born in 2009 at the Konami Corporation, a Tokyobased company that sells everything from trading cards to slot machines.

The dating simulator for the pocketsized Nintendo DS game player, allows an individual to choose from three virtual girlfriends.

Its popularity rose so high that there was demand from across the world, although LovePlus girls are sold exclusively in Japan and talk in Japanese.

The buyers include high-schoolers and middle-aged, located in various p l a c e s f ro m Jo h a n n e s b u rg t o Jacksonville. According to the Huffington Post, people have become hooked on the companionship with their digital girlfriends.

This need for technology to deal with the isolated and socially inept was demonstrated by Joaquin Phoenix in the movie, Her. The film takes us through Theodore’s lonely life and how he finds companionship in an intelligent operating system that he buys, and which promises to fulfil his needs.

The ending of the movie was tangled in speculation. The two contradictory theories were that Samantha — the OS-girlfriend — turned into a human, or Theodore killed himself as he couldn’t handle the abandonment by the OS. The moral of both the stories — get out and make a real connection, please.

FRIEND FOR INFORMATION

Over a decade ago, two professors, Catherine Ridings and David Gefen, wanted to understand the “attraction of virtual communities”, which they felt was “crucial to organisations that want to tap into their enormous information potential.”

Here are extracts from their paper’s abstract. “Existing literature theorizes that people join virtual communities to exchange information and/or social support. Theories of broader Internet use have indicated both entertainment and searching for friendship as motivational forces…. The responses to the open-ended question “Why did you join?” indicated that most sought either friendship or exchange of information, and a markedly lower percent sought social support or recreation... Thereafter, however, the reason varied depending on community type.

Social support was the second most popular reason for members in communities with health/ wellness and professional/ occupational topics.

edit 08

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

POLITICS IS THE ART OF LOOKING FOR TROUBLE, FINDING IT EVERYWHERE, DIAGNOSING IT INCORRECTLY AND APPLYING THE WRONG REMEDIES. GROUCHO MARX, Comedian, Actor

patriot

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

Inflation and growth

Putin for Trump, Hillary sliding LATEST POLLS CONFIRM THE WORST FEARS: PENDULUM HAS SHIFTED IN FAVOUR OF TRUMP. RUSSIANS MIGHT BE PLAYING SOME DIRTY TRICKS

F

inally, the GST Council decided the various tax rates under the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. Although there are six slabs – 0%, 5%, 12%, 28%, and 28% plus cess – it won’t matter if the three government’s objectives are fulfilled. First, it is claimed that the new taxation will reduce prices of several key commodities like food grains. This will be welcome by every household, especially the poor and middle-class ones. The only caveat: there are media reports that because of the new GST rates, service tax will increase to 18%, which will only add to the inflation.

Second, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is convinced that GST will considerably reduce corruption, especially the evasion of excise duties, custom duties, and service tax. Since, there will be a single-point taxation, at the consumers’ end, and everything will be computerised, the scope for evasion will be minimised. This is a welcome step, as such a move will hike central and state revenues, and KEY ELEMENT: enable the various REDUCING governments to spend CORRUPTION more on welfare WOULD ADD TO schemes and infrastructure. The only THE OVERALL ECONOMIC caveat: the manner in GROWTH. GST IN which the technology THAT REGARD backend will work; if it MIGHT BE THE fails to deliver, GAMECHANGER corruption can increase.

Finally, if corruption is reduced, and more revenues accrue to the governments, it will add to the overall economic growth. According to the US India Business Council, GST is a “gamechanger”, which “will boost economic growth by streamlining domestic supply chains and removing the compliance burden of contradictory state tax regimes. This is bound to increase India’s global competitiveness as an investment destination.” In addition, as per the USIBC, India’s ranking in terms of ‘ease of doing business’ will go up. The only caveat: growth depends a lot on sentiments; GST alone will not woo private investments, especially by foreigners.

However, we must contend that if these three, even two, objectives are fulfilled, GST will turn out to the best economic policy in the past twothree decades. And this government has to be complimented for it.

Mihir Srivastava

A

SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR

s the US presidential elections come closer, the contest is getting tougher. The latest polls confirm that the pendulum has shifted in favour of Donald Trump. The lead that Hillary Clinton built and consolidated over the past few weeks, after humbling Trump in the three presidential debates, has vanished. In fact, most polls show that Trump leads her.

The support skewed in favour of Trump FIGHT TO THE FINISH: Hillary and Trump PHOTO: AFP ever since the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that it will reopen Trump is no more seen complaining about that “he [Trump] wants to leave his options the investigation into Hillary using private the electoral system, or that it’s rigged. open” on Ukraine. Trump has said several email server for classified documents after As a last-ditch effort, Hillary’s managers, times in the past that “old enmities will be learning of “the existence of emails that to limit the damage caused by FBI’s move buried and Russia helps see off (the) Islamic appear to be pertinent to the investigation.” to reopen the case against her, have harped State.” A popular view is, The Economist reports, that Putin’s aversion Trump raked up the issue and his support about Russian President to Hillary “is plain, is trying to swelled up.

Vladimir Putin trying to influLIKE-MINDED: lever Mr Trump into the White The pro-activeness of the FBI—an apo- ence the outcome of the elecTRUMP AND House, just as he supports isolitical agency that refrains limelight —11 tion, and Trump’s known proxPUTIN ARE lationists in Europe.” There are days before the elections raised eyebrows. imity with him.

KNOWN TO BE reports of Trump’s business FBI was criticised for foisting half-baked In the third presidential AUTHORITARIAN; interests in Russia. Also, information in the public domain without debate, Hillary was rather INDIFFERENCE Trump “may feel a natural determining its authenticity or suitability upfront about Putin taking TO TRUTH; USE affinity for a fellow authoritaras piece of evidence. President Barak Obama undue interest in the US elecHUMILIATION ian, who shares his indiffercondemned the role of the FBI director, tions with the objective to AS A POLITICAL ence to truth and his tastes for James B Comey, for sending ensure Trump’s TOOL earthy language and humiliaa vague message. “We don’t victory. Hillary PROACTIVE FBI: tion as a political tool.” operate on incomplete inforpointed out that IT IS CRITICISED A Trump’s campaign manager, Paul mation. We don’t operate on there were overwhelming eviFOR FOISTING leaks,” Obama said in an dences – 17 intelligence agen- Manafort, quit in August. His ties to Viktor HALF-BAKED interview with NowThis cies have confirmed – that the Yanukovych, the shamed former president INFORMATION IN News.

Russian government was of Ukraine who found refuge in Russia, is PUBLIC DOMAIN Too little, too late. The directing hacks and sending being heatedly debated.

11 DAYS BEFORE Democrat supporters hope that the damage was done. The contents to WikiLeaks to influTHE ELECTIONS. hatred of American people for Putin may Hillary campaign managers ence the election.

OBAMA IS are appealing to the voters to It’s not plain rhetoric, there’s translate into votes for Hillary. Many of the UNHAPPY come out in large numbers some merit in it. It’s unprece- undecided voters are fairly disillusioned. and vote early. The more dented as well. The Economist They feel there’s not much to choose number of fence-sitter go out to vote, the carried a long article explaining the dynam- between the two candidates. The popular greater are the chances that Hillary will do ics of Trump’s fondness for Putin. One of the mood is that of despondency. A joke on the well. Interestingly, now that Trump’s clinch- things that will worry the American people Internet sums it up: “Thank God we only ing the election is in the realm of possibility, the most, according to Joseph Kellogg, is have to pick one of them.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

O

p-Eds and Letters to the Editor can be very useful tools for advocates to get your message out.

Most policymakers read these religiously; it is an important way for elected officials to track issues important to their constituents.

It is a cheap (free) way to address public opinion. You can explain why mental illness is not a flaw of character or how we all pay for care for the uninsured.

They are your words, your message.

No misquoting, no chance that the reporter will miss your point (or come to his own). And your opponents have to

write their own article to get a response.

It is an excellent way to explain a complex issue. When Connecticut was considering whether HUSKY should be a Medicaid expansion or a separate nonentitlement program, advocates were arguing for the former. It was a difficult sell, because we had been critical of Medicaid managed care for years and it took a good stretch of time with a policymaker to explain that this really wasn’t a contradiction. A timely Op-Ed in the Hartford Courant helped solve that problem. (We still lost, but not because we were misunderstood).

You can make connections in policy

that are more difficult in hallway conversations. For example, the connection between reductions in spending on health care for children and resulting productivity losses by employers of parents.

If your issue is not getting press, or is now “old news”, an article can revive the issue.

While it is difficult to get published in the Courant (they get over 300 letters each day), smaller papers are often hungry for articles.

You can give your article to a policymaker to submit in their name. (A little secret, and it is between you and your

conscience if this is OK with you).

You get to put words in policymakers’ mouths (it doesn’t get better than that) and visibility. And they get publicity on an important issue. If you do this, keep it between you and the policymaker.

You may even get paid !!!!!

HOW TO WRITE AN OP-ED OR LETTER TO THE EDITOR: l Plan your message. Choose just one.

Don’t try to pack too much in. If you have a different take or a unique perspective on an issue, it is more likely to be published.

l Choose your target. If you are trying to move public opinion, look for the paper with the largest circulation. If you want to reach a particular legislator, choose his hometown paper or one you know that he reads. l Read the paper(s). Find out what kind of issues and writing styles are likely to be published. l Contact the paper and find out their policies. You want to know about: How to submit - email, FAX, regular mail. Also timing - when you can submit.

SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CTHEALTHPOLICY.ORG/TOOLBOX/OPINION/OP_EDS_LETTERS.HTM

op-ed

PATRIOT|NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

09

END OF THE AMERICAN ERA

THE WORLD NEEDS A CIVILISED AMERICA, BUT NOT AN IDEOLOGICALLY-NAIVE SUPERPOWER Dipak Malik

T

he daft race to the hustings in the United States is a queer blending of laissez-aller and ineluctable slide towards a decline, which is inevitable as a course correction of history as well as impacted by the insolence accumulated in the last couple of centuries. There are foundational creaks appearing in the body politic of the Jeffersonian Republicanism. In spite of Daniel Bell’s presumption about death of ideology, which was obviously part of readings in the cold-war discourse, today the US is mired in the same ideological prison yard of its own making. The very political economy of neoliberalism derives less from the science of economics, but more from the ideological stand a la Milton Friedman.

Apparently, the institutions which serve as the basic structure of the American society are losing their steam, partly out of the languor suffered through the journey of couple of hundred years. And partly due to the very incapacity to cope with another new world emerging, particularly the so-called third world and postcolonial societies after the end of the second world war and thereafter the appearance of a virile and muscular China after the end of the cultural revolution accompanied by appearance on a different kind of world system. China’s ascendency was indeed made possible due to its whole hog entry into the globalised world system, as well as Henry Kissinger’s strategy of finalising a cleavage in the already-uncomfortable wobbling collective under the Soviet hegemony.

Nativism and insularity are the other tell-tale characteristics of this presidential election, which would impact the hitherto simple political apparatuses, including the two parties (Democrat and Republican). Hillary Clinton’s ‘American exceptionalism’ and Donald Trump’s ‘Make America great’ are two sides of the same coin

JOINT FORCES: Delegates cheer during the Democratic National Convention

— both are null hypotheses. These parties have seen a decline in whole of the American-European enclave in spite of the fact that it is this part of world which gave such fine instruments as political parties as a gift to the world to run and grease the machinery of democracy.

The net result of such wayward insularity is that the American people have started suffering from a degree of lassitude. The mega performance of the so-called outsiders like Bernie

Sanders in the Democratic party and Donald Trump in the Republican party, as well as the rise of Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour party of Great Britain, are strong pointers. ‘Business as usual’ and traditional machinery of these parties are facing mid-life blues.

During the last election in Great Britain, the House of Commons was packed with management consultants, stock brokers, and company executives in such a large number that the Conservative Party failed to grasp

THE MAKER: President Barack Obama with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman at Erga Palace in Riyadh

PHOTO: PTI

PHOTO: AFP

its alienation from the common b e a t s o f t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s .

British masses who are paranoid of ‘Triumphalism’ of 1991, which was so immigrants and uncertainties heaped pompously announced by Zbigniew over them by globalisation and incre- Brzezinsky, the security advisor to the mental dose of Thatcherism and Blair- president Jimmy Carter, has turned ism. into a nightmare for America of today The US of course never had the and the so-called free world. strong well-built political parties as The result of the American election the parties are more of an outfit cen- is inconsequential as the US is on a tred around the presidential or chief slippery path of losing its momentum executive officer elections. But now, in economy as well in military and grass-root politicians like Sanders on technological prowess in the near the one hand and, on the other hand, future. The only difference is that if it straight, aggressive and can make that with foul mouthed insular Trump, it will quickly ultra-rightist and racist dissolve, and with Hillary CHANGING US: businessman like Trump it will be little slow but THE US PARTIES emerge as a logical culnevertheless it will be a ARE CENTRED mination of the fast forward to impoAROUND THEIR Republican neoconsertency of a country and LEADERS AND vative and the nativist system which influenced CEOS. IT IS trail of racism. so much in the world in ONLY NOW THAT America had frequentthe 20th century.

GRASS-ROOT ly outsiders running the America is still needed POLITICIANS show. Starting from Gen. but for carving out a LIKE BERNIE Dwight Eisenhower to civilised world, perhaps, SAUNDERS Ronald Reagan stand as the world does not need HAVE EMERGED the examples, and they an ideologically naive a have done rather well la George Bush America after some initial fumbling. It was to land in likes of a quagmire in the rather the insider politician of a twen- Middle East or tepid and almost empty ty-four carat like Richard Nixon, who exercises of pivoting to Asia which is brought today’s nightmare of Chinese not even able to manage its one of its expansion and unmanageability as oldest ally ’frontline’ state Pakistan advised at that time by a mediocre his- from spreading terrorism in the world. tory buff with lot of residual German Or stop a Saudi Arabia reversing back prejudice left in him, Kissinger. The to primitive Arab tribalism-sectarianlatter caricatured a Bismarck in the ism and total disregard for civilised 20th century United States, a dumb act world standards or managing coups and poor copycat at that. This resulted of various kinds from Brazil to in the poor Barak Obama trying to Venezuela proxying for one of the most pivot Asia belatedly with such dismal uncivilised bourgeoisie in Latin results that even the current president, America. world largely trained to be so Duterte of the Philippines, dares to by various agencies from the American march to Beijing in hope of becoming universities to CIA and FBI, and the an ally of Beijing dismissing the brow state department of the US.

business patriot

10

QUOTE

FASHION IS WHAT YOU’RE OFFERED FOUR TIMES A YEAR BY DESIGNERS. AND STYLE IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE LAUREN HUTTON, Model, Actress

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

Heavy betting

THE INDIAN TEXTILE AND APPAREL MARKET WILL REACH $141 BILLION BY 2021. AIFW DID ALMOST TWO HUNDRED MILLION WORTH OF BUSINESS IN JUST FIVE DAYS. THIS CAN USHER A RIPPLE EFFECT IN INDIAN FASHION

Asmita Aggarwal

BUYERS AT AIFW SS ’17

BENEATH THE heavy schmoozing, hectic air kissing, ubiquitous spaghetti straps and a brigade of peroxide blondes, the fashion industry is a lot more for those, who are in it to make moolah and there is enough to be made. Arvind Singhal, Chairman, Technopak Advisors, stated that Indian exports could grow to $80 billion and the domestic industry is likely to go upto $140 billion by 2020.

So the industry would touch a $220 billion mark in the future and the women’s western wear segment, will witness a double jump. This leads us to the question like why has India not been able to give the world a fashion brand like Zara, H & M or Mango, something that has a global appeal?

There are some steps being taken to ensure that the Indian fashion industry gets a toehold on the global map where image is everything — so your crisp white blouse teamed up with military pants also decides your rise in the boardroom. The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), a non-profit body of designers, was formed to boost Indian fashion. Interestingly, it costs the FDCI C10 crore to get the venue ready for action per season. The recently concluded AIFW SS ’17 from Oct 12-16, at the NSIC Grounds, Okhla spread over 14,000 sq meters boasted of two huge show areas (MSA size 25 sq metres by 55 sq metres), spiffy lounges, a burgeoning food court and Maybelline counter among others. But how the FDCI actually makes money is through stalls and designer participation, besides sponsors, as each one of the 96 stalls that were part of the extravaganza paid a cool C 5 lakhs and the ones who put up a show paid close to C 2-5 lakh each, depending on single or double designer shows (this time there were 69 showcasing).

Besides the title sponsor and e-commerce giant Amazon, the associate sponsor Maybelline New York had support from Nexa, Huawei, Boroline, Liva, British Airways and ITA for this season. “Why would we have designers requesting for a stall if they don’t make money from the AIFW? After all, this is a trade event, the FDCI is in the business of assisting Indian designers cross the Rubicon and get into reputed stores like 10 Corso Como (Milan), Saks Fifth Avenue, Colette (Paris), Joyce (Hong Kong), Isetan Mitsukoshi ( Japan) which Rahul

REVENUE ROSTER: New York Fashion Week: $900 million Paris Fashion Week: 400 million euros ($430 million) London Fashion Week: 26 billion pounds ($39.5 billion) (SOURCE: WWD REPORT)

Domestic buyers include Ensemble (Delhi, Mumbai), Aza (Mumbai, Delhi), Evoluzione (Chennai, Delhi), Carma (Delhi), Ogaan (Delhi), Atosa (Mumbai), Amethyst (Chennai), Elan (Ahmedabad) and Aura (Nagpur).

The big international ones are Anthropologie USA, Lane Crawford Hong Kong, Beams Japan, Lillies (Jeddah), Sauce (Dubai), Saaki (Australia), Saraf trading (Riyadh), Sun Motoyama (Japan), Designer Lounge (Kuwait), Asian Spirit (Russia), Seasons (London), Aashni and Co (London) and Rocco (Bahrain).

INDIA BULLISH (INDIAN TEXTILE MARKET SIZE)

2011 D2,73,000 crores ($58 billion)

D6,64,000 crores ($141 billion)

2021

(SOURCE: TECHNOPAK STUDY TITLED TEXTILE AND APPAREL COMPENDIUM 2012)

CASH REGISTER RINGING: THE MOST EXCITING THING IN FIVE DAYS, THEY CAN SEE ALMOST 100 DIFFERENT COLLECTIONS, THUS MAKING THIS A WIN-WIN FOR ALL THREE PARTIES INVOLVED Mishra has effectively managed,” says FDCI President, Sunil Sethi, who has turned around the fortunes of the body, since he joined eight years back.

According to official sources, each participating designer bags orders anywhere between C 10-20 lakhs from not just agents and buyers from Europe, America, Japan and Spain, but also the biggest contingent that comes to AIFW, from the Middle-East. There are two types of buying that takes place at AIFW, one is ‘outright’, which mostly foreign buyers do, and which is most profitable for a style guru.

“They order one style in 10,000 pieces, and with bulk orders, our profit mar-

gin triples, which is not the case with domestic stores, where the buying is mostly done on consignment basis, so there is a 50-50 chance of rejection,” says designer Reynu Tandon, who has bagged C 1-3 crore orders from MiddleEast buyers.

So if you calculate 100 stalls and each stall making at least C 20 lakhs, by conservative estimate, it works out to two hundred million worth business taking place in the five-day event. This time, FDCI sources confirmed that almost 180 buyers came to the AIFW and these included not just biggies like Anthropologie, which has more than 200 stores worldwide, but also B-Town buyers from Raipur and Nagpur. “They come with an army of merchandisers to scout for new talent and to keep their store upgraded with international styles. In five days, they can see almost 100 different collections, thus making this a win-win for all three parties involved — the FDCI, designers and buyers,” says Sunil.

With the economic slowdown hitting the economy of the US, the UK and even Europe, the Middle-East has emerged as a buying powerhouse, with almost 70 to 80 per cent of the purchasing concentrated there. “And each store there demands something

exclusive that’s why they come here as Indian pricing is affordable due to labour being cheap plus, you get styles that are international, which if you buy from Europe, the prices will triple,” says Sunil. This year, according to the grapevine, the buying was close to five million dollars, but no confirmation was given.

What designers like Pankaj and Nidhi as well as Paras and Shalini do is travel to international fairs like Tranoi and Who’s Next? in Paris, as well as Coterie in New York, where agents of retail chains come looking to stock up. Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani herself travelled to Who’s Next? this time to see how more than 20 Indian designers had participated looking to break the glass ceiling and bag international orders. “I feel these fairs, first of all, are extremely beneficial in terms of understanding and delivering the needs and wants of international markets because it is totally different from the domestic market. Since the world is looking towards India for its unsurpassed heritage of weaves, textiles and crafts, if an Indian designer encashes on his legacy and delivers contemporary clothes albeit with an Indian soul, there is huge potential. In fact, there are prospects for everyone, if they can

identify their target consumer. Indians have a huge advantage because of our resources. If a designer patiently takes baby steps in these fairs and consolidates himself consistently, there is tremendous opportunity. You have to be persistent and soon buyers will show interest and place orders,” says designer Shruti Sancheti.

Samant Chauhan, who is one of the biggest suppliers to the Middle-East market, confirms that he got lucrative orders of up to C 1 crore from the fashion week, thanks to a Kuwati buyer.

“We need to get agents to come and spot us, this can only happen if we go to trade shows abroad. Most big stores like Harvey Nichols don’t come to India, most of their buying takes place in Paris or Hong Kong,” says Samant.

He adds that the Middle-East is extremely fashion-forward as well as unpredictable that’s why new designers like Lovebirds, who only do minimalist pieces with no embroidery, are being picked up by them. Samant also retails from Anthropologie as his leather accessories are a hit there.

“Few would believe that South Korea is now coming up as a major fashion hub after India, it is a space to watch out for in the future,” he concludes.

business

PATRIOT|NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

11

Corporate theatrics

THE FEUDS OCCURRED IN DIFFERENT GROUPS. BUT THERE ARE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE RATAN-CYRUS AND AMBANIS’ SPATS DEADLOCK: Like the war between Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, the RatanPHOTO: AFP Cyrus one can also take an ugly turn

Team Patriot

CORPORATE DRAMA: Ratan Tata, Interim Chairman, has decided to get into the front seat. After his exit, Cyrus Mistry, Former Chairman, accused Tata of backseat driving PHOTO: AFP

the board of Reliance Industries, whose head was Mukesh, wanted to THERE WERE differences, but there give veto investment powers to the were similarities too. In one case, a latter. In the first case, the resolution former chairman, who controlled the was passed; in the second, Anil got to majority holding in the group’s hold- know about it, and protested against it. ing company, kicked out his handThe public spats that followed after picked successor, an outsider. In the other, in 2005, the elder brother vain- the board room dramas were similar.

Friendly media was used, and masly tried to get rid of his sibling; the two saged, by both the sides to get favoursplit the sprawling business empire among themselves. Yes, the first is able coverages. Senior politicians, about the spat, and now a public one, including the prime ministers, were between Ratan Tata, Interim Chair- wooed in a bid to give their sides of the stories, and ensure that there were no man, Tata Group, and Cyrus Mistry, Former Chairman. The second story adverse political and administrative is about the battle between the two reactions. Each side prepared and geared itself for a long legal battle.

Ambanis, Mukesh and Anil.

Ratan filed caveats so that his version Ironically, the manner in which Ratan exited Cyrus, and Mukesh part- was heard before the courts passed ed ways with younger Anil, were any orders. Mukesh and Anil hired the almost the same. It was a struggle for best lawyers to handle any legal emergencies. power; a tussle to prove who was in Despite the power struggle, which power and control. Although, after retirement, Ratan became the out- formed the core of the two clashes, the sider, he always remained the shad- underlying reason was about money.

Ratan was unhappy with owy insider. Anil, who the manner in which was clearly an insider, a Cyrus handled the Tata brother, felt more like an BOARD DRAMA: Teleservices-DoCoMo leoutsider. So, both Ratan BOTH MUKESH AND RATAN gal mess. After the Japaand Anil tried to extract nese decided to end its their pound of flesh since INSERTED telecom partnership, it they believed that their CRUCIAL won $1.2 billion in a kingdoms would slip out CLAUSES London arbitration court. of their hands. In the end, UNDER TRIVIAL Cyrus refused to pay, and both talked about the SECTIONS OF settle out of the court. future of their respective THE BOARD Finally, DoCoMo filed a groups, and shareholders’ RESOLUTIONS. THE IDEA: TO case in New York. Legal interests. experts felt that this was In Tata’s case, Ratan felt RETAIN POWER done to put the American that his legacy was being eroded; the strategic shifts initiated by assets of the group’s most profitable Cyrus were dragging the group in a company, which contributes over twodifferent direction. The latter was con- thirds of the profits, Tata Consultancy Services, at risk. This was totally unacvinced that he was deliberately not ceptable to Ratan. being allowed to work as the Mukesh was unhappy because of Chairman, and there was too much interference from the board of the the natural gas turmoil. Reliance had discovered huge quantities of gas in holding company, Tata Sons (See Tata Cyrus, Tata In, issue dated 27 October the Cauvery basin, off the coast of - 2 November). In the case of the Andhra Pradesh. It sat on huge potential profits. However, Anil’s dream was Ambanis, Anil thought that Mukesh was deliberately clipping his powers; to use a large portion of the gas for his Mukesh thought that his younger ‘dream’ power project in Uttar brother was unnecessarily pushing Pradesh. The younger brother publicly announced the project. Mukesh the group into wrong businesses, and creating political frictions, which was was unhappy that gas would go to a power plant, a business that he wasn’t bad for growth and expansion. particularly enthused about. Hence, Ultimately, in both cases, the catalyst was a one-line board resolution, the deadlock.

Like the Mukesh-Anil war, the which was hidden within an inane section titled ‘Safety’. A few years ago, Ratan-Cyrus one can take an ugly legal turn. For five years, the Ambanis Tata Sons changed the composition of the committee, which could sack its fought a legal battle. Although Cyrus has said that he will not take the legal Chairman. The change gave a majority to individuals appointed by the two route, his public tussles with Ratan Tata trusts, which together have a may force one of the parties to do so.

In the end, the real losers will be the majority stake in the holding comgroup’s companies, and their retail pany, and which were managed by and institutional shareholders. n Ratan. Under a similarly titled clause,

fashion patriot

12

BEST OF BRITS THE FASHION AWARDS 2016 BY THE BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR NOMINEES. JONATHAN ANDERSON, ALESSANDRO MICHELE AND CHRISTOPHER KANE HAVE ALL BEEN NOMINATED IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES

NEW DELHI | THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

Gabi Gregg is a US blogger, who is constantly breaking the ‘fat-girl’ stereotype

US-based Chriselle Lim was among 250 fashion influencers in Bloglovin’ list

FANTASTICAL RIDE: Grace Coddington styled an editorial based on the theme of Alice in Wonderland in 2003 for Vogue, US

BLOG

hoggers?

Hanadi Merchant-Habib EVER SINCE the first fashion bloggers surfaced on the Internet almost a decade ago, there’s no questioning their rising influence. From being perceived as threats to prominent fashion journalists and magazines, to being sought-after by every luxury brand due to their high social media following, bloggers have, and continue to take the world by storm. What started out as a platform purely to express their real opinions on fashion, has now turned into a full-fledged business model where an influencer can get paid a hefty sum for a single Instagram post and even more for a full blog post. But what is it about them that has caused this frenzy?

Bloggers are posing for lensmen in paid-to-wear fashion, which says Vogue, “heralds the death of style”.

While bloggers reply saying Vogue only does commercial deals with luxury brands. The constant battle between magazines and blogs is a key component in understanding this topic.

Whilst magazines may dictate trends

and editors like Anna Wintour, editor Vogue US can make or break a designer’s career, when it comes to styling tips, bloggers have an edge here.

Magazine editorials are often big budget productions (remember Grace Coddington’s Alice in Wonderland shoot in 2003 or Dovima shot at the pyramids for Harper’s Bazaar in 1951) and focus on creative styling which isn’t easy to mimic in day-to-day life.

Your favourite blogger however, has a more approachable style quotient which is much easier to gain inspiration from. And photos are often shot at locations like a pretty neighbourhood coffee shop, in a backyard, on the streets or even a grocery store making them very relatable as opposed to editorials, which portray somewhat of a fantasy. In addition, it is very common to find style tips such as how to wear clashing prints or how to mix various textures in one outfit, things that GenNext relates to on a blog.

Adding to that, personal style bloggers like Chriselle Lim and Wendy Nguyen churn out outfit posts almost on a daily basis. And with the sheer

PHOTO: VOGUE

Aimee Song is a LA-based interior designer, who runs the blog Song Of Style

WHO’RE THE REAL FASHION INFLUENCERS? MAGAZINES OR BLOGGERS? WITH VOGUE PANNING THE LATTER, WE DEBATE Nadya Hasan is a Dubaibased blogger

volume of bloggers, one just needs to check out their Instagram feed everyday to get inspired. It’s much faster than waiting for your monthly issue of Vogue or Cosmopolitan. Not to mention, no monthly subscription fees involved here! Also, bloggers come in all shapes, sizes. It’s rare for a magazine to do an editorial on curvy people.

Although, kudos to Cosmopolitan India for its Curves Ahead story featuring six gorgeous women, who’ve embraced every one of their ‘bends’ so confidently and beautifully. Moving on, where do the full-figured go for style inspiration?

Certainly not a Vogue. Enter, plus-size bloggers like Gabi Gregg. With a follow-

ing of almost half a million, this influencer, who appeared on The Today Show has successfully proved that you don’t need to be skinny to be stylish.

A blogger’s influence on a consumer’s decision to purchase something is undeniable. There were times when brands would only choose movie stars or musicians to endorse their products.

However, now, more and more labels are looking to collaborate with bloggers to get attention for their designs.

When J.W. Anderson released its ‘Pierce’ bag a few months ago, it was all one could see on the Instagram feeds.

Aimee Song, Chriselle Lim, Bryanboy, Susanna Lau, amongst many others, all had the same black one. The result: certain variations of the purse was sold out on many e-commerce platforms.

Needless to say, these influencers actually dictate what’s trending, However, it’s not only the West where blogging has become a phenomenon.

The Middle-East too has its share of top-notch bloggers like Nadya Hasan and Lana El Sahely, who regularly attend international fashion weeks and have worked with some of the world’s best luxury labels.

Despite a world economic slowdown, according to Deloitte’s “Global Powers of Luxury Goods” report, “The Middle-East represents a big opportunity for brands. And the United Arab Emirates as a whole, continues to enjoy strong growth.” With a high purchasing power in the region and extremely stylish women, it is natural for luxury brands to want to partner with region-

al bloggers with whom the local audience can relate to. Finally, the high engagement between bloggers and their followers has accomplished a level of trust between the two.

For example, expert bag critic Tina Craig of snobessentials.com gives honest, upfront bag reviews to help her readers decide what bag to purchase and doesn’t care what the brand’s PR thinks. When reviewing a Saint Laurent Paris clutch early last year, this is what she had to say, “This Classic Monogram clutch is not anything I can, in good conscience, recommend to you, though. I’m all for a fun, fruity print, but these cherries are far from enjoyable. They’re more like the cherries you’ll find on notebooks designed for 10-year-olds. Neither abstract nor artful, these cartoonish sweet things appear to have just been tossed haphazardly on the bag.” We are sure her loyal followers will never invest in a purse without reading Tina’s opinion on it. Blogging aside, a lot of these newage influencers have also successfully diversified their careers. Tina Craig regularly contributes to Vogue China and has designed a fine jewellery line for Nouvel Heritage, Chiara Ferragni has launched her eponymous shoe label and Leandra Medine and Aimee Song have both authored their own books. So for vogue.com to belittle bloggers and ignore their remarkable achievements is just in bad taste. Like it or not, they’re here to stay.

Hanadi Merchant writes a popular blog, Desi High Style. n

luxury patriot

MAMMA MIA PRADA FOR ITS CRUISE 2017 CAMPAIGN, SHOT BY WILLY VANDERPERRE SELECTED JESSICA CHASTAIN. SHE HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED IN VARIOUS SITES AROUND MILAN.

NEW DELHI | THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

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CONTRASTING TEXTURES LEIBER COLLABORATES WITH LIBERTINE AND GETS A NEON-HUED GLOW

SWEET NOTHINGS: Johnson Hartig of Libertine adds oodles of colour to Judith Leiber Couture

PHOTOS: LIBERTINE

Asmita Aggarwal

ally known as a brand with a surefire cult follows i o n t o J L . “Jud i t h ing extending from East Coast socialites to West Leiber’s legacy of whimCoast creatives, and back again to a cross-secsical style, and the highTHE ICONIC American brand, Judith Leiber has tion of celebrities ranging from Mick Jagger to est quality raw materials, tied up with Libertine for an exclusive collaboraTaylor Swift. In essence, the longevity of craftsmanship and engineertion, launching in November 2016. As the foundLibertine’s appeal spanning 15 years in the spoting continue to be priorities ing force behind Libertine, Johnson Hartig, who light is a testament to his talent. today,” she explains. launched the label in 2001, continues to revoTalking about what prompted this collaboraUnderstanding the fact that JL lutionise, the ready-to-wear market for men and tion, he admits, it was Bergdorf Goodman, who has crafted an empire, selling women. In the past, Libertine has cultivated suggested it. “Libertine’s aesthetics combined bags, this association has added collaborations with everyone from Damien Hirst seamlessly with Judith Leiber’s couture ideology flavour to the red carpet award and Goyard to Converse and even Target, as it as the same woman, who normally buys season. “Everyone from Cate believes that high-end luxury must meet mass Libertine also collects vintage Blanchett to Kate Moss to appeal.

Judith Leiber — she’s worldly, several Bollywood actressHartig says, “I mean, come on... does it get BRIGHTENED: cultured, sophisticated, es have reached out to borany more iconic and divine than “HIS COLOURFUL adventurous, has a sense of row them,” says Jana. The Judith Leiber? Everybody, but IMAGINATION, humour and is the chicest bags are available online at everybody carried them, AND WHIMSICAL woman in the world,” he Bergdorf Goodman.com for and there is a reason PERSPECTIVE says. $5,000. “Collaborating with why... the whimsy, the ARE A PERFECT You will find some Johnson was such a pleasuperb quality, and the MATCH FOR enormously quirky sure. He has a unique and d e c a d e n c e. . . w e A STORIED pieces in this line distinct perspective on jumped at the BRAND LIKE from a leopard spotdesign and style. Having chance to work JUDITH LEIBER ted dog to a psychea chance to view Leiber with them, and I COUTURE” delic pagoda pavilion classics through his think our unique take in the form of bags. neon rainbow goggles using their signaLibertine is known for its fabulous has been a delight,” says Jana. ture shapes created colours and Hartig confesses, “We Jana admits that Hartig is a wildly what I plan to use always like bold clashing colours, texcreative rogue innovator with a beauas small sculptures tures, and patterns, so we referenced things tiful, unique approach to fashion. “His on my drinks table. we’ve done in our collections in the bags. colourful imagination, and whimsical They’re completely And again, our cheeky sense of style is perspective are a perfect match for a covetable.” always prevalent.” storied brand like Judith Leiber Har tig lives and Jana Matheson, creative director, Judith Couture.” works in Los Angeles SPARKLY: The Pagoda Leiber, was born in Canada and raised in With the success of this associawith his rescue troopers bag by JL-Libertine California before she headed to New York and tion, in the future, Hartig is open to Te re n c e a n d D i g g y Paris to study fashion. A Parsons School of more to take the brand forward.

Smalls, and regularly travels the globe in search Design ‘Designer of the Year’ and runner-up in “Anything that is luxurious and with o f n e w e x p e r i e n c e s a n d a d ve n t u re s. the Hermes ‘Emerging Designer’ competition a sense of history or street credibility Championed by the likes of Anna Wintour and in 1996, she has attempted to add a third dimenwill work for us,” he concluded.

Karl Lagerfeld, today Libertine is internation-

n

FOUNDING FORCE: Graphic illuminations teamed with sublime screen printing techniques and an avant garde approach to deconstruction makes Libertine kaleidoscopic

beauty patriot

14

WARP & WEFT BRAIDS GO BACK TO AS MANY AS 30,000 YEARS. IN SOME REGIONS, BRAIDS WERE A MEANS OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION. AT A GLANCE, AN INDIVIDUAL COULD DISTINGUISH WHETHER PEOPLE WERE MARRIED, MOURNING, OR OF AGE FOR COURTSHIP

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

Braids at Anita Dongre

Sonakshi Sinha in the film Akira

PLAIT-UP: Kim Kardashian posted a picture on Instagram wearing boxer braids

ROPING IN THE UNRULY BRAID

BOHEMIA: Roberto Cavalli’s skinny braids for spring-summer 2017

PHOTO: CAVALLI

BOKER, FISHTAIL OR MILKMAN? WE ANALYSE HOW BRAIDS HAVE BANISHED BOREDOM AND METAMORPHOSISED THIS SEASON

Drishti Vij IT’S MESSIER, scruffier and ungroomed. But, the the braid has become somewhat of an antithesis of everything it used to be — romantic, immaculate and orderly. There isn’t a hairstyle in the history of fashion so profoundly explored like the braid.

Season after season, we twist and turn our majestic manes and knot it to make it more à la mode. Be it the humble three-part style or the whimsical fishtail, the figurine French or the decorous Dutch, the easy-comeeasy-go milk-maid braid or the undaunted boxer braid, this hairstyle is like the Marco Polo of our tresses.

With spring-summer 2016 & ‘17, the braid has criss-crossed its way back to the runways as well. It has transcended its bonafide look, remodeled itself in ways that we would not imagine, and has risen to be anything but basic. Peter Dundas’ swan song for Roberto Cavalli looked back to the ’70s and so did the hair. It was the embodiment of a Joni Mitchell song, as the hair was tied in skinny, three-part braids to paint the

picture of a happy hippie. Maria just-out-of-bed look, the result being Grazia Chiuri’s debut at Dior (after youthful and carefree. At the London leaving Valentino), on the other hand, Fashion Week, Canadian designer saw a renaissance for the brand. Her Erdem Moralioglu took this erstwhile hairstyle into a time machine and modern-day take on the Dior’s longheld heritage also translated to the made a pit-stop at 17th century hair, with braided top-knot buns that chignons. Speaking of time, Louis celebrated absolute femininity. Vuitton took the braid and turned it Valentino’s long swirls towards the future.

With slick and ultrawere a new-fashioned INTERLACED GLORY: skinny entwined rendition of a fairyBRAIDS, AS IT tale-like braid, with a hair, the Vuitton girl SEEMS, HAVE NEVER side of Tangled. was standing at a With Kenzo’s recent junction, somewhere TRULY GONE OUT between Japanese show that delved into OF STYLE; BUT, THE p o p - c u l t u re a n d maximalism in the ART OF REVIVING ’80s, we revisited the ( X - B ox i n d u c e d ) IT IN NEW WAYS virtual reality. sweet nostalgia of (WHILE KEEPING IN pigtails, looped at the Back home (in the MIND THE WHIMS light of spring -sumb a c k . S i m i l a r l y, OF THE MILLENNIA) mer 2017 at the Simone Rocha HAS SEEN A presented dainty and Amazon India RESURGENCE. F a s h i o n We e k ) , tightly-woven pigtails designers like with sweaty baby hair stuck to the face. The Samant Chauhan, effect was similar to Vladimir Anavila and Masaba Gupta brought Nabokov’s Lolita, drenched in the braid back to town. While Chauhan presented the hairstyle in innocence. Furthermore, A Détacher subtle regality wrapped around low sent out models with street-style inspired multiple braids, owing to the buns, Masaba went all-out with

TIME TRAVEL: Erdem’s 17th century-inspired braided buns

dreadlocks and messy center-parted braids on both ear ends.

Malini Ramani’s scuffed-up fishtail style with a deep side-part added to the braided line-up. Furthermore, Anita Dongre’s festive collection merged tradition with the athleticlooking boxer braids at the India Couture Week 2016 runway.

Nonetheless, what makes the homecoming of the braid so riveting is that it’s not just bound to the runways.

Boxer braids or reversed French braids have become somewhat of a cultural trope, with the likes of celebrities like Kim Kardashian (and her entire clan), Katy Perry and even Sasha Obama.

Once worn by UFC fighters (especially female basketball players in United Fighting Championship), the braids

PHOTO: ERDEM

have now become the focal point of a political quest. While African women have been wearing braids and cornrows for years, it is the fetishising of this trend by white women that is looked down upon. Kylie Jenner’s cornrows and Marc Jacobs’ dreadlocks, for example, were criticised for cultural appropriation. Songstress Solange Knowles’ also performs against the omnipresence of the racial politics of hair in her video, Don’t touch my hair.

Braids, as it seems, have never truly gone out of style; but, the art of reviving it in new ways (while keeping in mind, the whims of the millennia) has seen a resurgence. Toiling around with the braid is no fun. The key to a good braid is practice. Remember, a twist in time, saves nine. n

patriot

food&travel NEW DELHI | THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

NO MORE CALORIE CRUSHING

IS CALORIE COUNTING REDUNDANT? OR, DOES IT CHART THE GROWTH OF FITNESS-HOLICS IN A SOUL-FOOD LOVING ERA? OWNER OF THE JUNKYARD CAFÉ AND HOSPITALITY VETERAN, UMANG TEWARI SPILLS THE BEANS

15

DEFINING CAFÉ CULTURE: Umang PHOTOS: THE JUNKYARD CAFÉ Tewari

Drishti Vij

ing and Warm Caramelized Onions on Wheat Pita. It’s clear that Junkyard THE COUNT of a calorie is such that wants to put fun back into health food. it can frazzle the most masterful mind. Interesting appetisers like Cinnamon“The good life” is no longer about eatsugar Popcorn and mini-frittatas also ing pepperoni pizzas, right out of the await you here.

Italian trail of Eat, Pray, Love. The cuiHowever, the café does not want to sine of the future (and present) might impose only lean meals on their cuscome with a side of a cold calorie tomers. While one side of the menu count. The relationship between informs you about the correct nutrinourishment and the millennials has tive value (like the Spicy Chickpeas is grown to become stronger, one mindabout 325 calories unlike Prawn, ful plate of food at a time.

Fennel and Rocket Risotto that counts Located in Rajouri Garden and to 565), the other side of the menu lets Connaught Place, The Junkyard Café you indulge in soul food like Smoked is a testament to this Cheese Balls and o n - g row i n g t re n d .

Nachos Overload withTILT THE SCALE: Umang Tewari, who is out worrying about the THE CULTURAL the owner of Junkyard calorie intake. The casuNEMESIS OF Café, along with casual al dining place is not THE ERA IS dining cafés like Garam dedicated to a singular MARKED BY Dharam, Public cuisine, like most cafés INSTA-FRIENDLY Connection, Oh My in the city. The menu WORLD CUISINES God (OMG), Junkyard offers selected dishes AND FITNESS and Three Pegs Down, from Italian, Mexican, is of the belief that Thai and Indian cuiJUNKIES. THE younger audiences are sines.

CHALLENGE drifting towards healthThe method of caloLIES IN FINDING ier lifestyles. rie-counting for losing A BALANCE “GenNext want weight is debatable.

BETWEEN THE healthier eating Susan Rinkunas in The TWO options and they are Cut reports, “Calories willing to pay premium aren’t a useful metric for price for food products they perceive weight loss: They’re calculated in as healthier as compared to the older flawed ways, and there are differences consumers. There is a growing awarein how individual bodies digest and ness of fitness among the youth. They metabolise them. Some researchers understand the nutritional value of think dieters would be better served food as well as the overall health risk. by focusing on nutrient density or So, majority of them want to make some kind of as-yet-undetermined mindful choices, when it comes to satiety value. These are great scienfood,” he adds. tific arguments, but the psychological For the health-conscious, the café case against calories is also worth conoffers fruit concoctions like Gardino sidering.” Furthermore, she also (made of watermelon, celery, mint writes about how low-fat or artificialand beetroot) and Root Collage (made ly sweetened products, can make you of beetroot, carrot and vanilla sugar). feel even more hungry, along with Other than this, they also offer a varifeeling dull. ety of wholesome leafy-greens like Other than offering a one-of-a-kind Grilled Chicken and Spinach salad menu, what makes the café stand out with a dollop of spicy pineapple dress- are the interiors. “We collected many

RECYCLE: Interiors at the Café are made by reusing scrap, an attempt to recreate a Junkyard-like dining place

Opening a restaurant seems like an exciting and daunting task these days.

And, limiting yourself to a healthy menu can be risky from a business viewpoint. Umang, by offering a dual menu, has been able to kill two birds with one stone. “Starting a restaurant is time-consuming and one of the toughest businesses to successfully launch. If you want to make it as a cafe owner, you have to love what you do.

You need to have a detailed business plan that charts the course of your success,” he reveals.

He further explains why concept and thought are as important as a sound business plan, “We know that a lot of people trust us for providing safe and wholesome food. And we’re committed to providing just that. The reason behind opening a café like Junkyard was that now-a-days everyone is willing to eat carefully and want to ignore junk food, which may cause several problems. So, we make sure our food is delicious, safe and healthy. We don’t compromise on the taste.” n

HEALTHYmetric

FUN & FIERY: Masala Cottage Cheese Shaslik

things from scrap to create most of the interiors,” says Umang. Owing to its name, the ceiling is adorned with more than 1,000 beer bottles and worn-out tires or alloys, properly arranged in various spots. Nonuniform furniture, servers dressed in dungarees and an unbelievable wooden plane model welcomes you to this pseudo-junkyard that they’ve tried to

recreate.

The cultural nemesis of the era is marked by Insta-friendly world cuisines and fitness junkies. The challenge lies in finding a balance between the two. While marking calorific content in a food item has lopsided results, it still remains an endeavour (by cafés like Junkyard), which helps customers make better choices.

u CHICKEN, BROCCOLI AND BEETROOT SALAD WITH AVACADO PESTO 313 CALORIES Smoked chicken, walnuts & rapeseed oil (Fat: 15.2 g) u TOFU BITES 51 CALORIES Deep-fried silken tofu with homemade sweet chilli sauce (Fat: 2.8 g) u FRENCH-STYLE STUFFED EGGS 38 CALORIES Scotch eggs & lamb (Fat: 1.6 g)

art&culture patriot

16

GOT THE BLUES THE JASS B’STARDS SANG BLUES AS A NEW YORK SIDEWALK WITH A SIGNBOARD ANNOUNCING BROADWAY WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MASABA GUPTA’S SPRING SUMMER ’17 SHOWCASE.

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

BEAUTY LIES IN EAR OF BEHOLDER

IN THIS DIGITAL AGE, THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN DESIGNERS, SET DESIGNERS AND MUSICIANS IS MOST EXCITING AS THE ‘LIVE’ GENRE GAINS MOMENTUM

RIGHT NOTE: At the Burberry show at London Fashion Week, Alison Moyet sung live which took away attention from the heady ensembles

PHOTO: BURBERRY

Duhin Ganju

Sound of Silence, giving way to an eerily dark collection based on a AT DIANE von Fürstenberg’s Fall ’15 monochromatic colour palette. show, which opened with Kendall The sound of music did not lose its Jenner, had the theme song from 50 enchantment as at AIFW SS ’17 Shades of Grey that brought out the Cuttack-born singer, Sona Mohapatra, very obvious reference to sex. At walked for the label Virtues by Viral, Creatures of the Wind, a brand per- Ashish and Vikrant to the melody of sonifying the character of an eccentric Tere ishq nachaya, and gave the audience a slice of her soulful woman, Captain voice by singing Aja ve Beefheart’s Autumn’s EARFUL: live to match the natural Child gave way to “WHILE dyes, nature-inspired clothes that were heavy IMAGINING A motifs, aal dyeing of on sentiment and fitSHOW, WHEN Kotpad kept alive by the ting with their origins.

MOST BRANDS Panika family of Odisha.

Similarly, the recentBOMBARD OUR Adding to the musical ly concluded Amazon SENSES WITH line-up, TV actor, Dalip India Fashion Week SS THEIR VISION, Tahil sang Wonderful ’17 witnessed Amit THE SOUND Tonight by Eric Clapton, Aggarwal, showcasing ENVIRONMENT live for Pallavi Jaipur’s a rich cacophony of SHOULD NOT s h ow. W hat’s mo re, 3-D shapes and sci-fi FIGHT WITH designers also collaboembellishments that THOSE IDEALS” rated with several folk were in perfect sync artists. The grand finale with Reality, a song by that witnessed the collaboration a Belgian DJ recorder, Felix De Laet (known by his stage name Lost between guru-shishya, JJ Valaya with Alpana & Neeraj, welcomed Rajasthani Frequencies).

Indian-designer duo Abraham & folk artists as tradition met modernity Thakore, known for weaving a com- through this eclectic line.

Music is not an afterthought and it plex web of references through their immaculately tailored, textile rich is seamlessly linked to the nuances of clothes, had Simon & Garfunkel’s fashion when it comes to identifying

RHYTHM DIVINE: Sona Mohapatra from Odisha sang for Virtues

a specific time in history. An extension of styling — something that not only helps to tell the story of a collection, but influences how viewers receive that tale.

In recent years, however, the tradition has been, literally, amplified.

Live music is adding to the glamour and spectacle of the runway. The shows of many major fashion houses

PHOTO: FDCI

now seem like concerts. However, there is a danger in pushing the connection too far — some brands are certainly missing the plot. Burberry’s SS ’16 presentation of Alison Moyet, for example, made one forget for a brief moment that it was clothing, which was the main attraction. Alison performed four songs with the 32-piece orchestra — All Cried Out,

When I Was Your Girl, Whispering Your Name and Only You. Interestingly, some took the road less travelled, like Japanese guru Junya Watanabe, who’s SS ’17 show was well... path-breaking.

After the last model walked, the music stopped mid-song, as abruptly as it first started.

“We are incessantly surrounded by noise in modern day life,” says Paula Gerbase of the label 1205 in an interview with Another magazine. “While imagining a show, when most brands bombard our senses with their vision, the sound environment should not fight with those ideals, but rather highlight them and allow them to breathe.” Countless examples can be drawn to demonstrate the existence and importance of a connection between the worlds of fashion and music. In these difficult economic times, the developing of such a connection is vital. It allows the creative industries to survive commercially, rather than stagnate. This is undeniably why initiatives such as the 2012 Fashion Music Week Showcase (which encourages members of both industries to network and foster relationships which are mutually beneficial), held in Berkeley, California became increasingly relevant. n

entertainment patriot

17

Unity in diversity WEIGHTY CONCERNS NEW DELHI | THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

RITEISH BATRA’S OUR SOULS AT NIGHT HAS ROBERT REDFORD, DEEPIKA PADUKONE IS CHARMING VIN DIESEL, AND PC IS A BAYWATCH BABE. INDIAN ACTORS ARE SLOWLY MAKING THEIR PRESENCE FELT IN THE WEST

IN 1991 Satyajit Ray received the Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in film although he had worked only in India.

In his acceptance speech, Ray called NIRAJA RAO the Oscar his greatest honour.

For many years, Indian talent workand actors working in Hollywood. So what changed? ing in Hollywood was like the proverIn the late 1980’s and early 1990’s bial tortoise stuck on the pole, of reptwo Indian directors, Mira Nair and resentation. Indians were sensitive to their portrayal in Hollywood films and Deepa Mehta based in New York and no popular actor or technician wanted Toronto, respectively made their to forsake his work here for a minor debut films that went on to win awards. Nair was first with Salaam part abroad. Yet all of them wanted to act or at least proBombay in 1988 and Mehta followed with Sam duce a film with VIN-NING GAME: Hollywood. and Me in 1991. Shekhar “I LOVE HER One of the first Kapoor came next with SO MUCH AND crossover stars from Elizabeth in 1998 and WE HAVE SO India was Shashi now Riteish Batra is MUCH NATURAL Kapoor whose colshooting Our Souls at CHEMISTRY laboration with Night, a film with Robert Merchant-Ivory led Redford and Jane Fonda TOGETHER. ALL to many iconic in LA. OF MY MOMENTS English language With a larger and more WITH HER ARE films aimed at the affluent South-Asian BEAUTIFUL.” international market diaspora, Hollywood and in the 1970’s and 80’s.

Western audiences are more responsive to Indian casting and Guide (1965) was a rare one-off coltechnicians today. An affluent audilaboration between Dev Anand and ence also keeps ticket sales rising and Pearl S Buck, who co-produced it in English and Hindi, shot and directed nobody can afford to ignore them.

Another game changer has been the in India based on an Indian novel. The entry of studios like Fox and Disney in English film sank without a trace, while the Hindi version was a hit on India. The local star system has been release. Different strokes for different nudged into order and actors and technicians now appreciate and work folks! Contrast this with 2016 and we with sophisticated pre-production, see a host of Indian talent — directors

Matinée

marketing and promotional release plans. This has allowed Indian talent to familiarise themselves with the working style of Hollywood and many now have international agents to scout for opportunities. Deepika Padukone has completed a film with Vin Diesel XXX: Return of Xander Cage, which will catapult her into global stardom. “I love her so much and we have so much natural chemistry together. All of my moments with her are beautiful. She was going to Fast 7 and when she came to give test for that everyone in room was like ‘Ahhh... It’s so steamy... They have so much chemistry together,’” Diesel had exclaimed in an interview to a TV channel.

A R R a h m a n p o s t Sl u m d o g Millionaire is a busy music director across continents as are actors Anil Kapoor, Irrfan, Frieda Pinto and Priyanka Chopra. And the woman who has shattered the glass ceiling is certainly Priyanka Chopra with Quantico (it is one of the biggest commercial successes of the 2015-16 TV season) and soon Baywatch, where she plays an antagonist.

She confessed to Complex magazine, “I was very sure I did not want to be the stereotype of what Indian people are seen as, which is Bollywood, and henna. That’s all great! It’s what we are, and I love it. I love saris; I love music; I love henna; I love dancing, but that’s not all we are.” n

SIZE DOESN’T MATTER, SAYS HUMA QURESHI AS SHE BUSTS THE KATE MOSS MYTH — ‘SKINNY FEELS GOOD’

CURVES AHEAD: Huma Qureshi on the cover of Femina

Drishti Vij

TWOSOME: Deepika Padukone with Vin Diesel in XXX: Return of Xander Cage

While giving her Bafta award-winning speech, actress Kate Winslet admitted how she was once told by a drama teacher to “settle for the fat girl parts”. Film industry, the worldover, is culturally obsessed with thinness, and actress Huma Qureshi is of the unsurprising belief that it is an exact replica of the real world.

“We are bullies. We do not like anyone whose slightly different from the so-called norm — whiteblack, thin-curvy or rich-poor.

Anybody who does not fit into the standardised version of what we like is casted away,” she voices.

However, she would like to question these norms. She believes that everyone is beautiful in their own way. “I recently shoot a cover with Femina, which said, ‘My body, my rules’. It really encapsulates what I’m trying to say about this issue.”

Constantly breaking stereotypes, she thinks society’s fixation with size is preposterous. “I think we need to get out of bracketing somebody. Size is a very narrow way of looking at a human being. There’s far more to anyone.” It is crystal clear that Qureshi is a non-conformist. “Why must we look at women in a patriarchal and narrow way? Why must we commodify and PHOTO: PTI

PHOTO: FEMINA

objectify them, where they should be seen in perfect shape, size and colour,” she asks.

Her growth chart as an actor is rising. The Gangs of Wasseypur actress is now doing films like Jolly LLB 2 with Akshay Kumar, BritishIndian film Viceroy’s House, directed by Gurinder Chadha along with Dobara, which she is shooting with her brother, Saqib Saleem. Bringing diversity in beauty standards in the industry, Qureshi is also changing the idea of perfection often attached with a celebrity. “I think, we live in an age where everything is connected. Those days are long gone where there is a mystery attached to a celebrity. Today, I feel, people can access anything, from recipe of an exotic dish to which tribe in Africa lives in what kind of hut. I can Google everything. As an actor in the 21st century, it is difficult to isolate yourself,” she says.

Owing to this, her recent collaboration with Western-Digital fits right in. “We’re like gypsies. We go from one set to another, there’s so many memories you want to keep and your poor little mobile phone cannot possibly allow that much of space. And a hard-disk is like a onestop shop for all my memories in one little space,” she concludes cheerfully. n

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leisure

Sudoku

PATRIOT | NEW DELHI | THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 9X9 squares contains all the digits from 1 to 9.

Solutions for Sudoku and Everyman crossword will be printed in next week’s issue.

EVERYMAN CROSSWORD NO. 3484 ACROSS 1 Cheat to secure point in game (8) 5 Watches wife chasing a wild mare (6) 9 Frenchman wants, initially, to begin again (5) 10 Moderate consumed with rage, initially (9) 12 Lengthens terms of imprisonment (9) 13 Implied I must be bound by discretion (5) 14 Peep’s dish her undoing? A meat dish (9,3) 18 Both comrades badly injured (4,2,6) 21 Genuine about point relating to the kidneys (5) 23 It’s beside the point, a Parisian’s told (9) 24 Tell all to turn up fresh (4,5) 25 Capital invested in Chesterfield, say? (5) 26 He painted Goliath clasping one? (6) 27 Doctor treated Kurd, an alike (8) DOWN 1 A red used by Spencer is exquisite (6) 2 Pass by poor region (6) 3 WC and bidet he vandalised in film (9) 4 Understand what art collector might want to do (3,3,7) 6 Calm, the leader in trampolining competition (5) 7 Something from the watercolourist? (8)

EVENTS

EVERYMAN SOLUTION NO. 3483

8 Sumo type in baggy trews, the Parisian on right (8) 11 Eliot’s young Silas bringing in iodine for merchant ship’s captain (6,3) 15 Unerring openers for Sussex, batting with pride?

(6,3) 16 Wanting to pick a quicker

FILM SCREENING OF CHAUTHI KOOT AT THE STEIN AUDITORIUM on November 3 at 7 pm. Directed by Gurvinder Singh, the film is based on Punjabi author Waryam Singh Sandhu’s collection of short stories The Fourth Direction and I Am Fine Now n FRIENDS IN AID — SBCLTR X BLUE TOKAI AT BLUE TOKAI COFFEE ROASTERS on November 4, 4 pm to 8 pm. Sbcltr presents the first of its series of fundraisers for Better Village Better World. n ILF SAMANVAY 2016 AT AMPHITHEATRE, INDIA HABITAT CENTRE on November 3 at 7 pm. Opening of Oneness: Art Articulations, the art segment of the festival, curated by Deeksha Nath, will be inaugurated by artist Krishen Khanna. n

SOLUTIONS SUDOKU FROM LAST WEEK

route (5,3) 17 Send maiden over in carriage (8) 19 Group of people employed on a Hebridean island (6) 20 King Lear, perhaps (6) 22 Synthetic material stored in costly crate (5)

HOROSCOPE LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): On the 6th, your reactions will determine your personal and financial future.

Size up your situation before you decide to engage in unnecessary battle. Emotional matters will escalate on the 7th and 8th, if you aren’t willing to back down from a situation that can lead to an unfortunate outcome concerning your domestic life. Put some thought into personal and professional contracts on the 9th and 10th,

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): On the 6th, consider what your dreams are now and how they have altered from what you aspired to achieve in the past. Finding common ground will help you reach your goals. Look for a better way to express your views on the 7th and 8th — or keep your thoughts to yourself. Letting your emotions get the better of you will make you look bad. Don’t hesitate on the 9th and 10th.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Indulge in something that brings you joy on the 6th. Doing something that interests you with a friend or children will spark a new pastime. Speak up and share your knowledge with someone you know will appreciate your insight and help on the 7th and 8th.

Don’t let anyone put unreasonable demands on you. A personal change should be welcomed.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Refuse to let what others do influence you on the 6th. It’s important to stick to what works best for you. Use your intuitive intelligence to reach your goals.

You’ll have plenty of options on the 7th and 8th, but it is best to stick to simple alternatives that won’t put added pressure on you. Emotional issues due to a past regret will surface.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Deal with one thing at a time on the 6th. Multi-tasking will result in neglecting something or someone important in your future and overall advancement. Choose your words carefully on the 7th and 8th. Saying the right thing will determine how much help you receive from your peers.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Check out all sides of any situation at home or in your personal life on the 6th. Now is not the time to make a rash decision. Check out what’s going on in your community on the 7th and 8th, and find a way to join in and help make a difference to your personal surroundings and environment. Someone you meet will strike an emotional chord that encourages you to make a move.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stay calm and focused on what you have to accomplish on the 6th. Doing more and saying less will ensure that you reach your goal. Emotional matters will escalate if you aren’t willing to compromise on the 7th and 8th. Look at the big picture, and align yourself with people, who share your concerns and your dreams. An opportunity will have to be wagered carefully on the 9th and 10th.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Say what’s on your mind on the 6th, and resolve any issues you have regarding personal contracts, joint finances or health concerns. It’s best to know where you stand. Spread your wings and try new things on the 7th and 8th. Discussing hot topics will be enlightening, and as a result help you sway others to see things your way. The information you have been gathering will help you get ahead.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Get the facts on the 6th, and wager the ins and outs attached to discussing your findings. Avoid unnecessary controversy.

Tread carefully when dealing with emotional or domestic issues on the 7th and 8th. The more you know, the easier it will be to stop any claims being made that you don’t agree with. Take the back roads, no matter what you are dealing with on the 9th and 10th.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Share, give and take and focus on what you want to achieve on the 6th.

Lay down your game plan and listen to good advice. Don’t let emotional issues cloud your vision when it comes to money matters on the 7th and 8th. A good financial plan will help you achieve your goals. Put a creative idea to work for you on the 9th and 10th, and you will see how well received you are by your peers.

Astro advice EUGENIA LAST ARIES (March 21-April 19): Look for alternatives on the 6th, and you will find something that will work for you. Help will be offered, but not without expecting something in return.The best way to improve your life or current financial situation is to negotiate on your own behalf on the 7th and 8th.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ease into whatever you need to deal with compassionately on the 6th.

When dealing with personal or business partners, show and offer respect as well as equality. On the 7th and 8th, put greater emphasis on personal change, not emotional situations that need more time to be sorted out.

wellness patriot

BLINDSIDED

DIABETES IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS IN WORKING-AGE ADULTS AND THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP HEART DISEASE THAN SOMEONE WITHOUT DIABETES.

NEW DELHI | THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

19

Sugar-free indulgence Shape-up SEEMA PINTO

SEEMA PINTO, FOUNDER OF THE DIABETIC FOOD TRAIL, SHARES HOW INDIA HAS 50 MILLION PEOPLE WITH TYPE-2 DIABETES AND WHY HER INITIATIVE WAS BORN OUT OF THE NEED FOR BETTER AND HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE FIT

SMARThealth

Defeat diabetes by being alert

Chilean Seabass

INVIGOURATING: Couscous with pine nuts made with fresh and locally produced ingredients

EVERY PERSON is the author of her life! We can rewrite important chapters based on our current circumstances. That’s just what I set out to do, when I started the Diabetic Food Trail (DFT) initiative last year. India is the diabetes capital of the world with almost 50 million people suffering from type-2 diabetes. WHO estimates that 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries and such deaths will double between 2016 and 2030. Many experts believe that increased carbohydrates in our diet cause insulin resistance and lead to this disease. According to the Lancet study, China, India and

USA are among the top three countries with the highest diabetic population.

My job as an event consultant and my love for travelling takes me all over the world and wherever I go it’s a personal struggle to find a healthy eating place, be it in India or overseas. That’s when the idea struck me to start DFT, where people with diabetes or even the health-conscious, would know the nutritional value of the food that they consumed. Though it is integral to change your diet and add more fibre and protein and consume less sugar if you want to get fit.

The Diabetic Food Trail starts from November 12-30 and celebrated chefs

KEEP A CHECK: Patients must check their blood sugar levels daily

PHOTO: AFP

PHOTOS: SEEMA PINTO

Last year, restaurant chefs profrom restaurants in over 200 restaurants in five cities (Mumbai, Delhi, duced over 2,500 innovative diabetic friendly-dishes and this year, the figChennai, Bengaluru and Pune) will get ure will surely be doubled. For those a chance to showcase their talents to those who did not have who have a sweet tooth, HUSHED HARM: there will be a special many options for healthy WHO ESTIMATES Diabetic Dessert Trail, and diabetic food. It will THAT 80 PER include appetizers, which will allow them to CENT OF indulge as it will have no entrees, salads, desserts DIABETES as well as mocktails. processed sugar. I have DEATHS OCCUR been a diabetic for 12 Some of these eateries IN LOW AND years now and for the first include Sassy Spoon, Ritz MIDDLE-INCOME 10 years, I was fairly clueCarlton (Bangalore), Farzi COUNTRIES AND less, thus careless and Cafe, Zaffran, Copper SUCH DEATHS completely dependent Chimney, Lemon Leaf, WILL DOUBLE Boveda, Tawak, Hyatt on what diabetologists BETWEEN 2016 Place and Hyatt Regencyw o u l d re c o m m e n d .

AND 2030 Gurgaon, Fern Hotels, Unsatisfactory results led and Taj Vivanta Pune, me to different doctors, among others. Some of the restaurant each with their own treatment plans most-loved dishes will make it to these which were sometimes effective (for a short period) and most times not. I menus and these dishes will be rewas on insulin (twice a day), with a engineered to suit diabetics.

Keeping in mind, the hectic lifestyle high dosage and added more kilos to an already heavy frame. I was hypoof today’s youth, we will be introducglycaemic several times a week with ing two main attractions to this edition — diabetic master classes and dia- fatigue and giddiness intensifying the betic fitness boot-camps. The former feelings of lethargy and depression. will help individuals understand the With the Diabetic Food Trail, I am 13 ingredients, nutritional values, read kgs lighter, I feel good, light and energetic. Today I have a better work-life packaging labels, learn recipes which won’t compromise on taste. These balance and feel much fitter and definitely better-spirited. This is a master classes will be held by renowned nutritionists. The Diabetic humble initiative to make people Fitness Boot Camp is a specially aware and take control.

The writer is the co-founder of the planned workout session from the best trainers that will help keep dia- Diabetic Food Trail and is the director betes in check. of Semora Entertainment Works.

HbA1c Test: Every individual above the age of 25 must do this test as part of their regular health check-up. Every diabetic must do this test, every quarter.

Portion Control: Eat everything, but reduce portions.

Try and cut down your meal by 1/4th. Over a period of time it will contract your stomach and you will feel full with less.

Regular Exercise: Intermittent walking and stretching, whenever you get the time, throughout the day. Even 10-minute spells, five times a day is good to begin with.

Breathe: Breathe properly through your nostrils. Try to take five deep breaths every hour. Smile when doing this, as it helps to relax you.

Medication: Take your medication as prescribed.

Regular visits to your diabetologist are important. Don’t selfmedicate.

Eat Fresh, Eat Local: As far as possible, eat freshly cooked food with fresh and local produced ingredients. E.g. Using locally produced coconut oil in food preparations is much better than imported olive oil.

interiors patriot

20

A STITCH IN TIME KUTCH EMBROIDERY IS EXECUTED BY THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY OF KUTCH DISTRICT IN GUJARAT. THEY USE SQUARE CHAIN, DOUBLE BUTTONHOLE, PATTERN DARNING, RUNNING STITCH, SATIN AND STRAIGHT STITCHES.

NEW DELHI | THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

A BED OF ROSES, LITERALLY

EMBROIDERIES DONE BY HAND ARE SLOWLY BEING REPLACED BY MACHINE-MADE, MAKING THESE RARE WORKS OF ART. THE WORLD OF DECOR, WHICH WAS DOMINATED BY PHULKARI, KUTCHI AND ZARDOZI, IS NOW MAKING WAY FOR THE INTRICATE SUZANI AND THE DELIGHTFUL 1,000-YEAR-OLD CREWEL WORK Objet d’art SARITA HANDA TEXTILES HAVE played a major role in India’s cultural heritage and the sari has been an everlasting inspiration.

Heritage fabrics like Ikats, Patola and silk have been given a more updated and modern take in soft furnishings ranges.

Many brands are all about hand work, intricate needlework, exquisite craft, handloom fabrics and being labour intensive in every product. The Sarita Handa brand USP is detailing of embroideries mostly executed by hand, which was a dying art and has WOOLLEN WONDER: Crewel work been revived painstakingly to produce Rising stars of handwork: flawless, textured and embossed patCrewel: Crewel embroidery or terns. The craftsmanship is so unique crewel work is a technique that is 1,000 that it makes one pause and admire years old! It is traditionally done using the exquisite needlework, which takes wool and includes various embroidery hours to manipulate. stitches to make one single motif or a Soft furnishing ranges are now beautifully crafted in subtle tones pattern. The word Crewel is derived from an ancient word describing the sprinkled with fresh hues. There are a variety of techniques like Phulkari curl in the staple, i.e. the single hair of from Punjab, Kutchi embroidery in wool. The leopard fabric and tiger rug Gujarat and Rajasthan, shadow work from our decor line has been crafted and chikankari in Uttar Pradesh, but with this embroidery technique and now crewel work from Kashmir and the yarn used is of the finest quality.

The technique requires ornate bead and zardozi a clean smooth hand work alongwith Suzani NEEDLE WORK: and is highly labour are becoming popular.

EVERY REGION intensive.

T h e re i s a h u g e IN INDIA IS RICH The embroidery is change in how people IN ITS UNIQUE layered so one sees the look at ‘labour of love’ CRAFT AND dimension. now. Consumers are EMBROIDERY A yard of embroivaluing handcrafted HAS BECOME dered fabric requires as products in this techA CORE PART much as 30 hours by a savvy world as it is simiOF TEXTILES. skilled artisan. lar to owning a piece of DECOR BRANDS Embroidery done using heritage! These tangible, HAVE ADAPTED wool-like fibre will handmade, hand AND TAKEN make the tiger rug a draembroidered collections THE LEGACY matic statement in your that we design and FORWARD WITH A home. Embroideries are weave bed linens, decoCONTEMPORARY moulded into designs rative pillows, throws TWIST. from inspirations that and carpets, are a percome from nature. The fect reflection of the concept is fauna, exotic, wild animals timeless ‘craft’ trend that is finding as well as classic art based on the acknowledgement in today’s fashion majestic tiger, beautiful birds and and décor arena.

There is a mix of textiles and monkeys coming together to create a story. embroideries that are more “luxecasual” now and the combination of Suzani: Suzani embroidery is a decorative surface ornamentation luxurious fabrics and materials, rustic weaves and intricate heritage embroi- that has been around for centuries! dery and innovative surface ornamen- Suzani is derived from the Persian tation are making their presence felt. word suzan, meaning needle. This Interestingly, embroidery techniques technique too is labour intensive and are especially used to decorate fabrics gives the fabric a rich appeal. ranging from cotton to silk in patterns Of all the motifs, I am most inspired that are also inspired from designers by the sheer brilliance and beauty of travels around the world. flowers. Inspirations came during my extensive travels and it found a visual Every region in India is rich in its unique craft and embroidery has format initially from French-inspired vintage forms. Each floral pattern is a become a core part of textiles. Decor brands have adapted and adopted as story in itself, beautifully created in bold and aesthetically balanced well as taken the legacy forward with a contemporary twist to give consum- colours. Tulips, cherry blossoms, roses ers patterns and products to rev up and gardens all find their way into the n their homes! textiles.

ART HOUSE: Hand done French knots, crewelwork and applique work done in embroidery (top), zardozi embroidery with PHOTOS: SARITA HANDA beads sequins and dabka (bottom left) and an artisan working on crewel embroidery

sport patriot

DECLINE OF CHINA IN BADMINTON >> pg 22

NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

PASSING THE BATON

21

at a glance

WHO’S BETTER — DHONI OR KOHLI? DIFFICULT TO ANSWER FOR SURE. THEY ARE DIFFERENT. IT’S ABOUT ‘CAPTAIN COOL’ VERSUS ‘CAPTAIN AGGRESSIVE’ Team Patriot IT’S BACK to the same debates again.

Should MS Dhoni give way to Virat Kohli in ODIs, as he did in tests in 2014? Who’s the better skipper – Kohli or Dhoni? Everyone seems divided, including the former cricket greats.

Sourav Ganguly, the former captain says Kohli is his “favourite captain at the present moment”, and that “the country needs him at the moment”.

Former India coach, Gary Kirsten bats for Dhoni: “He is definitely the best leader I have worked work with, and his record… speaks for itself.

There’s actually little to choose between them vis-à-vis statistics and records. Kohli’s test win percentage – he is only the test captain – is a phenomenal 58.52%, or 10 wins out of 17 matches. Dhoni’s seem less, at 45%, but the former test skipper has captained in more tests. So, we need to wait for Kohli to prove his consistency, as Dhoni did over the past decade. The former captain won 27 out of 60 tests in his career.

However, no one can deny that there are several differences between the two, both as captains and players.

Dhoni is ‘Captain Cool’; Virat is ‘Captain In-your-face’. It’s difficult to spot a perturbed, disturbed, or frustrated Dhoni on the field – though the incidents have increased in the recent past. It’s almost impossible to see a calm and composed Kohli; he is always ready for a verbal duel with aggressive gestures.

Kohli is the perpetual risk-taker; his captaincy is almost like his batting – full of ambition, aggression and confidence. In his first test as the leader, India was set a fourth inning target of 364 by the Aussies at the Adelaide Oval.

India chased, unsuccessfully, and lost by 48 runs. But the team won the hearts of millions of cricket fans. In a later interview, Kohli said that it wasn’t his decision; every team member wanted to go for the chase. But clearly, it was the captain, who set the playing and mindset standards.

Often, Dhoni was criticised for being too cautious and careful during his test captaincy. His first mission was not to lose a match. Only then would he try to win. This attitude impacted his stint in ODIs too. A profile on www. espncricinfo.com agreed: “As captain and as batsman, safety first has been Dhoni’s mantra for a while now.” But while it helped him as a batsman, it

PLAYING WITH NUMBERS: KOHLI’S TEST WIN PERCENTAGE – HE IS ONLY THE TEST CAPTAIN – IS A PHENOMENAL 58.52%, OR 10 WINS OUT OF 17 MATCHES. DHONI’S SEEM LESS, AT 45%

PANDYA’S MAIDEN CALL, ISHANT’S COMEBACK All-rounder Hardik Pandya was the only new face in the 15-players squad announced for the first two tests against England. Speedster Ishant Sharma made a comeback, after recovering from Chikungunya. Some of the key players like KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were left out due to fitness-related issues. Rohit Sharma was also left out because of a thigh injury, which might require surgery.

Veteran opener, Gautam Gambhir, was retained in the squad after he scored a half century in the Indore Test against New Zealand. Karun Nair was the reserve batsman.

Jayant Yadav was the fourth spinner in the squad, but the top three – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra – are likely to play in the final eleven.

The pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav retained their places. Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay were obvious inclusions.

BCCI TAKES PRECAUTIONARY ACTION The Indian Cricket Board has asked the five state associations, which will stage the tests with England, whether they will be able to undertake the expenses to host the team “as a precautionary measure”. When asked whether the news reports to this effect were correct, sources said, “We have written to the Test match staging associations as a precautionary measure asking them whether they can host the matches. We are functioning on a day-to-day basis now rather than on a three-four months’ basis.”

CAPTAIN’S CORNER: Virat Kohli (L) loves risks, while Dhoni is more about safe options

shackled him as a leader, added the same profile.

In the beginning, one felt that both Dhoni and Kohli were similar in how they chose their players in a series.

When Dhoni passed on the captaincy baton to Kohli, the latter stuck with the same crop of players – the only exception being the inclusion of Wriddhiman Saha, the wicket-keeper, instead of, possibly, Dhoni! But in the last series against New Zealand, Kohli made frequent changes in the team, as if to keep everyone on alert.

Over the past few years, Dhoni has protected the players he liked, and

punished those who were on his wrong side. Excellent cricketers like Virendra Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were publicly criticised for their slowness on the field, although this was during ODI series. Even the off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh, privately said that he was excluded from the team because of Dhoni. However, the favourites continued despite bad performances.

Clearly, the debate about who is a better captain will linger on for a longer time, possibly until Dhoni retires from all forms of the game. But everyone agrees about the duo’s contribu-

PHOTO: AFP

tions to Indian cricket. Both have taken India to greater heights. With a series of test matches over the next four months, Kohli will be closer to Dhoni’s record of most Test wins.

Oozing with confidence, the current Indian test captain will seek a clean sweep at home. However, like in the case of Dhoni, Kohli’s acid test will be in the overseas matches. Before he retired as test captain, Dhoni lost eight tests in a row overseas against England and Australia. In fact, he announced his retirement before the end of the Australia series. So, one will need to be careful with Kohli too!

MAHMOOD APPOINTED AS BOWLING COACH OF PAK The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed former Test allrounder, Azhar Mahmood, as the bowling coach for the national cricket team.

The term is for a two-year period.

22

sport

PATRIOT|NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

The great fall of China

Rio Disaster

IN THE RECENT PAST, EUROPEANS AND ASIANS TRIUMPHED OVER CHINESE OPPONENTS

LEE UPSETS LEGENDARY LIN Malaysian world number one, Lee Chong Wei, avenged two heartbreaking Olympic badminton final defeats to Lin Dan by beating his nemesis in the last four of the Rio Olympics. Lin took the first game 21-15, but Lee bounced back in the second, comfortably winning 21-11. The latter sensationally clinched the semi-final clash with a 22-20 victory in the third. Lee, who had never won a world or Olympic title, had to settle for the silver after losing the finals to Chen Long of China. As the Guardian wrote that Lee “gained sweet revenge by dumping out the Chinese great after a decisive set of unrelenting tension.”

TESTING TIME FOR CHINESE

FADING AWAY: Li Xuerui was an integral part of the Chinese dominace in the last decade but her fading form has given rise to speculations

Team Patriot PICTURE THIS: no Chinese player is the World’s No. 1 in any of the badminton categories, be it singles, doubles or mixed doubles. If anyone had predicted this even a year ago, people would have laughed and scoffed at the person. But today, it is a fact. In singles, only three Chinese figure in the men’s top 10, and two in the women’s. While China holds World’s No. 2 and 3 positions in the former, the highest-ranking woman player is at No. 4.

The decline – it may be a short- or long-term one – was evident at the Rio Olympics. The Chinese won just one out of the five gold medals – in men’s doubles. In women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles, none of the players from the Red Dragon featured in the finals. This was a far cry from the previous Olympics in London, when China won all the five events. Since the beginning of this millennium, the Chinese accumulated four straight Olympic golds and eight straight world titles. The most famous player was Lin Dan, who won the Olympics twice, world championship five times, and the All-England title six times. There are several reasons for this loss of

domination.

The first is a bit of complacency.

Gao Zhidan, vice-president, China’s Olympic committee said, “After Beijing was selected as the (Olympics) host city in 2001, China started a longterm talent training plan for the Games. The plan continues but is not as vigorous as then. That will be another challenge.”

After the London Olympics, a message went through to the administrators, coaches and players that there was no need for an obsession to win all the titles, every time. There was a feeling that the players needed to

relax, and other nations given room to do better. In a sense, the commitment, grit and determination has declined in the past 15 years.

It is more evident when it comes to the Olympics. Cao Jianjie, director, Xinhua’s Olympic operation in Rio, told The Times, “It used to be called the Olympic Glory program, but not any longer. We have expected this before we came to Rio, because the government does not have such an obsession with gold medals and now wants more people involved in sport.”

Second, and this is more relevant to the Chinese women, is that the

RIO VODOO:

THE CHINESE WON JUST ONE OUT OF THE FIVE GOLD MEDALS – IN MEN’S DOUBLES. IN WOMEN’S SINGLES AND DOUBLES, AND MIXED DOUBLES, NONE OF THE PLAYERS FEATURED IN THE FINALS TOPPER: CAROLINA MARIN IS CURRENTLY RANKED NO 1

PHOTO: AFP

PHOTO: AFP

Chinese way to play the game hasn’t changed much over the past decadeand-a-half. So, players from India (Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu), Spain (Carolin Marin), and even Thailand and Japan have learnt the art of beating the Chinese. In several matches, especially when she became the World’s No. 1 for a brief while, Nehwal, with help from coach, P Gopinath, beached the Chinese walls several times. Spain’s Marin does this on a regular basis.

Over the past few years, the nature of the game has changed. Earlier, the Chinese, with their power smashes, stamina and a mix of smash-and-drop could tire their opponents, and finish the points faster. Not any longer. The opponents, especially in the women’s categories, have learnt to return the smashes, play longer points, drag the match to over an hour. In fact, some of the women players, can match the Chinese speed and power; a few ones like Marin are better and faster than the Chinese. Thus, over time, the socalled Chinese edge has blunted; any player can beat any other player on a given day.

Finally, China’s success has become its nemesis. As a Reuters piece said: “With its richly-funded programmes and punishing training regimes, China’s Soviet-style sports system has been an assembly line for Olympic champions… but it has also inadvertently become an exporter for coaching talent. Top teams, including European powerhouse Denmark, have employed Chinese coaching consultants….”

At the Rio Olympics, in women’s doubles, South Korea’s Jung Kyung-eun and Shin Seung-chan beat China’s Tang Yuanting and Yu Tang in the match for the bronze medal. Later, in the men’s doubles, Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge of Britain won the bronze, as they beat China’s Chai Biao and Hong Wei. Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia won gold in the mixed doubles against Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying of Malaysia at the recently-concluded Olympics. China’s dismal run continued as they slipped in the rankings, and went without winning any of the major tournaments in the recent past.

THE RISE OF MARIN Women’s badminton saw a major power shift as Carolina Marin of Spain upset Li Xuerui, the defending Olympic champion from China, to advance to the finals at the Rio Olympics. Marin went on to win the gold, as she defeated the Indian upstart, PV Sindhu. Marin is currently the world No. 1; players like her, and India’s Saina Nehwal have dented the domination of China in badminton. For Marin, 2015 was a golden year, as she won the world championship and All-England titles, along with four others. The four included Malaysia Open, French Open, Hong Kong Open, and Australian Open.

PATRIOT|NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

sport

POPPING THE CHAMPAGNE IT IS TOO CLOSE A CALL. WITH TWO RACES TO GO, BOTH ROSBERG AND HAMILTON CAN WIN THE F1 TITLE. BUT MERCEDES WILL REMAIN A WINNER Team Patriot AT THE AUSTRALIAN Grand Prix early this year, the Formula One (F1) season vroomed off to a great start for the Mercedes team. Both its drivers, Lewis Hamilton, the reigning champion for the past two years, and Nico Rosberg, were on the podium. Before the race, Hamilton took the ‘pole position’, but Rosberg beat him finally. It was a dream beginning for the German. Over the next 18 races, both tussled for the victories; at present, Rosberg has won nine of them.

With just two races to go in the season, in Brazil and then Abu Dhabi, both the Mercedes drivers can win the championship. Currently, Rosberg has 349 points, 19 ahead of Hamilton. And the calculations are pretty complex.

Rosberg has to earn 32 points in the two races to ensure the championship. This implies that he doesn’t need to win any of the races. He can get his 32 by coming second (18 points) and third (15 points). But yes, he has to be on the podium. If he is third (15+15 points) in both the races, he provides Hamilton with an opportuPOLE POSITION: nity to race ahead.

To exploit this window, HAMILTON HAS Hamilton has to win both TO WIN BOTH the races, and get 50 THE REMAINING (25+25) points. And, in turn RACES. OR AT hope that Rosberg gets less LEAST ONE than 31 points. For, in such AND BE ON THE a situation, Hamilton’s 380 PODIUM IN THE (330+50) will be ahead of OTHER. BUT Rosberg’s 379 (349+30). In ROSBERG HAS case, there is a tie – both are TO BLUNDER TO at 350 – Hamilton will tri- LOSE THIS YEAR umph, but only if he wins both the races. As per the rules, the winner of more races is declared the champion. At the moment, after 19 races, Rosberg leads by 9-8. Didn’t we warn you it was complicated!

However, going by the current form, Hamilton can pull it off. He has won the last two races, in Mexico and the US. However, Rosberg wasn’t too far behind; he was in the second place in both. However, going by the performances in 2015, Rosberg seems to be in a better position. Last year, he won both in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, although Hamilton was in the second position in both. So, it is difficult to choose, but it looks like Rosberg will sail through SPOTTED: Mercedes Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton walks in front of his German teammate Nico Rosberg PHOTO: AFP unless he blunders.

Initially, it was neck-and-neck battle until the Singapore Grand Prix, the 15th that champagne.

German Grand Prix. The European is for testing the car and track, Saturday race of the season, with both the drivers In the 2016 season, the F1 grid Grand Prix was also revived, and the to decide the pole position, and Sunday having won six races each. In Singapore, expanded to twenty-two cars with the event was hosted at the new circuit in is the actual race. Earlier, they were Rosberg was on the top. Hamilton, addition of the Haas F1 Team. Renault Azerbaijan. prohibited to do so. The idea then was however, came back strongly with returned as a constructor after a fourAmong the rules that were changed that drivers should be clearly recogniback-to-back wins in the last two races, year absence, which was due to a man- this year, the F1 teams and drivers were sable to the audiences, especially the but he still has a fair bit of the track to agement change. The number of races allowed to choose alternative helmet millions of TV viewers.

WITH INPUTS FROM WIKIPEDIA cover to reach the finish line, and pop has increased with the addition of the designs for one weekend race – Friday

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RACING AHEAD

Retired German car-racer, Michael Schumacher, is a seven-time F1 World Champion. His fans were worried when he suffered a head injury on 29 December, 2013, in a skiing accident at the French Alps.

Recently, the family launched #TeamMichael on his official Facebook page, marking the relaunch of the social media page that has been inactive for a while.

The family also the donated racer’s collection of motorsport memorabilia for fans to see and enjoy. Schumacher participated in 306 races and won 91.

WINNING STREAK

Juan Manuel Fangio was an Argentine car-racer who dominated the first decade of F1 racing. His record of winning World Championship five times – with four different team - stood for 47 years, before Schumacher broke it.

He was nicknamed, El Chueco or El Maestro, commonly translated as bandy-legged and master, respectively. He holds the highest winning percentage in F1 – 47.06%, or 24 out of the 51 races he took part in. Fangio is the only Argentine driver to win the Argentine Grand Prix.

FLYING HIGH

Andreas Nikolas ‘Niki’ Lauda won the F! three times, with Ferrari and McLaren teams, the two most successful constructors in the tournament. In 1976, he almost died, when his Ferrari burst into flames, and he inhaled the toxic fumes and was severely burnt. He recovered; six weeks after the accident, he was racing at the Italian Grand Prix. He finished fourth, even though he later admitted that he was ‘petrified’. In fact, he came back from retirement to win his third championship.

After F1, he became an aviation entrepreneur; he founded two airlines, Lauda Air and Niki.

FROM BIKES TO CARS

The Italian racer and two-times F1 Champion, Alberto Ascari had competed in motorcycle racing before switching to cars. He won 13 out of the 31 races he participated in, maintaining a winning percentage of 41.93%, second after Fangio. He achieved stardom with his appearance in Indianapolis 500 after winning two world titles back-to-back, in 1952 and 1953.

RESEARCH BY SWATI DEY

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PATRIOT|NEW DELHI|THURSDAY|3-9 NOVEMBER|2016

Lodha strikes again

ALL IN READINESS: The five-match Test series between India and England is all set to start from November 9, later this month

WHO WILL FOOT THE BILL FOR THE INDIA-ENGLAND SERIES? WILL IT BE THE BCCI, STATE BODIES, OR THE ENGLISH BOARD? LODHA COMMITTEE HAS RAISED UNANSWERED QUESTIONS Press Trust of India THE SUPREME Court appointed Lodha Committee on Wednesday told the Indian Cricket Board that the “proposed MoU” between England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and BCCI “is not a part of the mandate” and no directions can be issued on payments unless details are furnished.

Secretary Ajay Shirke had sought directions from the committee that since home board makes all the arrangements and payments for the visiting team during a bilateral series, whether they could ask ECB to make their payments as BCCI can’t carry out financial transactions.

UP CLOSE WITH LODHA PANEL:

THE PROPOSED MOU BETWEEN BCCI AND ECB CONCERNS BILATERAL CRICKETING POLICY, THE FORMULATION OF WHICH IS NOT A PART OF THE MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE

In their response, Lodha panel has stated: “The proposed MoU between BCCI and ECB concerns bilateral cricketing policy, the formulation of which is not a part of the mandate of the Committee. As far as payments are concerned, if they are to be made directly by the BCCI, no directions can be given by this Committee until relevant details are furnished by BCCI.” The e-mail written by panel secretary Gopal Shankarnarayan, further stated: “To avoid any hindrance to the cricketing calendar and to ensure the continued enjoyment of the sport by its aficionados, the BCCI would be well advised to comply with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its orders dated 18th July 2016, 7th October 2016 and 21st October 2016.”

The Panel, in a strongly-worded letter to president Anurag Thakur and Shirke, also clarified that “neither identification nor appointment of vendors or contractors is the task or function of the Committee” but they are required “to fix a threshold value”.

The Lodha Panel also instructed BCCI to give all the necessary informa-

tion regarding appointment of an independent auditor and awarding of IPL tenders by November 8.

The committee again reminded BCCI chief Thakur “to give an unqualified undertaking on behalf of the BCCI to unreservedly comply with the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 21st October 2016.”

Shirke wanted directives on appointment of vendors for international and domestic season, IPL 2017.

The Lodha Panel responded: “Please note that neither identification nor appointment of vendors or contractors is the task or function of the Committee. The Committee is only required to fix a threshold value and approving awards of contracts above such threshold value.”

Drawing the BCCI’s attention that the panel has not received any undertaking from the Board on emails dated 24th October 2016 and 29th October, the committee said, “It is clarified that the undertaking is necessary to implement the directions contained in the Order of the Supreme Court, dated 21st October 2016. The requirement

PHOTO: AFP

for such an undertaking is not a mere formality.

“In the absence of the undertaking, the Committee finds it difficult to implement the order of the Supreme Court by issuing necessary directions to BCCI.” For the purpose of fixing the threshold value and to appoint the independent auditor, the panel has asked BCCI to furnish six details: l The contract value of each of the individual contracts referred to; l The term of each of the proposed contracts along with when each of the existing contracts is to expire; l The existing norms or guidelines relating to the appointment of vendors; l The tender processes followed for the different categories of vendors; Whether the contract is done through e-auction or not; l The cumulative value of contracts under each category and of all of them put together.

To add to this, Panel secretary Gopal Sankaranarayanan further wrote: “It is only on examining the above that the Committee would be able to fix a threshold value and also assess the nature of work involved for appointing the independent auditor and formulating his terms of engagement. All of this information shall be submitted within 5 days from today.”

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DECISION REVIEWED

After several years, the BCCI decided to cave in. It agreed to the usage of the Decision Review System (DRS) on a trial basis during India’s test series against England. Earlier, it was the former test captain, MS Dhoni, who hated the DRS. In fact, Dhoni never learnt the tricks to use the review in his favour. Sources contend that the new coach, Anil Kumble, convinced the BCCI about it.

Printed and Published by Ajai Chandra Upadhyay on behalf of United India Periodicals Pvt. Ltd. (Owner) and Printed at The Indian Express, A-8, Sector – 7, NOIDA, U.P and Published at 3, Link House, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002.

EDITOR – AJAI CHANDRA UPADHYAY RNI NO: 7094/16