Salaam Bahrain June 2022

June 2022 - VOLUME 13, ISSUE 2

TO CHASE A

DREAM

Super 30 Anand Kumar Inspires Bahrain Students

TINA'S CONFIDENCE MANTRA | MANGO SEASON MAGIC | SAREE ON THE RED CARPET

BAHRAIN INDIAN SCHOOL (Managed by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan)

Availability of highly qualified & experienced Teachers Small group of students Career Counseling Outstanding performance in CBSE Board Examination Facility to prepare for competitive exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, SAT….

Scholarship scheme for Grade XI & XII

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For admission details, log on to www.bhavansbahrain.com or Contact: Tel: 17598000 / 32327655 / Email: info@bhavansbahrain.com

BAHRAIN FINANCING COMPANY

A great School Term begins with the best supplies ... all available at

Mega Mart!

Lulu Center Tel : 17 250 334 Juffair : 17 826 884 Muharraq : 17 343 266 Hamad Town : 17 412 563 Salmaniya : 17 252 624 Galali :17 32 00 25 Segayya (Al Hayat Shopping Center) : 17 00 30 61 MegaMart Express : 17 382 511

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Success is all about planning well and working hard.

BFC wishes the Student Community a bright future.

Note from the Chairman In a world fragmented, as the great Poet Laureate Tagore put it “by narrow, domestic walls”, what wonderful and refreshing news it was to hear that the leadership of Bahrain has granted land in the Kingdom for building a Hindu temple. The venerable spiritual order of BAPS is world-renowned for its beautiful temples that can be found in USA, the UK and Australia as well as India. Undoubtedly this Swaminarayan Temple in Bahrain will prove to be a testimony to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s vision of a world where peace and religious tolerance is highly valued.

Our Crown Prince and Prime Minister HRH Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has shown that the Al Khalifa values of peaceful co-existence is still a cherished goal for Bahrain and will continue to guide the Kingdom’s interaction with the world.

Getting the intention right is not about size. Bahrain may be geographically small but its rulers and people are large-hearted and the tradition of welcoming new ideas and communities from across the seas is rooted in our trading and seafaring history. In the modern context, it has translated into an ability to speak out for peace and for humanity on the world stage.

The historic ties with world religions which has given Bahrain a 200-year old temple already and a synagogue, gurudwara and a rich Islamic spiritual heritage. Going forward, these values of tolerqnce will shape our commercial and social success as well.

Capt. Mahmood Al Mahmood

♦ The only CBSE school in Bahrain adjudged ‘GOOD’ by BQA. ♦ Gulf Toppers in Humanities and Commerce stream, Island Toppers in Science stream in 2017-18. Island Toppers in Commerce stream in 2018-19. ♦ Highest Subject Average and School Average among all the CBSE Schools in Bahrain. ♦ Perfect SAT Scorers (2400/2400) every year. ♦ Outstanding results in CBSE, ACER, ASSET, PIRLS, TIMSS, JEE, SAT, NTSE, Sastra Pratibha Contest (SPC) and Olympiads. ♦ High Performance Level in Science and Mathematics in TIMSS (Trend in International Mathematics & Science Study) examination 2019 & 2015. ♦ Highest Achievement in PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) 2016. ♦ Appreciated by the Ministry for Active Participation in celebrating 100 years of Formal Education in the Kingdom of Bahrain. ♦ Awarded for Best Digital Transformation in Education. ♦ Awarded by BQA for Action Research in Flip Learning. ♦ School Principal elected as Chairperson of the CBSE Gulf Council in 2017. ♦ Selected as Hub of Learning and Mentor School by the CBSE. ♦ Honour of Academic Excellence received from the CBSE Gulf Council. ♦ Best School Award for 31st, 32nd and 33rd National Talent Search Contest. ♦ Awarded by the Gulf Council for Outstanding Contribution to the CBSE Affiliated Schools in the Gulf. ♦ First Place in Bahrain Students’ Innovation Congress -2017 & 2018. ♦ Alumni placed in IITs, NITs, and Universities like Oxford, Caltech, Stanford, UC Berkely, University of Toronto, Michigan and many more. ♦A school with no teacher, but all learners.

NEW MILLENNIUM SCHOOL Nurturing Responsible Global Citizens

BUILDING 399, ROAD 3009, BLOCK,330, BUGHAZAL, MANAMA, KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN +973 17272700

nmsbahrain

www.nms.edu.bh

On the occasion of the Lecture by Noted Educationist

Mr. Anand Kumar We Salute

The spirit of

Innovation & Discovery which moves Indian Engineering

Universal Electro Engineering B.S.C.C

Bldg # 389, Road # 1507, Block # 115, HIDD Main Line : 00973-17826644 Fax No : 00973-17827090 Web : uneeco.com Email : uneeco@uneeco.com

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COVER STORY

TO CHASE A DREAM His twitter handle is @teacheranand and this amazing guru has helped many young people to break the glass ceiling. Now he will be Salaam Bahrain’s guest in the Kingdom and give us gyan!

By MEERA RAVI In the course of our conversations with the legendary Anand Kumar these past months – a man who changed the way students prepared for engineering school entrance exams and challenged the so-called ‘education mafia’ of Bihar state in Eastern India – we discovered one pleasant fact: here was a man who seemed eternally optimistic and genuinely believed in the power of happiness to change lives.

“I take my name ‘Anand’ seriously – it means joy and I am a joyful person,” he says, “From childhood, I have always found happiness in every situation. This has helped me to have clarity about what I want and how to achieve it.”

Coming from a grindingly poor background where his father was 10

a lowly clerk in the behemoth of the Indian Postal department and his mother made pappadoms at home to sell and earn some small change, Anand Kumar remembers that his parents had plenty of one important quality: confidence in their children.

Self-esteem “One of my earliest memories is of waking up on school days and finding my father gently touching my feet to awaken e. Since this was a gesture of respect reserved for older people I used to get

SALAAM BAHRAIN | June | 2022

embarrassed. But my father used to say, ““I may not be around the day you scale the heights of achievement and people hold you in high regard.

So I am doing my part today itself.”

The family’s financial condition meant that Anand often had to borrow books for his schooling. But he considers those days as “blessed” as his parents never allowed him to feel inferior to others. “They never put me under any pressure whatsoever. They encouraged me to think big and excel in whatever I wanted to do. I loved mathematics and they motivated me to work harder on it,” says Anand.

And that, he says is what he finds lacking among more affluent and better educated parents these days.

“Children in families that are well-off often face gruelling pressure to fulfil their parents’ ambitions for them – to become an engineer or a doctor, two professions that are sought-after in India.”

But the children whom Anand Kumar used to hand-pick and coach in his Super 30 classes were different. Often from the

rural hinterland where there was no question of access to even regular electricity, let alone the internet, they possessed razor-sharp brains and a hunger for understanding the magical world of mathematics. What brought them to Anand Kumar’s coaching class was a different kind of hunger though – the rumblings of an empty stomach and no money to feed it.

“I used to persuade my first batches to actually come learn to crack the celebrated IIT entrance exam by offering free food which my mother cooked. They came to eat – and stayed to study.”

by numbers – but the feeling that to aspire for the Indian Institute of Technology or IIT, a citadel of engineering and scientific excellence in India, was foolhardy. We worked on their self-esteem first before we polished their logic and reasoning skills.”

Although all the publicity photos show Anand Kumar surrounded by boys in his classes, he says many girls too enrol as students in his Super30 coaching school.

“Yes, many girls have succeeded in joining the IIT through my classes – in fact, girls are fiercely focussed and less distracted than boys and do much better. I guess they feel a far greater urgency to prove themselves,” he says.

It all started when Anand Kumar won a scholarship to study mathematics at Cambridge but could not go because of his father’s sudden death. Although he was offered the government clerical post his father occupied, he decided to make the leap of faith and turned it down to start teaching maths at various institutes or cram schools. In 1997, he started coaching students at his own place, the Ramanujan School of Mathematics, a club for maths enthusiasts which he had founded

Girl focus In the grey world of Indian cram schools where young boys and girls often gave up 12 to 16 months of their lives to the relentless pursuit of excellence in IIT entrance scores, Anand Kumar says he started by building his students’ self-confidence.

“They came from dirt-poor families and from schools where the medium of education was Hindi, not English,” he says, “The first barrier I had to help them overcome was not mathematical formulae – they were usually unfazed SALAAM BAHRAIN | June | 2022

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COVER STORY

earlier. He also started coaching poor meritorious students for free, an initiative that laid the foundation for Super 30, launched in 2001 in Patna.

The idea was to pick 30 meritorious but economically disadvantaged students and train them for competitive exams, such as IIT-JEE. Every year, some 10,000 aspirants vie for a place in his programme. The lucky 30 are provided free boarding, lodging and coaching.

Super 30 has produced 510 engineers to date. Of them, 440 qualified for the IITs. Some of Anand Kumar’s Super 30 success stories are positively fairytales.

Like the life of Santosh Kumar, son of

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roadside vegetable vendors who succeeded in getting into IIT-Kharagpur and is today a professor in Belgium; or another student who came from a village with no internet but is today a senior Google employee. What they have in common is that they were part of Anand Kumar’s Super 30 experiment that dismantled the barricades that society put up between deserving children and institutions of higher learning like IIT. Sticks and stones..

Of course, when one tilts swords with powerful people, one is bound to feel the heat. The so-called education mafia that charged exorbitant amounts for lessons that Anand Kumar gave his Super 30 for free, were threatened and even tried to attack him physically and led a vicious smear campaign against him.

The result was quite the opposite, however. Anand Kumar’s fame spread

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and Bollywood came knocking.

Actor Hrithik Roshan starred as Anand Kumar in the 2019 hit Super 30 and no less a personage than US President Obama’s special envoy to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Rashad Hussain praised the Super 30 as “the best institute in India and an example of change, a dream which U.S. President Barack Obama harbours in the field of education, irrespective of caste and creed.”

Anand feels many students in Bihar are good in mathematics, but the state’s public schools are ill-equipped to offer them the training and motivation needed to make it big in the field. The gap widens all the more for students from vulnerable economic backgrounds. I am merely trying to help bridge this gulf, says Anand.

In the best way possible, Anand Kumar remains unaffected by the clamour around him. As we found out, he is a rare celeb who answers his own phone and takes his brand of insightful wisdom around the world in the same Bihari Hindi in which he teaches future engineering stars to rule the world.

SALAAM SOCIETY

Bahar – where gold and art meet to dazzle

The Indian School, Bahrain

Felicitations

to Mr. Anand Kumar, for inspiring teachers and students globally.

J

eweller Harshad Jani and entrepreneur wife Ami took a decisive step into the world of gold craftsmanship with the opening of their store Bahar in the main street of Bab Al Bahrain. Known for his imaginative work with the precious metal, Harshad unveiled a series of fusion designs that emphasized the Bahraini elements in collaboration with Bahraini businesswoman Nadia Al Jar. This jewellery boutique, which is the result of intensive support of the UNIDO Entrepreneurship Programme, was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivastava and Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of the UNIDO-ITPO office in Bahrain.

In keeping with the glamorous theme of gold and art, a lovely fashion show was held, which put the spotlight on some of the exquisite pieces of jewelled art on sale at Bahar.

ISB - Serving the community for the past 70 years ISB is the only CBSE School which is a Member of UNESCO Affiliated Schools Our Quality is supported by ISO 9001:2015 accreditation.

Isa Town - Office : 17684166 119 Rd No 4109, Isa Town, Bahrain

Riffa - Office : 77377000 Building 3620, Road 1074, Block 910, PO Box 558, Riffa

Email address : indschbh@batelco.com.bh | Website : http://www.indianschool.bh/

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SALAAM SOCIETY

Indian textile heritage wows at Diplomatic Bazaar

MEET BAHRAIN’S

SUPER 14!

T

he annual Diplomatic Charity Bazaar organised by the Children and Mothers Welfare Society saw a flurry of exotic handwoven Indian textiles and rich silks and brocades gracing the Indian Embassy stall, curated by Monika Srivastava, the wife of the Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivastava.

The beautiful textiles were wellpublicised to guests at the bazaar with the result that there was a beeline for the India stall and a substantial amount was raised for charity through sale of the textiles. In addition, there were also Ayurveda products, homemade spice powders from the Indian Ladies Association and artisanal pickles from the Mahila wing of the BAPS Bahrain Swaminarayan Temple.

Local crafts expert Kavita Sharma also demonstrated the ancient art of blockprinting The contribution raised by the Indian Stall at the Diplomatic Charity Bazaar was handed over by Monika Srivastava to Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, President, Children and Mothers Welfare Society.

Uday Sankar Bedam Setty Uday, grade X, aspires to pursue a career in astronomy & is inspired by the philanthropy of Shri Anand Kumar. Uday wants to do something in life that can bring about a change in the living conditions of people around. Apart from this, he is also a Shastra Pratibha exponent.

Nayab Ali Mifthah Nayab, grade XII, is keen to pursue a career in Physics and programming. Research orientation is his key strength and he always does a detailed enquiry into every aspect of any subject he is pursuing.

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SCHOOL SPIRIT

THE INDIAN SCHOOL BAHRAIN The Indian School Bahrain is one of the oldest premier Indian schools in the Kingdom and was initiated by the efforts of the Indian community in Bahrain. In its 70 years of successful existence, the school has made significant contribution towards education excellence. It is the only CBSE School in Bahrain that is a member of the UNESCO affiliated schools.

Founded in 1950, the school has around 11,500 students and is one of the largest co-ed schools in the Arabian Gulf region.

ISB students have excelled in all examinations and have been the island and Gulf toppers too. The Indian School which has an enthusiastic workforce of 650 members is ranked among the premier centers of learning with ISO 9001:2015 accreditation. The school has not only Indian students but also to students of 14 nationalities including 1000 Bahraini children. The Bahrain National Authority for Qualifications and Quality Assurance of Education and Training has praised the multicultural harmony of the school population in its report The ISB Model United Nations, Youth Festival, Scouts and Guides and Band training conducted by the school are among the appreciated events on the island. Every effort is being made to enable these students to reach their full potential and prepare them to think globally and use their knowledge and skills to make our world a better place.

Al NOOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Al Noor International School was founded in 1993 with the intention of providing a high standard of education for children from diverse cultural backgrounds. The school provides an opportunity for students of different cultural and religious affiliations to work cooperatively, in the process finding common ground in the universal values that they share.

The school is unique in the Kingdom because it is able to offer three different curricula, namely the British Cambridge curriculum, the Bahraini (Thawjihiya) curriculum and the CBSE (Indian Curriculum).

Education at Alnoor is aimed at the holistic development of the students, which incorporates their academic, social, cultural and physical growth. Extra-curricular activities are offered to promote the physical and artistic ability of every student.

Gaurav Gaisen 10 D YOUNGISTAN

Al Noor honors future leaders

The official ceremony of conferring titles and investing powers to the members of the school council was organised at the Investiture Ceremony of the C.B.S.E. Section at Al Noor International School, Sitra in the presence of Director of the School Dr. Muhammad Mashood, the Principal Mr. Amin Mohammed Hulaiwah, members of the Quality Assurance Department and the Heads of different curricula of the school. The school council members were conferred upon with badges by the Director and the Principal. The students took the Oath of office for shouldering the responsibilities and leading by example.

The Principal addressed the gathering and laid greater emphasis on leadership skills. The Head Girl CBSE Senior Section Soofia Saber welcomed the gathering. while the Head Boy of CBSE Senior Section, Mohammed Foud and the Sports Captain of CBSE Senior Section Syed Aman Jiffry delivered the Acceptance speech and Oath on behalf of the council members.

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He shows initiative and looks forward to making new innovations in science. Is interested in studying about Artificial Intelligence and has participated in an international competition on AI and won a prize.

Is very cooperative with teachers and other students. He seeks responsibilities and follows through He shares personal experiences and opinions with peers. He sets achievable goals with respect to time. Is a focussed, diligent student. Also an active member of the student council.

Insha Kamal, 11 A She is an enthusiastic learner who seems to enjoy school in every aspect. Always exhibits a positive outlook and attitude in class room. She exceeds expectations with quality of work.

She is committed to doing her best.She is trustworthy and can always be counted on to step in and help where needed. Is an all-round. Wants to pursue medicine after school.

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SCHOOL SPIRIT

BHAVANS-BAHRAIN INDIAN SCHOOL: A synonym of Quality Education

Bhavans - Bahrain Indian School (BIS) with its competence and dedication has traversed a long way and shown a remarkable growth since its inception. From its modest beginning in April 2014, today it occupies a prominent place among the most prestigious institutions in the country.

BIS is focused upon creating a strong balance between academic excellence and co-curricular achievements. This means equal weightage is given to promoting co-curricular activities, sports, games as well as emphasising critical thinking.

The very first Board Result of Grade X of last year was commendable with 100 percent success rate. The School topper registered an outstanding score of 99% to make the result an iconic one. Remarkable result is expected from the first batch of Grade XII as well in next year.

Students do not require any additional tuition as personalized attention is given to each student. Regular reinforcement and remedial sessions ensures adequate preparation of students for Board Exams. There facilities for regular career counselling integrated coaching to prepare students for various competitive examinations like IIT- JEE, NEET, SAT. Under the able & dynamic leadership of Directors Mr. Himanshu Verma & Mrs. Ritu Verma and Principal Mr. Saji Jacob, the school is bound to reach many milestones in the future.

Adesh Shaiju Adesh, Grade X, has many varied interests from reading to fishing and swimming. As some one with inherent leadership qualities, Adeshhas been Chief Editor, Editorial Board (2020-21), Discipline Vice-Captain for last year and this year. He enjoys participating in various competitions such as declamations, Model UNs etc and his achievements include securing the “Best Speaker of the Event” of BISMUN 2022 among others. He wishes to become an established neurosurgeon and further development in that field and be a role model for the society.

Manoj Subramaniam Manoj, Grade XI, aspired to do something related to Physics. His aim is to enter IIT and study in the field of engineering. Manoj has participated in the All India Asteroid Search Campaign 2021. He has also participated in 5 MUNs and also in Olympiads and other competitive exams like NASO.as well as in the All India Asteroid Search Campaign 2021. A brilliant student, he has in term 1 board examinations of 2021-22, scored 97.5% with full marks in mathematics and science.

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NEW MILLENNIUM SCHOOL NURTURING GLOBAL CITIZENS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

The New Millennium School –Bahrain, established in the year 2004, functions under the banner of Knowledge Management Group, led by the Honourable Chairman, Padmashree Dr. Ravi Pillai a visionary entrepreneur, passionate educationist, pioneer par excellence in industry, charity and education. The school has carved a niche for itself with an indomitable progress and an unparalleled track record of excellence under the dynamic leadership of the Principal Mr. Arun Kuumar Sharma whose foresighted vision, selfless service and innovative guidance in teaching and learning practices is the fruition of the school to be accredited GOOD by the BQA. NMS is proud to be a school where scholastic and co-scholastic activities are closely interwoven into the holistic curricular fabric blended with experiential connects, thus imparting world class education. Its primary aim is to foster student-led learning that is founded and nurtured by the core values of ‘Honesty, Integrity and Sensitivity’, the cornerstone to learning at NMS. The school endorses and commits itself towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring inclusive and quality education through a plethora of innovative Teaching-Learning practices. The teaching methodology at NMS facilitates and catalyzes Quality Education for developing an equipoise individual with civic sense and social responsibility. The core teaching methodologies include Flip Learning, Peer Learning, Interdisciplinary Approach, Life Connect, Multiple Intelligence Skills, use of VAT (Visual, Auditory, Tactile) skills , Learning Objectives based worksheets and experiential learning.

Promoting students to think out of the box is a usual practice in the school. Some of the students initiated activities include - Self- Scripted Class Assemblies, Commerce Kitchen, Charity Drive, Charity Book Sale, Launching campaigns on ‘environmental sensitivity, safety and healthy life style’, Maintaining the school garden, DEAR (DROP EVERYTHING AND READ)Time, CURA (An initiative for recycling paper), Earth Hour, E-magazine, Model United Nations, Technozone, Radio NMS, writing GDBD (Good Deed Bank Deposit) in the Almanac daily, Expression Time and Wellness Time during online classes.

The school’s strong digital infrastructure had been successful in meeting every child’s learning needs and engage the learners enthusiastically during the pandemic. The additional support provided to the students in the smart classes conducted through flip and blended learning that featured interactive activities, online assignments, individual projects and enriched learning resources from KG to Grade 12, instilled optimism and flexible learning pathways for the learners during the crisis hour.

NMS has always and shall always continue to ensure a balance between knowledge and its implications, seek to teach solution in real life situations and groom a child into creative and constructive future citizens.

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NEW INDIAN SCHOOL

SCHOOL SPIRIT

NEW MILLENNIUM SCHOOL

Sudharsh Sridhar Sudharsh, Grade XII, is highly ambitious and is quite inquisitive in nature. He is extremely strong in spirit and has the ability to withstand challenges and adversities. Recently, he has assumed the role as the Head Boy of the School and exhibits great leadership skills in this capacity.

Harikrishnan Menon Harikrishnan, Grade XII, is brilliant in academics. His achievements include: 99.7 percentile in ACER Science 2019, 99.6 percentile in ACER Mathematics 2019, 2nd place, Technofest Science Quiz 2019, Indian School Bahrain, • Winner, Bahrain Students Science-Quiz 2020 conducted by SIF

Tapia Rachel Anson Tapia, Grade XII is gregarious and empathetic. Her good communication skills made her secure the post of Head Girl for this academic year. She aims to pursue a career in Forensic psychology and is currently studying in the science stream. She also exhibits great interest in various performing arts.

Om Thaware Om, grade XII, is a badminton player and won several regional and national level badminton tournaments. A Centum achiever in English language 10th Board, he is also the proud bearer of Scholar Blazer and Scholar Tie. He participated in the Bahrain round of World Scholar’s Cup, 2022, securing several awards like: Champion Scholar, Debate Champion, Writing Champion, Challenge Medals.

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THE ASIAN SCHOOL Saaj Chowdhury Saaj, grade XII, is an ardent fan of mathematics and biology. She aspires to be a doctor and his aim to clear NEET and get into a medical college. Apart from her interest in science, she is also an amateur violinist and painter and loves writing poems as an expression of her emotions. She hopes medicine as a career will allow her to serve in the army as her dream is to become an armed forces doctor.

Shruthi Bathini Shruthi, Grade XII, says Mathematics is her passion as she enjoys the simple logic that goes behind coding complex computer programs. Apart from reading and playing sports she enjoys the thrill of trying new things. An all-rounder he list of achievements inthe last couple of years is astounding: Sastra Prathiba title winner (2017), Sardar Patel Interschool quiz competition (2017), Intra School Debate champion (2018), Chrysalis PHP coding project winning team (2019), Inter School Quiz Competition on children’s day (2020), BCICAI Speech Competition runner up (2021).

SCHOOL SPIRIT

IBN AL HYTHAM ISLAMIC SCHOOL IBN AL HYTHAM ISLAMIC SCHOOL was founded on 11th May 1989 as a non-profit institution to provide quality education to Indian children in particular and children of other communities in general, up to Senior Secondary level.

The school is affiliated to the Central Board of Education, New Delhi (Affiliation No. 5230005). It is approved by the Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Bahrain (License No.6/PE/1998).

IBN AL HYTHAM ISLAMIC SCHOOL is governed by the board of trustees that mays down broad policies and guidelines of the school for its smooth functioning. Islamic ideology guides the school in all the aspects of its activities. The motto of the school is not only to impact knowledge but also to educate and train the intellectual, moral, physical and aesthetic faculties of the children. Maximum care is taken to inculcate good habits and moral values in all respects of life.

AMEERA SYED Ameera, Grade XI, aspires to become a successful surgeon. She feels that the fields in which she has room for improvement are public speaking and socializing with people. Respect, kindness and honesty are the three significant ideas that she believes in for a healthy and loving life.

NMS Bahrain Student Wins Laurels in National Art Competition ISHVEEN KAUR RANA, a grade 5 student of New Millennium School, Bahrain, made her alma mater proud by bagging the 3rd prize in a National Level ENVIRONMENT DRAWING COMPETITION organised by the Department of Student Services, Ministry of Bahrain, in cooperation with the Supreme Council for the Environment . Themed on the topic Protection of Marine Environment, the competition aimed to raise awareness on the role of blue carbon habitats in mitigating the effects of climate change.

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IFRA ERUM Ifra Erum, Grade XI, aims to become a gynaecologist. She is also passionate about writing, drawing and photography. Ifra says she likes to take up challenges and hopes to be able to accept both success and failure in a balanced way in life.

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YOUNGISTAN

Guru Chithralekha’s students in grand dance debut Raka's birthday bash Raka M always throws the coolest birthday parties for herself and this year too, she surrounded herself with family and friends of all ages and literally blew in a year full of happiness her way!

Nine talented young dancers who have trained under teacher Chithralekha Ajith, presented their Bharatanatyam accomplishments with aplomb at a grand debut recital at the Bahrain Keralayeea Samajam. The Chief guest on the occasion was Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivastava. The nine disciples were Ananya Mahesh, Anne Rebecca, Avani Sharma, Bhavani Menon Pullat, Jyotsna Subhash, Naishada Nair, Ridhika Govil, Rishika Ravikumar and Shreya Vinod.

Eunice Dsouza is Indian Club’s May Queen 2022 Indian Club’s May Queen 2022 was a dazzling event and not just because of the gorgeous ladies who participated but also because the show was packed with entertainment starting with all 16 contestants who were all a part of a mesmerizing dance performance.

The judge’s panel had tough time for evaluating the 16 contestants from the first round onwards & to screen in the five for the final Q&A round. Eventually the crown was won by Eunice Dsouza, followed by 1st Runner-up Anusha Kochakkadan & the 2nd Runner-up Kali Chirag Shah, 3rd Runnerup Malavika Ajith & 4th Runner-up Dhruvi Manish Soni The category awards - Best Smile, Best Catwalk & Audience choice May Queen awards were bagged by Eunice Dsouza & the Best Hair-Do award won by Anusha Kochakkadan.

In addition to the ramp walk, the audience got to enjoy a wonderful array of dance performances by professional artists & dance groups, including ‘The Destiny Kings Crew’, ‘’Prismbliss’, ‘Aurians’, ‘Karmans’, ‘Lasya’, ‘Sharp Shooters’ & ‘the Bollywood Blues Band led by Mr. Shelin Chacko’.

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NEWSMAKER soil back to good health even in arid areas.

We are at a point when if we start TODAY, we can make a difference in, say, 50 years. If we start 50 years from now, we shall be too late.”

E

Thus Spake Sadhguru

qual parts showman and sanyasi, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev rode into town on his motorcycle with a clarion call to ‘Save Soil’ to save our planet.

The long-anticipated visit was impeccably organised by a large and disciplined group of disciplesvolunteers who arranged public meetings, volunteer get-togethers and ensured that Sadhguru’s charisma touched the masses and Bahrain’s heart.

The visit and Sadhguru’s memorable way of speaking has been oft-repeated on social media and Bahrain’s press already. Therefore, we will only

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A reception was held in honour of Sadhguru at the residence of Abdulwahab al hawaj is the vice president of the king hamad global center for peaceful coexistence where distinguished guests paid attention as Sadhguru spoke about the Save Soil movement

pass on some pithy quotes from his interactions which will undoubtedly give us pause for thought..

To the question of why he is not emphasising factors such as reducing plastic use and population control when talking about climate change: “You must understand that soil is the foundation of all things. 70% of the earth’s surface is soil and 90% of deforestation occurs because of agriculture. How can you avoid talking about soil when 87% of the land you see is made up of the 18 inches of soil?

We need to understand that soil is the basis of the air that we breathe – the food that we eat comes from soil – every living organism from a worm to a grown man depends on soil and returns

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to soil when life is completed – but we have been avoiding the word ‘soil’ as part of our solution to all the issues of climate change and ecological pollution. Only if we address the mistreatment of soil will we be the effectively handle this matter.”

How can an ‘arid’ area like Bahrain and the GCC also join the ‘Save Soil’ movement when soil here is basically without much nutrients?

“There was a time millennia ago when most of Saudi Arabia was lush forest. Today that same area is among the biggest deserts in the world and all the forests are fossil fuel. So we have to understand that this is a cycle.

We have been stripping the soil of its nutrients gradually and then, in recent years, more rapidly. At the same time, the world’s growing population has been seeking more food so we have been forcing the soil to give out more crops with chemicals and fertilisers.

If you start treating the earth and its soil gently, if you pay attention to things like soil erosion and deforestation, then you will nurse

What about excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides by agri-business?

The ILA's centre for children with special needs, Sneha Recreation Centre, met Sadhguru and presented him with the children's paintings to highlight the Save Soil movement which he autographed. The signed posters are on sale to the highest bidder - they represent not only Sadhguru's environmental message but also the imagination and indomitable spirit of the children, many of whom overcome tremendous motor skills challenges to draw and paint. The starting bid for each A3 size poster is BD50.For more information contact the ILA on - 3947 5574.

“This whole idea of ‘organic farming’ is an urban myth. It is the pipe-dream of city-dwellers sitting pretty in their apartments and playing farmer with their cute kitchen gardens. People confuse my ‘Save Soil’ call with support for organic farming. But for me, farming is not a romantic pursuit. It is a business and do you think farmers simply scatter fertiliser because they can afford the expensive chemicals?

The soil today is so weak that it needs the support of fertilisers and pesticides to grow crops. The crops reflect this – the nutritional value of

an orange grown fifty years ago is richer than what we eat today.

What we need to do is gradually pay attention to soil and bring it back to life. Just a handful of soil contains millions of micro-organisms – more that there are people on Earth.

We need to be conscious about how our misbehavior is wiping out these millions of micro-organisms and weakening soil. That, in turn, increases use of chemicals and overall pollution. Instead start restoring soil and automatically, the soil will need less and less artificial chemicals to sustain it.

Check out the Salaam Bahrain video of Sadhguru’s press conference on our Faceboom and Instagram channels.

Mountaineer Madhu Sarda presented her second book - 'Manifesting Mountains - Trek to Mera Peak' to Sadhguru. The book was written with the aim of sharing her adventurous exploits, as well as raising funds for local charities. And she is ready with her next one - SEven Summit Sojourn, where she will climb the seven highest mountains on seven continents stating with Mount Kilimanjaro on 11th of June.

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SALAAM SOCIETY

LUXURY CHINESE CAR ‘HONGQI’ LAUNCHED IN BAHRAIN The high-end Chinese automotive brand; Hongqi, was officially launched recently by Zayani Motors, the exclusive distributor of Hongqi in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism unveiled the new brand and officially opened Hongqi showroom in Ma’ameer.

“We are delighted to launch Hongqi in the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first time. At Zayani Motors, we are driven by our constant keenness to provide our clients with exclusive high-quality brands that meet their aspirations. The launch of Hongqi comes to fulfil the desire of car buyers who settle for nothing less than exclusivity, excellence and elegance that match their distinguished lifestyle”, said Rashid Z. Alzayani, Managing Director of Zayani Motors. Following the launch, four models of Hongqi are available now in the Bahraini market, out of which there are two SUVs; HS5 and HS7, as well as two sedans; H5, and H9, available in 2WD and 4WD. The HS7 comes with professional off-road performance, powered by the TCS all-wheel power control technology, which is exclusively customised by Bosch. It is equipped with the new generation of 8-speed AMT transmission for comfortable driving experience and excellent fuel economy.

However, there is no compromise on the luxurious interior of the car, which is finished with world-class Nappa leather and solid wood decoration for the seats, chamois leather for roof liner among other features.

Cricket Legend Azharuddin attends Saara Group's Iftar

Saree Fashionistas go Festive!

A popular online saree fan group, “Saree - The Indian Drape” whose members promote the Indian outfit, recently celebrated a traditional ‘haldi kumkum’ Festival with a show of talent and the best sarees from their wardrobes.

The SAARA Group organized a Grand Iftar at Four Seasons Hotel along with special invited guest Mohammed Azharuddin, the former Indian Cricket Captain & former Member of Parliament. More than 150 people attended the iftar including the Ambassadors of various Diplomatic missions, Members of parliament, Bahrain Chamber of commerce and industry, the Board of Directors of the SAARA Group and respected media houses.

Azharuddin, the cricketing star of the event thanked Mansoor for coordinating his visit to Bahrain as the chairman to the advisory Board of Bahrain Cricket Federation and also complimented the recent successes achieved by Bahraini men’s and women’s teams, where the men’s team just narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup and the newly-formed women’s team set many world records in a T20I against Saudi Arabia, including the highest team total and the highest individual score in an innings.

The Bahraini teams of the future could really improve with proper infrastructure in place", said Azharuddin offering his services to the BCF to help cricket in Bahrain flourish.

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TELECOMS

Lucky Signs agreement with 3 major expat community segments Lucky, Bahrain’s Prepaid SIM service powered by Batelco, is strengthening its relationship with the Asian expat community through entering into partnerships with a number of clubs in Bahrain. Lucky has signed agreements with the Bangladesh Social Cultural Association, the Maharashtra Club, the Pakistan Club and the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS), to provide their members with special offers. As the brand of choice amongst these expatriate communities, Lucky offers its customers preferential international calling rates to selected destinations, unlimited Lucky to Lucky calls, free international minutes, unlimited Data, and one-month free rental to new customers who switch their numbers from other carriers. Commenting on the partnerships, Noel Silveira, Head of Lucky, said: “We are pleased to announce these strategic partnerships, as we are constantly looking to connect with new expat segments and generate community-focused products that will help make a difference. Through these partnerships, we aim to build closer bonds with members of the clubs and deliver beneficial services that meets their requirements.”

The Lucky package deals starting from BD7.500 per month, are available through the various clubs that have entered into the partnership agreements.

Baby Saira turns one Cutie Saira Sivadas stylishly celebrated her first birthday with Mon Anju and Dad’s pals and a few kids brigade too. They say first birthdays are for the parents as Baby often ends up tired and restless - but Saira stayed up all night!

HEALTH

KIMSHEALTH Launches New Dialysis Center

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rivate healthcare leader, KIMSHEALTH Bahrain has launched its new Dialysis Center at the recently renovated KIMSHEALTH Medical Center in Umm Al Hassam. KIMSHEALTH’s foray into establishing a specialized Dialysis Center forms a part of larger vision to provide a complete Kidney Care Program.

KIMSHEALTH has already been providing dialysis services at its Royal Bahrain Hospital, and through the addition of the Dialysis Center, it is bringing its services closer to the people of Bahrain.

The Dialysis Center is located on the second floor of the KIMSHEALTH Medical Center and comprises 10 dialysis units and 3 private rooms with 2 having isolation facilities.

Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Dr. M. I. Sahadulla, Group Chairman & Managing Director at KIMSHEALTH, said: “I welcome you to the newly renovated modern facility of our KIMSHEALTH Medical Center. The inauguration of the Dialysis Center is one of the key initiatives planned under the Total Kidney Care Program which includes a robust plan that is ready for execution. The Dialysis Center will provide advanced hemodialysis and plans are afoot to implement peritoneal dialysis soon.”

BFC officials opening the new branch Bahrain Financing Company (BFC) opened its new branch in Askar today to cater to the Remittance and FX needs of customers. The branch was inaugurated by BFC`s CEO Deepak Nair along with other BFC officials.

The branch is located near Nesto Supermarket in Askar and is open 7 days a week from 10am to 9pm.

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NEWSMAKER

“Beauty is an inclusive quality” As she prepares for an international contest, Tina Mathew sets a new standard for feeling good.

By SONORITA CHAUHAN MEHTA

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ith twinkling eyes that light up with her smile, grace and confidence, it's easy to see why Tina Mathew Nellicken might have been picked to compete for the Mrs Universe Middle East pageant taking place in Dubai, UAE. The winner will go on to compete in the Mrs Universe International pageant in South Korea.

Winning pageants is not new to Tina who has won several titles including Indian Club May Queen Title 2005, Miss India Bahrain Title 2003, Indian Club Bahrain Winter Queen 2002, and July Rose Title 2002. She has also hosted several TV shows, acted in various music albums and 34

commercials including the 'World Cup 2018 Middle East’ commercial, 'NafasHomeFoodApp' and modeled for shows such as Jewellery Arabia.

She has also been part of fashion shows organized by local and international designers.

About #URBeautiful campaign Her USP perhaps is her empathetic nature and compassion, Tina is a voice for the underprivileged and has lent her talent and skills to many charitable organisations. She recently has launched a #URBeautiful campaign aimed to give a sense of self worth to all women who are being body shamed or discriminated against.

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"The campaign comes from personal experiences - mine and those of people around me. As a woman undergoes many phases in her life, she changes - her body and mind both undergo a significant transformation and as I went through these phases, I have been body shamed, discriminated against and judged. In fact, people laughed at me to my face. I have been trolled whenever I have posted any photos. A lot of this also happened to close friends of mine and it resulted in them being depressed and losing hope. And I think just being there to support each other is important to nullify the toxic effect of hurtful words. That is why I decided to launch this campaign. It also helps that this pageant doesn't have any set criteria for height, weight etc.

I believe that God has made each of us unique and beautiful. The

measures of beauty that are imposed upon women. Beauty of a woman as Maya Angelou said in her poem 'Phenomenal Woman' is in her pride and attitude of who she is rather than who she is expected to be. My aim is to empower women to see the inherent beauty that they possess and step forth with confidence and grace So Believe in Yourself, Be Yourself

and Be Beautiful is what I want to say to everyone out there, especially to all women."

When I look at myself, I can see how much Bahrain and its people have shaped me. I have learnt to be inclusive, open, and generous to be the best version of myself. The aviation industry has taught me that people never forget how you make them feel", says this former Gulf Air air hostess who hopes to make everyone feel loved, unique and special through this campaign.

As a mother of four children with the youngest only 2.5 years old, juggling the contest demands with a young family is likely to be challenging.

"Well, it all depends on the confidence of a person to take up challenges. I not only have the responsibility of a wife and mother but also those of a daughter and a sister too. One has to think about all of it. God has so far blessed me with a good and comfortable life and my experience educated me to create an identity for myself and that in turn makes me feel confident enough to take up any challenges."

No challenge is too big, if you believe in yourself enough - and that Tina does this long-time Bahrain resident takes with her a load of good wishes to the Mrs Universe Middle East contest.

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MOTORING

FASHION

Bahrain gets newly renovated Nissan Showroom

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.K. Almoayyed & Sons (YKA), the sole distributor of Nissan vehicles in the Kingdom of Bahrain, opened its renovated Nissan showroom, aimed at delivering upgraded customer experience in Sitra.

The grand inauguration of the event was attended by VIP guests, including H.E. Ambassador Miyamoto Mayasuki, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Mr Farouk Almoayyed, Chairman, Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, Board of Directors of Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, Thierry Sabbagh, President of Nissan Saudi Arabia and Managing Director of Nissan Middle East in addition to local and regional Nissan executives, and a host of media and social elites from Bahrain.

Taking center stage was the Ariya, Nissan’s first-ever EV crossover that made its first appearance in the country exclusively for the inaugural showroom event. The Ariya symbolizes Nissan’s forward-looking journey into the future of electrification and sustainable mobility.

Speaking at the event, Thierry Sabbagh, President of Nissan Saudi Arabia and Managing Director of Nissan Middle East, said, “At Nissan, we continue to place customers at the centre of our operations, and the Nissan Retail Concept creates a more integrated, holistic offering to meet the diverse needs of automobile buyers.

With the Sitra showroom paving the way for other outlets in Bahrain, we look forward to continue working alongside our trusted partners at YK Almoayyed & Sons to keep delivering superior customer experiences.”

Mr Farouk Almoayyed, Chairman, YKA, said: “The partnership between YKA and Nissan is truly historic. Over the past few decades almost, we have not only delivered the true Nissan experience to our customers but also exceeded their expectations through exceptional service delivery. The new showroom further underlines our focus on enhancing customer service standards by delivering an innovative experience that is focused on their aspirations. With customer service as the focus of everything we do, the new showroom draws on the potential of both technology and superior design aesthetics, ensuring that every visit is memorable for our customers.”

Has the saree lost its red-carpet identity?

Deepika’s sari ‘look’ at Cannes has set off a storm – of protest or praise?.

By SONORITA CHAUHAN-MEHTA

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ari as a garment is eternal, personal and evocative. Its presence and charm on the international scene, especially Cannes, is nothing new, as Shabana Azmi reminded us when she posted images of herself with Smita Patil and Shyam Benegal promoting their film ‘Nishant’ in 1976.

It was perhaps the first time the sari had made an appearance at the event. The story goes that Azmi was at the festival along with her co-star, actress Smita Patil, as well as director Shyam Benegal, to promote their film Nishant, which was competing for the Palm d’Or. “We had no publicity material and no money, so Shyam Benegal asked Smita Patil and me to wear our best saris and walk up and down the promenade to attract attention,” Azmi wrote on Instagram, posting the black-and-white photo.

“And when people turned around to stare at these strange looking exotic creatures we would persuasively

plead ‘Our film is showing on so-andso date pls come to watch it’, and we managed a full house! That was the advertising acumen of Shyam Benegal.”

And that’s how it remained for the next several years, Sharmila Tagore in 2009 in her trademark personal style, reminiscent of the royals of yore, wore floral chiffons or traditional silk

and matching jewellery for evening dinners. As a juror, Vidya Balan, too, followed her predecessors’ footsteps. In 2013, with a little help from Sabyasachi she went traditional with an olive green silk sari and a burgundy fullsleeved blouse, an updo hairstyle, bindi and a dash of jewellery, completing her look. She even carried off a red tulle saree and a pearl necklace with equal elan.

The only thing “designer” about actor-director Nandita Das, who

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FASHION presented her film Manto in 2017, was a golden zari sari by Anavila Misra, as she tied her hair up in a regular bun and wore jhumkas for effect. None of them really overpowered the sari in any which way and easily adapted it to their own stories. They were not just mannequins, their sari looks tied in with their individuality.

However, over the years, globalisation has ensured that the ‘ease of wearing’ a sari has given way to the ‘need for presenting’ a sari, turning a classical culture statement into a contemporary drama theatre. Somewhere between Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Neeta Lulla Sari for the premiere of ‘Devdas’ in 2002 or her 2010 sheer embroidered Sabyasachi number, the younger Indian ‘stars’ have lost touch with the classical Indian sari be it the Banarasi silk, Paithani, Kanjeevaram, Kasavu, Jamdani, Bandhani or Phulkari sari.

Actress Sonam Kapoor broke the classical look in 2013, when she wore

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a vintage-inspired golden and white sari layered with a jacket by Anamika Khanna, topping it off with a big nose ring. The following year, she chose a salmon pink cape-style sari-gown and a choker on her neck. Kangana carried this experimentation forward in 2019, when she turned heads with a golden Kanjeevaram silk saree and a strapless

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blouse from Madhurya, accessorising herself with a custom corset belt by Falguni and Shane Peacock and winered opera gloves.

This year Deepika Padukone’s black and gold sequined Sabya creation, scoffed at as a ‘sofa cover’ with the OTT make up is another example of stars playing up the sari for global appeal.

The drape has now been taken to a different level altogether with the sari gown featuring in somebody’s collection or the other.The sari is being reinterpreted in many ways. It needs to make a definitive statement at every outing on the global stage, given its iconic appeal. But we must remember that our craft tradition lives with us and we need to showcase that in whatever we choose to wear.

It is the 9-yards and the craftsmanship of our artisans which will set us apart on the global red carpet in the parade of gowns.

Bedazzled Sabya & Gautam thrill fashionwatchers in NY and Cannes

Q

uite aptly, India@75 has been trending at all fashion hotspots in post-pandemic and it just doesn’t get bigger or glitzier than the Met Gala or the Cannes Film Festival, don’t you agree?

Of course there were mis-steps along the way – we’re so talking Deepika Padukone donning a bejewelled upholstery-looking Sabyasachi fabric as a saree for her Cannes jury duty with panda eyes by Mr. Spock.

But earlier, the lissom lass scored big with a cool and effortlessly stylish floral print blouse and pastel green trousers from the Sabyasachi ‘Tropic of Calcutta’ collection.

Just the right touch of boho and imperious luxury.

Sabyasachi’s Big Fashion Moment was not Cannes, though. It was the Met Gala where he created a breath-taking gen-encrusted saree – yes, not just sequins, but gems – for the glorious Natasha Poonawala.

The entrepreneur whose family owns the Serum Institute of India clearly had much to celebrate with the end of the pandemic and went all out to prove it with a jaw-dropping look.

Poonawalla wore a golden Sabyasachi sari on The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s red carpet, with an ornate gold Schiaparelli Couture bustier that curved over her head, and custom Sabyasachi Fine Jewellery pieces.

The Sciaparelli hand-forged metal bustier design was part of Sabyasachi’s association with Maison Schiaparelli, an Italian brand known for its surrealist work.

According to the label’s Instagram, the sari “celebrates Indian craftsmanship” and is “embroidered with silk floss thread and embellished with bevel beads, semi-precious stones, crystals, sequins and appliqued printed velvet”.

Mukherjee wrote of his design: “For me, the sari is a truly unique and versatile garment that owns its identity even as it transcends boundaries and geographies. Back when I was a young fashion student, I often SALAAM BAHRAIN | June | 2022

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FASHION wondered when I would see the sari at big global fashion events like the Met Gala.”

Celebrity stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania styled Poonawalla for the event, and her sari was draped by Dolly Jain.

On Instagram, draper and stylist Jain said she was “in awe of this Indian take on Gilded Glamour”.

“To be able to witness such an iconic fashion-meetsart moment in New York, and be a small part of it feels truly surreal. Between the flowing drape of her bespoke embroidered gold Sabyasachi sari and the architectural lines of her armour-esque gold metallic Schiaparelli couture bustier, Natasha strikes a note that is both feminine yet strong, bold yet beautiful,” Jain wrote.

Meanwhile, in another time and space zone, amazing designer Gaurav Gupta cleverly combined nuances of Western classical art with sophistication and hit it out of the park with the incomparable (if majorly botox-ed) Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as his muse. Aishwarya proved that she is the queen of the red carpet in her 20th year at Cannes, elegantly pulling off Gaurav’s emerald sculpted linear glass gown.

The ensemble, a sculpted dress in a pastel blend of purple and pink, was truly futuristic in every way possible and featured thousands of intricate bugle beads and a design element that rose up from the shoulders and formed a sort of giant halo behind Aishwarya’s head.

The gown, which took 20 days and over 100 craftspeople to create with the actor involved in the creative process right from the beginning, is the ace couturier’s interpretation of Italian artist Sandro Botticelli’s famous painting ‘Birth of Venus’ and Gaurav says he wanted to create a special moment for Aishwarya and present the former Miss World as the “new-concept Venus”.

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HEALTH

SALAAM SOCIETY

Breathtaking Odia cultural show for Utkal Divas

The Bahrain Odia Samaj celebrated Utkal Divas in a grand manner, bringing together a tapestry of the cultural heritage of the state and participating in the 75th year celebrations of Indian independence - #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav. The Samaj had displayed a beautifully curated collection of 75 Odia handicrafts at the Cultural Hall lobby. The highlight was a magnificent fusion of IndoBahraini sand art by world-renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik and an exotic fashion show by the community members showcasing the many heritage weaves of Odisha sourced directly from the weavers and finally, an Odishi performance by Guru Gajendra Kumar Panda team.

Al Hilal group organised a grand Iftar at the parking compound of their Manama location on the 14th April 2022. More than 900 people attended the Iftar including the Ambassadors of different diplomatic missions, members of parliament, board of directors of the Al Hilal Healthcare group, members of the media, employees and clients.

Al Hilal Hospitals: Affordable Surgical excellence for all Al Hilal Healthcare Group now offers advanced surgical solutions for major surgeries including advanced laparoscopic and laser Surgeries under expert and experienced team of general and laproscopic surgeons.The surgical excellence is provided for following surgeries: Breast Surgery, Hernia Repair, Thyroid Surgery, Intestinal Surgery, Circumcision, Gall Bladder Removal, Laparotomy, Appendectomy, Hemorrhoids, Fissures etc.

Al Hilal hospital is equipped with the best and most experienced surgeons with high surgical excellence. They have the first female surgeon Dr. Nusrat Jabeen, who is specialized in Breast Surgery, Fissures, Appendectomy, etc. They also have Dr. Muhammed Salim, who has an experience of over 28 years of in the surgical field along with Dr Vigil Devaraj.

Al Hilal also offers surgeries related to Urology, which have been done by professional and dedicated Urologists, including Dr. Shankar and Dr. Reghunath.

In addition to these, they also offer specialized surgeries in ENT, Orthopedics, and Gynecology from a team of devoted, knowledgeable, and well-experienced doctors.

Al Hilal provides all these surgeries at an affordable price to the patients. They also ensure to provide the utmost care before, during, and after the surgery because the patient’s health is their priority and their vision is to be Available, Accessible and Affordable to each and everyone in the Kingdom.

Al Hilal Hospital is the largest and fastest-growing chain of private healthcare providers in Bahrain, with five branches.

Al Hilal Healthcare Group is committed to providing high-quality healthcare services at an affordable price to the people of Bahrain through a combination of superior medical technology and excellent clinical services. Its vision is to be the largest healthcare service provider in the region by catering to all communities by providing affordable rates.

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YOUNGISTAN

PRIZE

ISB & NMS kids win Toyota Contest Kartiki Singh and Sambhavi Jha, students of New Millennium School, made their alma mater proud by winning a cash prize award of USD 3,000 in the Regional Edition of the 15th TOYOTA DREAM CAR ART CONTEST. Kartiki is the winner in the seven years and under category in the entire Middle East and Central Asia while Sambhavi won in the eight to eleven years category. Thridev Karun Ambayapurath of the Indian School Bahrain was also awarded for his entry.

First Indian-language book wins top prize!

A story rooted in the Partition wins hearts with its feisty 80-year old woman protagonist Working with words is very much like working with food – a really good cook refrains from criticizing food unless it is way off kilter. Similarly, Daisy Rockwell, whose translation genius gifted the world with the first Hindi language Booker Prize for Tombs of Sand by Gitanjali Shree, says there is no ‘wrong’ translation.

Kartiki Singh

Sambhavi Jha

Dance debut for talented six

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ell-known dance teacher Hansul Gani conducted the Bharatanatyam arangetram of her students – their formal initiation into the world of performance on stage. The six Bharatanatyam dancers, Akshayaa, Akshitha, Neha, Sathviga, Shivani & Tanya who staged their formal debut performance of this Indian classical dance after 7 years of dedicated learning. The appreciative audience included Bangladesh Ambassador to Bahrain, Dr. Mohammed Nazrul Islam. The chief guest was Dana Mohammed Mudhafar Director CPD, Ministry of Works and other guests included Arun Kuumar Sharma- Principal of New Millennium School Bahrain, Francis K. from IMAC Bahrain Media City,A. Ponnuchamy and Gitarani Ponnuchamy.

Thridev Karun Ambayapurath

“I would never retranslate something that was already done well. I first check the existing translation against the Hindi in the opening chapter. If I decide to retranslate it, I keep the other translations at hand and consult with them, as though I were sitting among friends. Even if I think the previous translator did poorly, I recognize that he or she may see things in ways that would escape me, or know things I don’t know,” she says, “Translation is a lonely business, and the other translators keep me company. I argue with them, listen to them, curse at them, and lean on them. Much of Hindi literature has not been translated, however, so retranslation is actually a rare luxury.”

The American expert on Hindi and Urdu literature, wandered into translation by accident.

“I loved learning languages and had studied French, Latin, ancient Greek, and German,” she explains, “I wanted something less familiar and happened to take a social sciences course with Susanne Hoeber Rudolph, who spoke of her life doing research in India, so I decided to sign up for Hindi. Translation was something one had to do anyway in graduate school, but I was fortunate to take a translation seminar with AK Ramanujan shortly before his death, and that illuminating experience has stayed with me always.”

Living in xxxx, she says she collaborates and coordinates her work on social media. “(Translating while living in America is) terribly challenging, but Twitter and social media have changed things dramatically. Much of the translating I’ve done would be difficult in India or Pakistan as well, without the reach of social media. There is much in novels of the earlier part of the 20th century that cannot be found in dictionaries nor in contemporary discourse. It’s not stuff most people know. I have to hunt high and low for definitions of some terms, and I depend greatly on my twitter friends for help in this regard.”

Geetanjali Shree’s ‘Tomb of Sand’ was first published in 2018 as a Hindi novel ‘Ret Samadhi’. The novel is a family saga set in northern India about an 80-year-old woman who travels to Pakistan to confront the unresolved trauma of her teenage experiences of Partition. It re-evaluates what it means to be a mother, a daughter, a woman and a feminist.

Mainpuri-born Shree is the author of five novels and several story collections. Her works have been translated into English, French, German, Serbian, and Korean. The 64-year-old writer said she was "completely overwhelmed" with the "bolt from the blue" as she accepted her prize The Booker Prize is one of two literary awards given out annually by the Booker Prize Foundation, a charity whose stated aim is to “promote the art and value of literature for the public benefit”.

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A mango by any other name MANGO COOLERS INGREDIENTS: • • • • • •

Pulp of 2 Alphonso mangoes, well-pureed and strained 50 ml. sugar syrup Juice of two medium lemons Half can of soda Half glass water 4 to 5 ice-cubes

For Variant 1: •

A mango by any other name More than 1000 varieties of mangoes crowd the world market – but the fruit this year is suffering from climate change crisis.

By ADITI NAGAPPA

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ere’s a good reason to go to the Lulu Hypermarket and indulge your senses in the magnificent taste and aroma of mangoes – the seasonal fruit, which delights us all between April and July each year, is the latest victim to climate change and just in India alone, which produces around 15.03 million tonnes of mango annually, according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), there has been a 30% drop in the mango harvest this year.

Low production is likely to bump up the cost of the pulpy fruit by as much as 60 per cent globally.

Weather woes Not that this affected Lulu’s recently concluded mango festival where over 88 varieties of mango from 18 countries were assembled – the lingering aroma and imprint of the juicy fruit is still there and shoppers can still pick up different varieties every day.

According to M. Feza Ahmad, professor and chief scientist

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at Bihar Agricultural University, the effect of climate change has been extreme this year.

“When the trees were bearing flowers, the weather was too cold, and when it was the time for the tree to bear fruits, the weather kept fluctuating for about two weeks. And then the weather became too hot suddenly, so mangoes started over-ripening and falling off the trees.

All these factors affected the crop produce and reduced it by 30 per cent,” he said.

He further said that the weather became too hot in March itself, and the mango trees were attacked by an insect called the red-banded mango caterpillar, which affected the remaining fruits as well, which started falling off the trees.

Surprisingly, for a fruit so closely associated with India – its Latin name is Mangifera Indica - the mango was a native of South America and, like the chilli and potato, which are staples of Indian cuisine, brought over by the Portuguese to India.

½ tsp. finely grated fresh ginger • 2 tbsp Rooh Afza

For Variant 2: • •

1 small sprig of mint – about 4 leaves A very smal piece of green chilli

PREPARATION:

1. For the basic recipe, add the ice cubes to blender jar.

2. Top with lemon or lime juice, add the mango puree, reserving one tablespoon.

3. Add the sugar syrup, water and soda.

4. Whir at high speed and pour into mojito glasses.

For Variant 1, simply add the ginger to the blender and the Rooh Afza over ice cubes in the glass before you pour out the mojito and stir gently so the colours blend.

For Variant 2, add the mint and chilli to the blender and then pour out into a glass.

Debates over the superiority of different varieties and the history of mangoes rage fiercely – while most commercial sources close ranks over the value of the Alphonso that grows in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district, you will find South Indians swearing by the fleshy Mulgova and there are connoisseurs who will insist that the Bengali Mallika or the Baneshan of Orissa are the perfect fruit. David Davidar even spun a tale about the search for the perfect mango in his well-received novel ‘House of Blue Mangoes’.

Diplomatic role In 1937, with the British monarchy battling the crisis. King Edward VIII’s abdication, the British Indian government decided to sweeten the coronation of his brother George VI with a shipment of Alphonso mangoes.

In April that year, The Times of India, the country’s oldest English-language newspaper still in circulation, reported that the government was set to ship mangoes to London for the coronation of King George VI. And not just any variety, but rising star Alphonso, now globally celebrated as the king of mangoes. “Elaborate arrangements have been made at Crawford Market to make the shipments successful,” a report in the newspaper read. And so sailed one king to meet another who was soon to be anointed, on a ship called the SS Ranchi, all the way from the booming port city of Bombay (now Mumbai) to London.

Eventually a time-tested backdrop for international handshakes, it was called upon to sweeten diplomatic relations when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Indian premier, visited American President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Whether or not there is merit to the genius of gifting good-looking tropical fruits as a token of political goodwill, it has been attempted often enough to give us the phrase “mango diplomacy.”

George W. Bush, the 43rd U.S. President, may be remembered for a few things: his response after 9/11, leading America into a global recession, and SALAAM BAHRAIN | June | 2022

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CINEMA

CUISINE starting a war on terror. But for some South Asians, he’s also remembered for something else: ending a 17-yearlong American ban on Indian mangos.

The U.S. first banned Indian mango imports in 1989 over pest concerns. It took almost 17 years for Indian mangos to enter America again. In 2006, Bush and then-India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a nuclear pact that included concessions for Indian imports of American Harley-Davidson motorcycles in exchange for allowing American imports of Indian mangos — a sort of “mango nuclear deal.” Bush ate an Alphonso mango during his visit, calling it a “hell of a fruit.” The first Indian “mango nuclear deal” shipment to the U.S. arrived in April 2007 — the “most eagerly anticipated fruit delivery ever.”

Seductive Such is their seduction that poets, designers, and ad gurus hankering for inspiration have turned to the fruit since

olden times. Indo-Persian poet Amir Khusrau crowned mangoes “naghaza tarin mewa Hindustan” — “the fairest fruit of Hindustan,” as far back as the 14th century.

Mirza Ghalib, the ultimate authority on Urdu poetry, was also an authority on mangoes, weaving entire ditties around their decadence. Nobel prize-winning Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore’s preoccupation with the fruit started with “aamer manjari”— tiny mango blossoms with the power to perfume a lover’s garden.

In fashion, the mango inspired the instantly recognizable paisley pattern, a teardrop-shaped icon that gained couture approval in Europe during the British rule of India.

Pulped, pickled, frozen as ice cream or seasoned with umami-tasting black salt and spice spikes in drinks, eaten juicy and ripe or raw and sour, the versatile mango never fails to delight. Like the truly exotic treat that they are, mangoes don’t need any cooking and can be eaten straight off a tree – or out of a carton.

SHOWSTOPPER STUFFED MANGO KULFI This dessert is a party favourite! The unusual presentation simply emphasises the versatility of the fruit. The prep work may seem a bit fussy but a sharp knife and steady hand will do the trick.

Remember to cool the kulfi filling before you fill the mangoes so that the inside of the mango does not get heat-cooked.

INGREDIENTS • •

1.25 lts/5 cups Milk (full cream) 6-8 nos Mangoes (get two extra to practice the de-seeding) • 70gms/ 1/3rd cup Sugar • Pista for garnishing

PREPARATION 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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Heat milk and reduce it till becomes 1/3rd. Add sugar, stir and cool completely add pista. Now we need to remove the seed of the mango while keeping the entire shape of the mango intact.

Gently squeeze the mango & do not peel the mango. Remove the top of the mango by slicing the head/cap of the mango.

Retain this cap. Now using a kitchen knife loosened the pulp around the mango seed.

Firmly hold the seed and rotate it to loosen it further. Now pull it out. Place the mango with skin on in a small cup so it stands upright. Remove any pulp from the seed and add it back to the empty mango shell.

Fill this cavity of the mango shell with the kulfi mixture. Put the mango cap back and freeze it.

Once frozen, remove and peel the mango and then slice and serve. Garnish with pista and serve it frozen.

SALAAM BAHRAIN | June | 2022

KK the unique voice The dictionary defines searing as very hot. Marked by extreme intensity, harshness or emotional power.

KK was that.

At a time when Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Abhijeet and Sonu Nigam were ruling the industry, KK came with a searing, robust voice.

The other 4 had a bit of saccharine sweetness about their voice (mind you many liked that), KK brought a certain robust streak. While so many others sang like Kishore Kumar or Mohammad Rafi, there was nobody that KK sang like. He was different.

In a journey spanning about three decades, during which he has soothed our hearts with an eclectic bouquet of songs on love, longing, friendship, farewell and loss.

The tremendous craze for Krishnakumar Kunnath – whom we have known as KK was eveident at his last concenrt and the outpouring of love on social media as the news broke.

The singer, who truly understood what it meant to lend his voice, whether to movie characters or to awkward adolescents, helped a generation articulate their emotions From his lovely repetorie of songs, there are some that will keep him alive for generations to come.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

‘Don’t Divide Indian Cinema Based On Regional Lines’ Akshay Kumar The Rajput organisation Karni Sena, which caused a stir over Padmavati, has asked that Akshay Kumar’s lavish magnum opus on Prithviraj Chauhan should have a title change to 'Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan.'

Prithviraj was a Gurjar, according to the Akhil Bharatiya Veer Gurjar Mahasabha, and as such, he should be shown as a Gurjar rather than a Rajput. If their demands are not met, they’ve threatened to put the release on hold.

To this Akshay has sharply said, “Don’t Divide Indian Cinema Based On Regional Lines”.

SALAAM BAHRAIN | June | 2022

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MEERA RAVI

EDITOR’S VIEW

Jeetu Bhaiyya wows in Panchayat 2

I

ts official. Jitendra Kumar aka Jeetu Bhaiyya who won hearts in Panchayat is set to do so again in Panchayat 2 – and this time, fans are viewing him with new respect as he has become one of the highest-paid actors in the OTT platform.

Panchayat 2 takes forward the topsy-turvy adventure of Abhishek Tripathi, a city boy who is driven by joblessness and slipping CAT scores to take up a job as a Panchayat officer in a remote village.

The series is made up of episodes which trace the uproarious shenanigans of the villagers (a stellar turn by Neena Gupta as a headman’s wife finding her voice). Instead of a glamour-struck villager seeking bright city lights, we get a heartwarming tale of a city dude finding warmth in a strippeddown village life.

Of course it helps that the role has made Tripathi eye-poppingly rich!

His new-found popularity and wealth is all the more conspicuous if one compares it to the fate of Bollywood’s fabled male stars — Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Ajay Devgn, Amitabh Bachchan. These superheroes are just not pulling in the audiences as the movies they have released in the first five months of this year have either flopped or performed far below expectation at the box office.

Instead, South Indian regional language movies dubbed in Hindi and featuring local stars are increasingly taking a substantial share of the Hindi box office sweepstakes. Just two South Indian movies, dubbed in Hindi, have together earned Rs 683 crore in the Hindi domestic box office. One is RRR, with Telugu stars N T Rama Rao Jr and Ram Charan. The other is KGF2, starring top Kannada actor Yash.

Compare that to the combined Rs 230 crore box office earning of the four Bollywood starrers in the first half of 2022 and it looks like only Karthik Aryan can tilt the scales to success! His Bhool Bulaiyya 2 was declared a hit after all!

I

n a magazine issue that seeks to start a conversation about education, the pressures that students face and the changing workplace for which they need to be equipped, it is difficult even at this vast distance not to feel the pain of the parents of Uvalde, the American town where 21 lives were lost to a senseless and deadly gun massacre. Set against this horrible nightmare, questions about whether students should toe the parental line when it comes to future careers or how hi-tech a classroom should be, seem positively frivolous.

One thing is certain – our classrooms have become combat zones in more ways than one. You don’t need a gun – the online teaching during the pandemic months have made the smartphone and laptop accessible to all and changed the relationship between teacher and student as well as between students themselves. For example, the sense of a level playing field that the school uniform instills because everybody is in the same dress, is nullified by students who can afford better laptops or phones – the technology gap becomes a crack through which values of mutual respect and peer support slip and hostility easily rises. No teacher can know as much as that bot on your phone so that erodes the framework of respect that makes a classroom a space for exchanging ideas, teaching and learning.

At the end of the day, what matters are the core human values we transmit through the educational process. Anand Kumar, who challenged commercial cram schools represents that perspective.

In India, where it is a multi-million rupee business to prepare students for professional courses and exams, he bucked the trend and successfully broke the myth that you need to be from a certain background and affluence to crack the IIT entrance exam. Not only did he change the lives of the many Super 30 students whom he trained, but he gave hope to thousands around the world, that this was possible.

That’s for the achievers. What happens if you are a laid-back lotuseater? A personality that parents are flummoxed by? Our other newsmaker in this issue says it like it should be said: no matter what your interests are and what you look like, you are unique and beautiful. Tina Mathews Nellicken breaks the mould of a beauty queen – she’s the mother of four lively kids, she owns her curves with aplomb and has started a movement to make society re-think its priorities.

In this universe there is a place for each one of us regardless of our level of efficiency. When I was enrolled for classical dance lessons in a famous dance school in Chennai as a kid and proved hopeless at the art form, the teacher reassuringly told my parents, “She has learnt enough to be a good audience”.

That’s correct. Every dancer needs an audience, every Queen Bee, her drones. Both are equally precious.

SALAAM BAHRAIN | June | 2022

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