Salaam Bahrain July - August 2018

BD 1.500

July/August 2018 - VOLUME 11, ISSUE 6

we speak your language

SADAD CRAFTING THE FUTURE OF FINTECH

Note from the Chairman

Let’s talk the future. In 1978, when ATMs went public across America for the first time, I remember watching an advertisement that showed a man making a transaction and wishing the screen good morning. Artificial Intelligence was in its infancy and people were struck by the concept of 24x7 banking convenience.

Within a few years, my generation got used to ATMs and transactions multiplied – you could deposit and withdraw cash, pay credit card charges via the machine.

Today, you can do all that and more in your neighbourhood supermarket or mall via SADAD. With strong e-KYC software, you can open a bank account from the comfort of your living room in less than 15 minutes. You can set up an account to pay your child’s university fees in Bahrain or anywhere in the world. Isn’t that a revolution?

So many of our financial decisions or actions are one-offs: paying a bill, making an investment, transferring funds. In 2018 and over the next few years, we’re going to see a big trend moving towards automated financial decisions and actions. From bill autopays to automated savings to better overdraft protection tools, we’re going to see a lot of apps dedicated to helping people live a more automated financial life.

Although the products and services being put out by fintech today are strong and sophisticated, I must say that the GCC has been slow to understand the potential of fintech overall. In Africa, they jumped headlong into midstream way back in the mid-‘nineties when telecom companies offered basic payment transactions over their mobile phones – mind you, they were not even as smart in those days.

Finance and medicine are two key areas where AI and AR are being increasingly used. I foresee that my children will move their banking completely to their laptops and my grand-children will deal entirely in cryptocurrency and the promised e-dinar!

Already we have health apps that give us a heads up before we see our doctor and e-health AR is a multi-billion dollar industry - well, that’s a unique distillation of the saying ‘Health is Wealth’ isn’t it?

Capt. Mahmood Al Mahmood

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Highlights July/ August 2018

4

COVER 14 OUR STORY How fintech is changing our financial habits

IN THE NEWS Minister Sushma Swaraj visit, Embassy opens There was plenty of business talk during the visit of Indian Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj than the grand opening of the new Embassy complex.

As Bahrain shapes itself into a fintech hub and a slew of products and services reach consumers, we speak to the regulators and some of the most successful companies on future trends and benefits of the wave.

8

ART NEWS Valaya promises new crafts vision Kaneka Subberwal and design icon JJ Valaya announced plans to give timeless Bahraini crafts a new vision and a global stage through ‘Artisans Across Borders’.

52 CUISINE

A date with nutrition It’s the season for date harvest and the lovely caramel fruits have returned to delight us. Want to know date legend? The curious pollination practices? What to make from this abundant harvest? We have all the answers

30 FASHION

Cheena Chhapra’s Buxom appeal Pakistani fashion designer Cheena Chhapra reinvented the ramp walk with a group of distinguished models in their beautiful middle age and in all shapes.

P, SHU GUP D O YWO OLL B X S I EP ..PLU CEN S Y T PAR

COLUMNS

• 40 Shobhaa De • 24 Ayaz Memon

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in the news

Embassy complex inaugurated An affirmation of warm ties and 21st century productivity

By MEERA RAVI

Indian Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj and Bahrain’s affable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh

Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa inaugurated the impressive new Indian Embassy Complex in the

Kingdom of Bahrain earlier this month.

Also present at the inauguration was Bahrain’s Minister of Works, Municipal

Unveiling the official plaque

Minister Sushma Swaraj lighting the lamp

Minister Esam Al Jowder at the inauguration

Guests at the inauguration

Ambassador A.K. Sinha welcomes the distinguished audience

Shaikh Khalid - praise for Bahraini-Indian friendship

A warm and receptive audience

Bahraini and Indian musical notes of friendship

An exhibition of Preeti Rana's musically inspired paintings 6 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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A Kathak 'Vande Mataram' by Bahraini Khalil Al Ashar

Bahrain and India's close ties were reflected in Minister Sushma Swaraj's meetings with the leadership of Bahrain

Affairs and Urban Planning, Eng. Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf, prominent Bahrainis, diplomats and community leaders.

Preeti Rana’s paintings of musicians from the sub-continent rounded out the cultural aspect.

Cultural cross-winds

Shaikh Khalid warmly felicitated the Indian community for its new embassy and welcomed Sushma Swaraj to Bahrain, pointing out that the Indian minister has now been to Bahrain four times since 2014. The Indian Minister also expressed her thanks to Bahrain and its leadership for the respect and dignity which the community enjoyed for centuries in Bahrain. Later, whe speaking exclusively to the Indian community, Sushma Swaraj said that upon hearing the name of the musical fusion interlude, she had turned to Shaikh Khalid and explained the meaning of Sangam (meeting point) and he had promptly responded with a quip from a famous Raj Kapoor film song, saying “Bol Radha bol sangam hoga ki nahi?”

Minister Sushma Swaraj said she was equally delighted that the Indian community had a magnificent and sprawling place to call its own and reminded the community that her ministry (which also handled Overseas Indian Affairs) had used the latest technology to be as pro-active as possible and that all Indian ambassadors had distinguished themselves with their concern for their

The theme of the inauguration, as carefully outlined by Ambassador Alok Kumar Sinha, was an integration of Bahrain and India, culturally. It began with the unveiling of a plaque by both ministers, the lighting of a lamp and a very short cultural programme interspersed by brief speeches. The embassy showcased the Kathak performance of Bahraini Kathak artist Khalil Al Ashar who performed a short tarana ending with ‘Vande Mataram’; the music segment was called ‘Sur Sangam: Sounds of Friendship’.

Bahraini and Indian musicians of Sur Sangam performed a jugalbandi of Arabian folk songs, the eternal song of compassion ‘Vaishnav Jan Toh’ and ended with the hymn ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – as the Ambassador said, the show began on a patriotic note and embraced India’s essential compassion and the regard for the universal family that informs the country’s foreign policy.

This was followed by an exhibition of India seen through Bahraini eyes as Bahraini amateur photographer Sawsan Taher’s selected portraits of Indians were put on display. Artist

Understanding

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communities. Calling the Indian passport a ‘suraksha kavach’ or a protective armour, she said all Indian citizens could claim the support of the embassy or even reach out to her directly on her Twitter handle @SushmaSwaraj in times of difficulty.

The Minister has 11.7 million followers.

Business agenda The following day, the Indian Minister was warmly received by His Majesty the King, HRH the Prime Minister and HRH the Crown Prince of Bahrain.

There was also a full business agenda with the second High Joint Commission meeting led by both the ministers.The Ministers signed an MoU for cooperation in the field of healthcare, making pharmaceuticals a key priority area in the bilateral relations. The two sides also signed an MoU on renewable energy even as Bahrain congratulated Sushma Swaraj on India's launching of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Paris Climate Summit 2015). ISA was conceived as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special needs and provide a platform to collaborate on dealing with the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach.

Both the countries also reiterated their condemnation of terrorism in all

in the news

Healthcare, pharma, solar energy and anti-terrorism were discussed in bilateral meetings between the two countries

A gift of books on India was made to the Isa Cultural Centre Library

Minister Sushma ji meets the community

its forms and manifestations and called all states to reject and abandon the

use of terror-ism against other countries.

“The two sides agreed to work together for the early adoption of India's proposed Co m p re h e ns i v e Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations,” the official statement said.

THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED INDIAN EMBASSY COMPLEX IN SEEF IS LOCATED ON A SPACIOUS PLOT OF 7589 SQ. M. IN THIS, THE CHANCERY STANDS AT 3810 SQ. M AND THE RESIDENTIAL BLOCK IN 2145 SQ. M. THE EXTERIOR CURVILINEAR STONE FAÇADE WITH LIMITED OPENING AND A LARGE GATEWAY WITH AN ORNAMENTAL GATE ESTABLISHES 8 SALAAM BAHRAIN

A gift of books on India was made

by Minister Sushma Swaraj to the Isa Cultural Centre Publlic Library during this visit.

Bilateral trade between India and Bahrain stood at over $875 million as of February this year, according to figures provided by the External Affairs Ministry.

India's total capital investment into Bahrain between January 2003 and March 2018 has been estimated at $1.69 billion.

A STRONG INDIAN IDENTITY. THE EMBASSY BUILDING COMPRISES OF STATE-OF-THE-ART AND SPACIOUS CONSULAR HALL WITH THE FACILITY OF TOKEN MACHINES AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES LIKE TV AND SEATING CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE AT A TIME. THERE IS ALSO A MULTIPURPOSE HALL WITH INBUILT ACOUSTIC SOUND SYSTEM AND PROJECTOR AND STAGE FOR HOLDING CULTURAL PROGRAMMES AND OTHER PUBLIC FUNCTIONS. THE LANDSCAPED COURTYARD ALSO HAS AN OPEN THEATRE AREA WITH SOUND SYSTEM WHICH CAN BE USED FOR HOLDING PUBLIC FUNCTIONS WITH PRIVACY AND SECURITY ENSURED. THE EMBASSY ALSO HAS A WELL-STOCKED LIBRARY.

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Indian Assist

For All India Matters... By Indians For Whom It Matters‌.

An Indian Armed Forces Veterans Enterprise.

In the service of the people as always.

A unique initiative of the veterans of the Indian Armed Forces and retired Government servants, Indian Assist is acknowledged by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India.

Created in response to the specific requirements of the Indian Diaspora, it caters to the urgent need for a speedy and simplified response system in India. Indian Assist thus aims to harness the competence, discipline and capacities of retired men and women of the Armed Forces for delivering on the service requests of the NRI / OCI. A web concierge service, Indian Assist will streamline and assist in the resolution of the urgent requirements of Indians abroad pertaining to affairs back home.

Empanelled veterans of the Armed Forces, as also the service providers who are domain specialists,will enable access to various services such as Documentation Services, Legal Advice & Support, Property Management, Medical Facilities, Business and Financial Services, Placement Services, Insurance Advisory, Educational Consultancy, Utility Services, Facility Management, Event Management, Relocation Services, Travel & Tourism, Web Presence, Marketing Channels etc.

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art update

Artisans of Bahrain to get contemporary design life from icon Valaya Bahrain’s craft legacy to reach the world through ArtBAB

Sahikha Wafa, Shaikha Maram, Kaneka and Valaya announce ‘Artisans Across Bahrain’

Bahrain’s heritage of crafts and craftspeople’s skills will take centrestage at the Art Bahrain Across Borders – ArtBAB 2019 in a movement aptly titled ‘Artisans Across Borders’. The exciting movement will see global fashion icon and designer JJ Valaya curate the project, transforming Bahraini craft into luxury acquisitions that will be sought-after in luxury branded stores across the world and develop a new appreciation of the timeless craft traditions among a whole new generation of Bahraini craftspeople.

Announcing the ‘Artisans Across Borders’ project, Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Director of the Office of Her Royal Highness Wife of the King of Bahrain, said, “It is with pride that we present ‘Artisans Across Borders’ as an organic continuation of our growth. Our theme for the 2019 edition of ArtBAB is ‘Legacy’ - it will be a celebration of the foundational effect and influence of Bahrain’s traditional crafts on contemporary Bahraini art. The project will be headlined by noted design guru and luxury fashion icon JJ Valaya, who will work closely with our Bahraini

craftspeople to give our timeless craft traditions a contemporary designer touch. It is a collaborative effort that has grown from the vision of ArtBAB Fairs & Programme Director Kaneka Subberwal and Art Select, the art consultancy that conceived ArtBAB.”

Replicate success Adding her voice to the discourse, Kaneka Subberwal said Art Select was excited to have brought the genius and talent of a design icon like JJ Valaya on board. “In the world of commercial art fairs, ArtBAB is relatively young – the March 2019 edition will be our fourth.

We are proud of the unique conversations that we have started about Bahraini art around the world with our Artists Across Borders programme which takes Bahraini artists to art capitals around the world and are keen to replicate this success with Bahraini craftspersons too. ‘Artisans Across Borders’ will showcase artisanal works of Bahraini craftspersons who will work closely with JJ Valaya to create a dazzling portfolio of crafts rooted in the traditional skills of the Bahraini crafts 10 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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heritage.”

JJ Valaya is one of India’s foremost fashion designers and couturier, known for his luxury fashion and lifestyle company, House of Valaya. A founding member of Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and the first global brand ambassador of Crystal giant Swarovski, he has been designing for men and women, and has bridal and evening

collections in addition to day-wear and ready-to-wear for over 25 years. He is a graduate of the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Techonology, India and a reputed fine art photographer. His keen sense of the luxury aesthetic and sense of spatial embellishment makes him the perfect choice to lead the ‘Artisans Across Borders’ project.

Three Parts ‘Artisans Across Borders’ will unfold in three parts. The first will be a distinctive Artisanal Room at ArtBAB 2019, featuring dramatic large masterpieces which will be special limited edition and bespoke designs with their origins in Bahraini crafts. The second part will consist of stylish commercial interpretations of Bahraini craft pieces that can be retailed at stylish stores around the world as distinctive representations of Bahraini crafts.

The third part of the project is the Book of Bahrain, a lavish coffee table book of photographs that will encompass different sights of Bahrain’s persona – architecture, history, portraiture and cityscapes.

Explaining his design philosophy, JJ Valaya said, “I believe that for craft to stay relevant, it has to step into the realm of modernity. The future of crafts lies in making it relevant to the new generation and they want a new avatar of old things with a ‘cool’ factor. This is my exploratory trip and I am delighted with the talent and the historical memory of craftsmanship that sustains Bahrain’s crafts. What I plan to do is work closely

with Bahraini craftspersons to create a chic, art-based version of Bahraini craft pieces that will have global appeal.

We shall apply the same skills and rules but to create very different things.”

The project will involve craftspersons from the Jasra Handicrafts Centre, Capital Mall and the Manama Handicrafts Centre.

Sensory Guardians Valaya emphasised that Bahrain’s legacy of craft skills was a precious resource in the modern world.

“In a technologically driven world, our hands have been reduced to working on keyboards and swiping screens. Bahrain’s craftspeople, with their abundant skills, hold the key to the sensory and tactile components of our lives and they need to be nourished with new vision and ideas.

They are the guardians of our past tactile skills and our future sensory experiences.”

Welcoming the project’s vision, Shaikha Wafa Al Khalifa, Director of Crafts at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism, said, “This project ‘Artisans Across Borders’ is important not just for the reanimation of Bahraini crafts but because these crafts will take to the world a new portrait of Bahrain as a country where timeless crafts meld with millennial sensibilities.”

Held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeekha bint Ebrahim 11 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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Al Khalifa, Wife of the King of Bahrain and a keen supporter of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, ArtBAB 2019 is scheduled to take place from March 6 to 10, 2019 at the Bahrain Exhibitions & Convention Centre. Strategic Partner of the event is Tamkeen, Bahrain’s change management agency.

ArtBAB is designed as a conversation between Bahrain’s artists and the rest of the art world. It has forged a unique identity for itself, as a marker of the Kingdom’s contemporary history as seen through the prism of art.

Kaneka pointed out that ArtBAB had grown organically over four years and created a new platform and commercial identity for Bahraini art without compromising on the quality of art.

“ArtBAB has enabled a 149% rise in the value of Bahraini art since it started and opened new viewpoints for Bahraini artists,” she said, “Most importantly, it is a nourishing platform for emerging Bahraini artists and has sparked off successful careers in contemporary art for many Bahrainis.”

in the news

Park Regis redefines luxury hotel stay

New four-star global chain promises personal butler service & 6 exciting gastro restaurants The VKL Group brought in its association with the global Staywell Hospitality Group at a grand opening of the latest four-star hotel in Bahrain – the internationally recognized Park Regis.

The hotel was formally opened by the Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa in

the presence of the Governor of the Capital Governorate, Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, a number of key officials and ambassadors as well as StayWell Hospitality Group CEO Simon Wan and VKL Group Chairman Dr. Varghese Kurian.

With 164 guest rooms, six food and beverage outlets including a

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1000-capacity ballroom, swimming pool and gym, this upscale hotel is the perfect introduction to the Bahrain market for the Park Regis brand and its parent company StayWell Hospitality Group.

All Park Regis Lotus Hotel’s guest rooms are comfortably larger than standard size, lavishly equipped with air-conditioning, 24-hour personal butler service, free high-speed wi-fi and superior marble bathroom amenities including a free-standing bathtub and frameless glass shower.

With entertainment of mind, Park Regis Lotus Hotel boasts an array of premium onsite restaurant and bar options including buffet breakfast and casual dining, a patisserie and tearoom, and a rooftop café, which offers panoramic views of the Juffair Sea. “We are pleased to open the latest

4-star hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The grand opening of Park Regis Louts Hotel comes in line with the BTEA’s strategy which focuses on four pillars ‘awareness, attraction, access, and accommodation’ in order to attract regional and international visitors, further increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy,” said the CEO of BTEA, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa.

“I would also like to extend my thanks to VKL Holdings for all their remarkable efforts that contribute to the development of the Kingdom’s tourism infrastructure. We aim to draw in visitors

through opening more luxury hotels in Bahrain, this will further boost the Kingdom’s tourism sector and strengthen its position as an ideal tourism destination,” he added.

At a press conference, Simon Wan, CEO of the Staywell Hospitality Group said “Alongside our parent company, Prince Hotels & Resorts, StayWell Holdings is in the midst of an exciting rapid development program with plans to expand both brands internationally, with a current focus on the Middle East.

Opening the Park Regis Lotus Hotel in Bahrain is an exciting achievement for StayWell to further cement its Park Regis

Hema celebrates Friendship Day

brand in the region, with two Park Regis hotels already operating in Dubai and a further two under development for the Middle East.”

Park Regis Lotus Hotel owner, Dr Varghese Kurian, said: “We are excited to have partnered with StayWell Holdings to open the first Park Regis hotel in the beautiful coastal city of Manama.”

The hotel’s business facilities offer a superior accommodation and conference solution for corporate travellers, including two fully equipped meeting rooms, offering spectacular views of Bahrain and a range of facilities and services.

salaam society

Well, it wasn't officially Friendship Day but that's the best way of describing the fun-filled gathering of friends hosted by Hema R. Oh, she did cut a cake too to announce her joining the 'glamm grandma' club and the birth of her grandchild!

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salaam society

'Kamala' - ILA's cultural offering The Indian Ladies Association is well-known for its role as a cultural ambassador building a bridge of understanding between India and the international community in Bahrain.

Their presentation of the dance-drama 'Kamala - A Ballad of Celestial Love' raised the bar for all local productions with its top-notch production values, glittering costumes and above all the undoubted talent of the ensemble cast.

Closely managed by Ajith and Sarada, it featured local ‘international’ girl Sneha Ajith as the protagonist on a story based on Hermann Hesse's cult novel 'Siddhartha'. The story, however,

was told through a woman's voice.

Noted dancer Bharatasree Radhakrishnan featured in a short but luminous role as the older Siddhartha.

Featuring some of the finest names in the creative industry, 'Kamala' was choreographed by dance exponent Vidya Shreekumar and saw over 58 local dancers and dance students participating. The lyrics were specially written by noted Sanskrit scholar Dr. L. Sampath and set to music by Palakkad Sreeraman. The script in English was shaped by Sreekumar R. .

“I have danced in many countries since I perform for the challenging star nights and for worthy causes,” said

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Sneha, “This is my first dance drama in Bahrain and I am delighted to present it is the country that I grew up in.”

Said Thanuja Anil, the President of ILA, “We see this performance as a beautiful expression of the ILA’s role as a cultural bridge between Bahrain and India.”

Kerala cultural icon Soorya Krishnamoorthy was the chief guest at a packed Cultural Hall auditorium. Also present were business leader and Chairman of the Bahrain India Society, Mohammed Dadabhai and Indophile and former Minister, Abdulnabi Al Shoa'la.

salaam society

MEH blood donation success The Middle East Hospital organized a blood donation campaign in collaboration with the Salmaniya Medical Complex (Blood Bank). This campaign comes within the framework of the social responsibility of the hospital and stress the importance of donating blood as a humanitarian initiative that contributes to the service of the community, renewal of life and saving lives.

The event, which was held at the hospital building in Al Suqia area, included a welcome speech from Dr. Sai Giridhar, Executive Director of Middle East Hospital, who expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the great interaction and the success of the campaign and the achievement of its humanitarian goals.

Major corporate companies Jasmis

Group, Al Ghalia Group and Bahrain Sama Card also participated actively in the blood donation by supporting the noble cause. The event was attended by a large number of donors from all sectors of Bahraini society as well as hospital staff; And was supervised by a team of specialized doctors where they made sure that this process is done smoothly and without any risk. The hospital administration expressed its thanks to the donors for distributing certificates of thanks and appreciation to each donor, and stressed their active role to make the campaign a success and achieve its humanitarian goals.

The Middle East Hospital, one of the leading providers of medical services in the Kingdom of Bahrain, continues to

provide the highest quality services at affordable prices to all residents in the Kingdom.

BisB Launches Innovation Lab

Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) has recently announced the launch of its in-house innovation lab, a dedicated creative space that will allow the Bank to perform exploratory test runs, in an effort to continually improve new banking products and services before they are deployed in the market.

Hassan Jarrar, Chief Executive Officer of BisB, said, “The inauguration of this lab stems from the need to create an innovative work environment that inspires creativity. The Lab is automated with biometric authentication for added security measures, and is equipped with various new technologies, including Location Based Services, Self-Service Machines, New Generation ATMs, robotics, digital banking services, instant cheque book and card printing services. It also comprises a Virtual Voice Assistant, which will enable our retail and corporate customers to chat online, allowing them to manage their financial business faster in a simplified and hassle-free manner.�

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fintech focus

Bahrain’s CBB enables fintech innovation Bahrain is building a strong reputation for itself as a fintech base for the MENA region. We spoke to the CBB’s Yasmeen Al Sharaf on

By MEERA RAVI the Kingdom’s plans for these new trends. financial ideas and solutions in a controlled environment, directly with volunteer customers.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE KEY DIFFERENTIATOR BETWEEN THE CBB SANDBOX AND THE OTHER SIMILAR SANDBOXES OF THE REGION?

I would say we accept any innovative financial idea/solution to be tested in our Sandbox, regardless of whether the idea has been pre-tested in a lab-environment or not. As long as the application poses an innovative financial solution it is deemed eligible to be tested in our Regulatory Sandbox.

HOW DOES THE CBB SANDBOX WORK? Do the words blockchain, cryptocurrency, e-wallet and e-dinar make you scratch your head in confusion? These are the most common terms used in the developing field of fintech and are fuelling a growth of business and convenience. In Bahrain, which is always quick to spot a financial industry advantage, it has led to the Central Bank of Bahrain launching a regulatory Fintech Sandbox through which companies can test their fintech products and services and ensure that they meet CBB’s strict rules of customer service and protection and legal compliance. The EDB in the Kingdom has even established a Fintech Hub with the support of the Singapore Fintech Consortium, a physical space to support startups so they can have a soft landing when testing their product in the market.

In 2017, the CBB had also issued

directives on crowdfunding for both Shariah compliant and non-Shariah compliant platforms, launched a national e-wallet and hinted at the e-dinar launch.

To understand the fintech trend, we spoke to Yasmeen Al Sharaf, Head of the Fintech & Innovation Unit of the CBB. WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CBB SANDBOX AND WHEN WAS IT STARTED? Bahrain took a proactive approach and proceeded to set-up, along with stakeholders, a conducive fintech ecosystem.

The CBB Regulatory Sandbox was launched back in June last year, with the objective of allowing start-ups, fintech firms, as well as existing licensed financial institutions, from anywhere in the world, to test out their innovative 16 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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Applications are assessed by a dedicated Regulatory Sandbox Applications Committee. Authorized entities that demonstrate a truly innovative financial solution, can initiate their testing in the Regulatory Sandbox once they finalize company registration formalities and open an escrow account with a local retail bank for the purposes of handling volunteer customer funds.

The testing period is 9 months, extendable by an additional three months, upon the applicant’s request.

Authorized entities must submit a monthly progress report on the key milestones achieved, KPIs, statistics, key issues faced, fraud & operational incidents as well as actions taken to address the same.

At the end of the Sandbox testing period, a comprehensive report on the test outcome must be prepared by an independent third-party consultant and submitted to the CBB.

Once entities graduate successfully from the Sandbox, the CBB will then decide on the next steps in terms of deployment of the solution in Bahrain.

WHERE DO YOU RECEIVE REQUESTS TO ENROLL IN THE CBB SANDBOX FROM (I MEAN GEOGRAPHICALLY FROM THE REGION OR OTHER REGIONS?) – WHAT CRITERIA IS USED TO ACCEPT REQUESTS? Any start-up or existing company, regardless of jurisdiction, is welcome to apply to our Regulatory Sandbox, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria stipulated under our Regulatory Sandbox Framework.

Depending on the proposed solution, the CBB will decide on the appropriate regulatory framework, where applicable.

WE HAVE HEARD THAT THE KINGDOM WILL SOON RELEASE AN E-DINAR. WHAT IS THE PROGRESS IN THIS PLAN?

The matter is under study.

WHAT ABOUT SHARIA COMPLIANCE – IS IT AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD REQUIREMENT OR ONLY FOR ISLAMIC FINTECH INSTRUMENTS?

Shariah compliance is required only for Shariah-compliant fintech solutions.

WHAT WILL BE THE TEMPLATE FOR CROWD-FUNDING ONCE APPROVED

BY CBB? THIS TOO IS A SANDBOX SUBJECT? The CBB has issued dedicated regulations tackling both Equity and Financing-based

crowdfunding,

for

both conventional as well as Shariahcompliant crowdfunding transactions.

Since we already have in place dedicated regulations, crowdfunding applications do not fall under the Regulatory Sandbox,

unless,

there

is

a

new

innovative aspect to it.

WHAT IS THE FINTECH DASHBOARD OF

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CBB SHOWING – WHICH TRENDS ARE ACCELERATING? CRYPTO CURRENCY – WHAT IS THE CBB STANCE ON THIS? PAYMENT CHANNELS? There are a number of accelerating trends utilizing emerging technologies, such as blockchain (DLT), open APIs, machine-learning & robo-advisory as well as cross boarder payments using digital assets.

Cryptocurrencies are not currently accepted in Bahrain as legal tender.

LOOKING AT TRENDS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE FUTURE SCENARIO OF FINTECH INSTRUMENTS?

The fintech industry is rapidly evolving and will shape the way traditional financial services industry is operating. We encourage incumbents to adopt innovation and to collaborate with the fintech ecosystem to remain competitive going forward.

fintech focus

Abdulla Al Ghatam - a pioneer who sparked the auto-pay revolution in Bahrain

SADAD fintech pioneer leads the way It sees appropriate in this post-FIFA month that the history of Bahrain’s fintech pioneer began in Russia. As a visionary leader, Abdulla Al-Ghatam, CEO of SADAD, tells it, the idea of automated transactions struck him during a visit to Moscow in 2009 when he saw rows of payment automated self-service kiosks being used.

“It seemed a terrific idea and my partners and myself, immediately did our market research in Bahrain and established SADAD in 2010,” he said, “At first our focus was on telecom bills which were high-traffic transactions and we knew that these collections were a headache for corporate clients.

But when we went to the telecom companies and unveiled our plan to have a network of hundreds of

payment kiosks, there was a lot of disbelief. It was a new idea in Bahrain where everything was labourintensive.”

By August 2011, SADAD had 200 kiosks in place and in a year, there were 500 self-service kiosks working, to the delight of the paying public which took to the idea right away.

Accessible “We helped companies to move away from cash collection and focus on business development. We brought in the concept of customer convenience 24 x 7, because SADAD self-service kiosks were accessible round the clock, they were trustworthy and the best part was there were rarely queues before them. Now we have telecom 18 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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companies and merchants coming to us to join the SADAD network and we have 750 kiosk locations alone, besides SADAD apps on hundreds of smartphones and many multifunctional mPOS.” You can use SADAD self-service kiosks to also pay utility bills, donate to charity societies, pay UoB fees, buy calling cards, gaming cards or buy a cinema ticket from there, SADAD has taken its first-mover pole position to the next logical level, exploring noncash services also – Mobile Point-ofSale (MPOS).

“Since the GCC is so wired with expat workers, we felt that we should also place expats squarely in the centre of our work,” Al-Ghatam explained, “Thus was born ‘anywhere-anytime’

sending of cross border remittance transactions on a self-service kiosk without human intervention. It was the first kind of digital remittance in the region and we integrated our network first with ICICI Bank for serving the Indian community with the best price and rates in town till date. In the second stage, we widened our customer base by linking up with UAE Exchange which serves to all the expats communities from all countries”

India Button

We are currently witnessing a revolution in the payments industry technology is evolving, consumers’ expectations are increasing, merchants’ requirements are getting more and more comprehensive and the new millennial generation is hungry for the latest options in fintech.

The company has recently launched a very interesting service for the Indian community on the self-service kiosk called ‘Services to India’ where in customers can top-up their families' and friends' mobiles and data plans in India and also pay for their Indian Cable TV from SADAD Kiosks. “We are very proud of the India button that we have created,” Al-Ghatam said, “It is a logical extension of our services in Bahrain and reaches the largest expat community here. You see, SADAD is today a trusted name and we want to leverage that combination of trust and technology to provide a seamless payment experience that takes advantage of the enhanced fintech solutions at our disposal. The India

Button is the beginning – there are many similar buttons being planned. ” The SADAD app has the capability to handle multi-payments anywhere anytime. It is available on iTunes and Google Stores. Customers now have the most sophisticated and convenient app to do their monthly payments all in one app. SADAD joined hands with VIVA to launch VIVA Cash, a fullservice e-wallet through which users can pay for a range of services from supermarket and restaurant bills to utility services and top up their VIVA lines and the first Mobile remittance platform to send cross border remittance worldwide.

As one of the pioneers of fintech in Bahrain, Al-Ghatam says the CBB’s Fintech Sandbox has had an amazing influence on the scale of innovation and has tapped directly into the keen interest among corporates and their millennial consumers to use fintech in everyday life.

“We are currently witnessing a revolution in the payments industry technology is evolving, consumers’ expectations are increasing, merchants’ requirements are getting more and more comprehensive and the new millennial generation is hungry for the latest options in fintech.

CBB has created an enabling environment, the EDB has set up the Fintech Bay to support the smaller players and support innovation at all levels. We as SADAD are looking forward for much more innovation as it grows. However, legislation is still slow to catch up with the speed of fintech innovation. For example, we are ready for upcoming national projects like e-KYC and are confident that the market too is ready – but the legislative framework is still to be processed.”

Unstoppable SADAD is also looking to a busy future with expansion into large markets being planned in the MENA region. In the immediate future, there will be an improved SADAD app launch in the fourth quarter of this 19 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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year.

“Fintech is an unstoppable force today and to maximise its potential, we need government and the private sector to be on the same page and working at more or less the same speed,” Al-Ghatam observed, “Legislation must keep pace with innovation and banks must understand that payment service providers are facilitators and not a threat to their business. SADAD as a PSP has always looked at working hand-in-hand with the banks, we actually ease their business by doing the mundane work of collecting payments and the money

reaches them without much effort on their part. So the best way is to work together and make the fintech channels as seamless as possible.”

What does he see trending on the fintech dashboard? “Digital banking, in other words, branch-less banking will be the next wave and there will come a time when e-KYC is strong enough with all controls that we can look at transacting loans, credit card issuing and buying property and cars online. And payments are a part of our lives and will never fade so more and more fintech innovations will revolve around AI and AR-powered products and services.”

For more on SADAD’s impressive line-up of products and services, visit their website https:// sadadbahrain.com or download the SADAD app on your phone and laptop today.

fintech focus

AFS paves way to a fintech future In a wide-ranging interview, Shiraz Ali, CEO of FinTech Business at Arab Financial Services talks about how fintech is changing the way we manage our financial commitments MORE AND MORE BANKS ARE EMBRACING FINTECH AND PREPARING FOR AI AS A MAINSTREAM TOOL. HOW IS THE REGION PREPARING FOR THIS CHANGE? Shiraz Ali: Digitization is becoming mainstream across all economic activities. The last few months have witnessed banks in the region depart from the traditional to adopt digital tools to support their operations and customer facing areas. AI will become a lead differentiator for banks to adopt as it will enable customer behavior, predict and prevent fraud and line up growth opportunities. However the near term focus will be on building analytics skill sets, attracting data mining companies to the region and learning algorithms that support Arabic language to reap the benefit of AI. DO YOU SEE BAHRAIN AS HAVING AN ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF CBB SANDBOX? COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW AFS INTERACTS WITH THE CBB SANDBOX FOR BWALLET? SA: Yes of course. The CBB Sandbox is a catalyst for fintech growth in Bahrain. It is providing the right environment for both regional and global fintech companies to test and experiment their banking ideas and solutions. This strengthens Bahrain’s positions as a fintech and financial services hub in the GCC. AFS is continuously working with CBB, EDB and the Bahrain FinTech Bay to interact with companies entering the Sandbox, evaluating their products and services and is keen to partner with these companies to launch value added and innovative services in Bahrain. This includes eKYC solutions, cloud computing, digital wallets, chatbots and

other new products we plan to launch. AFS is also one of the founding members of Bahrain Fintech Bay. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE FINTECH INNOVATION ENVIRONMENT OF THE KINGDOM? ON A CORPORATE AND A INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER LEVEL. SA: Fintech has been the buzzword in the country for a few years.

While some grapple to make sense of it, others have invested heavily into building upon the promise of fintech. Both large and small banking institutions have rolled out initiatives to digitize operations.

Consumers are increasingly accepting innovative products. bwallet has been the prime example of customer acceptability both from user and merchants standpoint. The usage and adoption of bwallet has been fantastic in the first six months after launch in January 2018.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RECEPTION FOR BWALLET IN BAHRAIN? HOW HAS THE FIRST-MOVER ADVANTAGE HELPED THE PRODUCT? SA: bwallet has been a phenomenal success both in terms of a product offering and consumer and merchant acceptance. It has become a household brand in Bahrain and has built top of the mind recall across user segments. No other payment ecosystem has raced to these many users in a short period of 6 months who can transact at thousands 20 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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of locations across Bahrain. Also the offers and discounts available on bwallet are exclusive and from top tier merchants and are in huge demand from our users and are being lapped up at great pace.

IN YOUR OPINION WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT BE OF FINTECH ON BAHRAIN’S INDUSTRIAL GROWTH? SA: Fintech will bring operational excellence and help organizations build a deeper learning relationship with the consumers. These are the cornerstones for growth across the board and not just industrial in nature.

WHAT OTHER FINTECH PRODUCTS IS AFS LOOKING TO LAUNCH? SA: We are currently focused on building other features on the bwallet

platform. In parallel continuing our tradition of launching many “firsts” in Bahrain like eKYC, cloud processing, P2P etc., we are looking to launch various new services in the market. We are also working to bundle a suite of services into a full digital-bank-in-a-box offering. AFS organized the first FinTech conference in Bahrain in 2017 under the patronage of the CBB and invited digital and FinTech industry leaders as speakers and guests at this event. Our second FinTech conference was held in March 2018 in which global digital banking pioneers, AI experts, and industry veterans took part to discuss the roadmap to the FinTech revolution in Bahrain and how Bahrain can become the regional leader in this space.

IS THERE GOOD INNOVATION SEEN FROM ARAB INNOVATORS IN FINTECH OR IS THE WAVE STILL FUELLED BY ADOPTION OF EXISTING PACKAGES FROM ESTABLISHED PLAYERS? SA: Though bigger international players still dominate the market, we have seen lots of young entrepreneurs and start-up organizations venturing into the Fintech space in the last years.

AFS believes that innovation is not a function of how big a company you are. Innovative ideas can spring from anywhere and we welcome and support local talent and products. AFS has been in talks with a number of Arab organizations to develop and promote innovative fintech products in this region.

YOU HAVE ALSO MENTIONED GLOBAL EXPANSION FOR AFS – WHICH COUNTRIES ARE ON YOUR WISH LIST? SA: We are currently focused on delivering fintech solutions in Bahrain and the roadmap does include expansion into other geographies in the region and beyond.

HOW FAR HAS BAHRAIN TO GO TOWARDS THE SOUGHT-AFTER GOAL OF BEING A CASHLESS ECONOMY?

SA: These are early days and we are seeing clear traction at all levels which is a good sign. The regulatory environment is leading the way by opening up opportunities for independent players to dive in and innovate. The end user adoption is clearly there based on our experience. AFS has a range of products and solutions to fuel the move to a digital cashless economy. Services like wage payments, digital wallets, peer to peer mobile money transfers and other forms of digital payments reduce the need for cash in the society.

WHAT IS THE FINTECH DASHBOARD OF BAHRAIN SHOWING – WHICH TRENDS ARE ACCELERATING? CRYPTO CURRENCY? PAYMENT CHANNELS? SA: Globally crypto currency will take some time to become mainstream and adoption will be driven by local regulators. Innovations in digital payments will open up new modes of payments. Payments through non-card based instruments, such as mobiles and ecommerce, will continue to grow exponentially in Bahrain. AFS is working with various partners to spread awareness about fintech among general public and corporates.

LOOKING AT TRENDS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE FUTURE SCENARIO OF FINTECH INSTRUMENTS? SA: We believe that digital wallets will continue to grow in the region with more people opting for a frictionless and seamless experience. Card tokenization, virtual cards and other forms of contextless payments will be wide spread in the next few years and integrated ecosystems with interoperable features will shape up. Customers will opt for more digital services and many banks will be forced to adopt digital and fintech strategies. The fintech disruption is here to stay and AFS is well equipped to help our clients succeed in this journey.

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July / August 2018

the editorial team P.O. Box 50650, Arad, Kingdom of Bahrain Licensed by the Ministry of Information Publication Licence no : GASB 740

Chairman and Managing Editor Mahmood Al Mahmood Managing Director P.K. Ravi Editor Meera Ravi Contributor • Maharaja Features Pvt. Ltd. Designer • Sumesh. C. Unni Photography • Jomon • Hussain - Salmaniya Studio Marketing P.R.M. Marketing Consultancy w.l.l Advertising Sales Contact: +973 3668 4011/ 1772 0797 advts.sb@gmail.com Published by Al Ayam Publishing Promoted by Ajyal Consultations w.l.l Advertising / Editorial / Circulation Enquiries +973 3668 4011 +973 1772 0797 e-mail: salaam.bahrain@gmail.com advts.sb@gmail.com Copyright Reserved.

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The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher and Editor. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher & editor cannot accept legal responsibility for any error, content or omissions.

fintech focus

A Fintech Glossary In the jungle of new terminology, here’s a glossary of frequently-used terms that will help you navigate the fintech world (or just..sound clued-in at a party!)

API API stands for application programming interface. It is a set of requirements that dictate how two pieces of software talk to each other. It is basically what allows you to move data between applications.

BaaS A relatively new term for 2016, coined

by William Mougayar of Virtual Capital Ventures in early 2015. It means Blockchain-as-a-Service. Equivalent terms include Ethereum Blockchain-as-aService (EthBaaS), or “Blockchain-as-aPlatform” (BaaP). It refers to the growing landscape of services based around blockchain technology. The best example of this we have so far is Microsoft launching its own EthBaaS on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

This platform will allow companies to begin working with blockchain technology without having to first make significant investments in hardware.

Bitcoin Bitcoin is a decentralised digital cryptocurrency that was invented by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. In the past few years, Bitcoin has evolved from being a murky money of the digital underworld to an increasingly mainstream digital currency.

Blockchain Blockchain is the technology that underpins Bitcoin transactions. The most simple explanation is a decentralized digital ledger which records all digital transactions as a string of data stored on a global network of computers. Every time a new batch of transactions is encrypted by the network, it is added to the string (or chain) as a “block.”

Crowdfunding There are two types of crowdfunding: rewards-based crowdfunding and equity-based crowdfunding. The first relates to platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, where startups raise pledges and in return offer buy-in incentives for anything they produce.

Equity crowdfunding is a more recent phenomenon where pledgers are actually investors that receive a small share in the business in return for their contributions.

Although a relatively new way of fundraising, statistics show that there has been the estimated US $34 billion raised in 2015 by crowdfunding worldwide.

Cryptocurrency A cryptocurrency is a digital currency which uses encryption to secure transactions and control the creation of new units. Cryptocurrencies typically operate independently of any central bank. Bitcoin and Ether are the most notable examples of this.

The CBB does not recognise cryptocurrency in Bahrain.

Marketspace The fruit of digital technology.

Marketspace refers to online markets that eliminate the distance between buyers and sellers in terms of how transactions take place. It is basically an exchange environment which is based on online information and communication. Here, only the exchange of the products happens in the physical world; but all transactions are processed electronically.

Digital native A digital native refers to a person who has grown up with the availability, and 22 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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use of, digital technology. This group includes millennials, or post-millennials AKA Generation Z. Digital wallet This refers to any electronic device or application that allows an individual to make electronic transactions. This can be either using cryptocurrency or real money which is often pre-loaded onto a digital account.

DRaaS This is a term that has emerged in the area of cyber security and means Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service. It refers to the hosting of physical or virtual servers by a third party as a security measure to protect a business’ infrastructure in case of a cyber attack, natural disaster, or man-made catastrophe.

Ethereum Ethereum is a blockchain-based cryptocurrency platform that runs Smart contracts. Its was originally authored by Vitalik Buterin and Gavin Wood.

Ether The currency unit of Ethereum. It is used to pay for computational services on the Ethereum network.

Internet of Things Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the development of everyday internetconnected objects that have the ability to record, receive, and send data. This covers internet-connected cars, light bulbs, fridges, clothes, pedometers, and everything in between.

Mining Cryptocurrency mining is the process of verifying transactions encrypted in a cryptocurrency network. The distributed public ledger system (e.g. blockchain) that cryptocurrencies use are publicly

available but not freely accessible.

To do that, tech-experts are needed.

These experts are called miners who receive a fee for decoding each transaction and keep the process rolling.

P2P lending P2P means peer-to-peer, or personto-person, and refers to anything that is decentralized and direct. P2P lending is loaning money to individuals without the systems and processes typically put in place by traditional financial institutions. Instead, the transactions are often handled by digital platforms that use an algorithm to manage transactions between parties instead of through an intermediating bank.

When you send money through to a friend who also has a personal e-cash account with the same company, it is P2P money transfer.

Payment Gateway A payment gateway is a service whereby payments made by a buyer to a seller is automated. Usually, payment gateway service is provided by thirdparty e-commerce application service providers that process, authenticate, and issue or reject card transactions on behalf of the merchant through secure internet connections.

Smart contracts Smart contracts are computer protocols that facilitate, verify, or enforce a digital contract. The idea is that these programs will eventually be used to replace lawyers and banks when handling common legal and financial transactions.

SaaS The means Software-as-a-Service. It is a software distribution model used my many fintech software startups. It basically means applications that are hosted by the vendor on the cloud and can be accessed by the users online for a subscription fee, as opposed to users buying the software outright in a hard format like a CD.

Western Union Expands with Al Baraka Bank Agreement boosts money transfer network reach and convenience for consumers across Pakistan

(Front Row L-R): Nisar Ali, Senior Operations Specialist, Western Union; Asad Iftikhar Senior Country Manager, Western Union; Ahmed Shuja Kidwai, CEO, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan; Nadeem Amjad Khan, Deputy CEO, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan (Back Row L-R): Zain Qureshi, Business Development Manager, Western Union; Kanwar Shahzad, Group Head Treasury & Financial Institutions, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan; Syed Kazim Raza, Group Head Retail Banking, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan; Shahid Raza Saboor, Head of Home Remittance, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan; Syed Wajahat Ali, Manager Home Remittance, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan

Consumers in Pakistan now have more options to receive international money transfers, thanks to an alliance between Western Union, a leader in cross-border and cross-currency money transfer, and Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited.

Full activation of 188 Al Baraka Bank locations in 99 cities of Pakistan will expand Western Union’s retail footprint and enable consumers to receive money in minutes from more than 200 countries and territories. Western Union currently has more than 9,600 Agent locations across Pakistan.

Remittances play a crucial role in recipient economies. They not only boost economic growth within the household but also across the economy.

“As people migrate to work abroad and to support their families back home, we continually strive to expand access, making it more convenient for their families to receive Western Union money transfers,” said Asad Iftikhar, Sr. Country 23 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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Manager, Pakistan & Afghanistan, Western Union. “We are delighted to welcome Al Baraka Bank to our global family of Agents and echo their vision of providing unrivalled service to consumers by giving them increased access to international money transfer channels,” he said.

According to the Migration and Remittances Brief by World Bank 4, Pakistan was one of the top 10 remittance receiving countries in 2017.

Personal remittances are a strong contributor to the GDP of Pakistan.

“We are pleased as well as privileged to be working with Western Union to provide money transfer services to our customers nationwide. Our commitment is to continually evolve, providing our customers with the best possible service.

We are proud to be providing our customers with access to the speed, convenience and reliability of Western Union,” said Ahmed Shuja Kidwai, CEO, Al Baraka Bank Pakistan.

financial planning

How to plan your child’s education In June-July, families all over the world will be adjusting their budgets to make room for a new expense – their children’s studies. Whether the child is just entering school or going away to college, parents find themselves tightening their belt for education expenses. This can include school and college admission fees, semester fees, books, and uniform (at school level or even climateappropriate clothing if the child is going to a cold country) the list is endless.

It is an unfortunate truth that many parents don’t usually plan for their children’s future education expenses and when it comes to crunch time, they break into their precious retirement resources, leaving themselves vulnerable to poor financial cover. Ideally, parents should start planning as soon as the baby is born.

One thing we need to recognise is that college education costs a lot! The amount you save up could pretty much determine where and what your child studies. So you will need to think about what it would cost to get your child a college degree (UG + PG) today. Even if your baby is a toddler, do talk to parents whose children are in college. It is not at all hard to find a few.

Then to estimate the cost of similar education for your child in the future, add 10% inflation cost as a basic inflation cover. That is how much college education would cost when your child is ready for it. Remember, college fees do not increase each year. Every few years or so there would be a big jump. Sometimes the fee could even double. Such a jump could happen when you child is about to enter college!

The corpus created for the education will not get spent in one shot. Some amount is required for the UG education and some for the PG degree. So the corpus would typically get spent over 4-6 years.

How much should one set aside each

It is an unfortunate truth that many parents don’t usually plan for their children’s future education expenses and when it comes to crunch time, they break into their precious retirement resources, leaving themselves vulnerable to poor financial cover. One thing we need to recognise is that college education costs a lot! The amount you save up could pretty much determine where and what your child studies. year then? That would depend on factors such as whether yours is a double income family, on whether you have already purchased a home or are saving for it (this is the third big expense head 24 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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for families), whether your family health is constant or if you have to factor in congenital and chronic ailments which need heavy medical cover and what your family’s overall saving habit is.

The main reason that we should invest in our children’s education fund is that it is important to ensure our children do not start their career burdened with debt (education loan). Hence, we will have start early, invest right, and manage the portfolio right. To do so through a children’s education policy is to be doubly assured that not only will your child have access to funds for a good education but that the protection will continue for the family if anything untoward happened to the breadwinners .

LIC International in Bahrain offers two tried and well-tested plans for children: the Professional Education Plan (PLAN219) and the Participating Marriage/Education Plan (PLAN-209).

To find out more and to get professional help in planning for your family, call 17 290 750 today.

Varanasi Ghat

The colors

na Temple,

of friendsh

Shri Krish ip - Holi at

Manama

Incredible India through Bahraini eyes Old man with Karak chai

Sawsan Taher greets ministers of India and Bahrain at her photo exhibition in the Embassy of India during the embassy's inaguration

Bahraini photographer Sawsan Taher is a woman with a special eye and the spirit of Ibn Batuta! She literally roams up and down the Silk Route capturing fabulous portraits of people in their natural settings. Sawsan works as IT Specialist in Shaikha Hessa Girls’ School and a photographer. She loves photography since childhood and began professional photography since 2012. She participated in 26 SALAAM BAHRAIN

many local and international exhibitions. Incredible India was the theme of the first solo photo exhibition for Sawsan during the formal inauguration of the new Indian Embassy complex in Bahrain which was held on Saturday July 14, 2018.

“As a photographer I capture moments as I see them and I enjoy many different kind of photography. Lately I have been concentrating on street photography and portraits. I have been traveling around to capture people life and meet some hidden tribes in some remote areas like Lower Omo Valley in Ethiopia. I also visited Leh and Turtuk in Ladakh District on Himalayas Mountain in India.

Another journey to India was to visit Rajasthan and other areas like Varanasi and Agra. Another adventure was a trip to Kyrgyzstan one of the several routes for the Silk Road through the Tianshan and the Pamir-Altai Mountains.” said Sawsan.

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picture fest

Family at village near Agra

- the Young woman a future of Indi

Superwoman

Portrait of motherhood

Jaipur-Chand Baori step we

ll

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health

Can yoga cure diabetes?

To make the best use of yoga to control diabetes, one needs a carefully-planned regime.

By RAJA SRIDHAR betic patient to benefit by yoga. In diabetes, the blood sugar is raised beyond usual limits of 80 –120 mgs per cent (fasting blood sugar).

Insulin is the only hormone in the body that can bring down the blood sugar. Every organ and system can be affected by diabetes. There could be several associated problems – heart attacks, high blood pressure, diminished vision, kidney infections brain haemorrhages, increased susceptibility to all infections leading to abscesses and gangrenes. Most of these are major killer diseases.

The usual management consists of a well-controlled, balanced diet, with different types of tablets/, in order to increase insulin secretion from the pancreas or injecting insulin to supplement the body’s store of this hormone. Such patients are also advised to do regular exercises so as to increase the peripheral utilisation of glucose and to reduce obesity.

As India is the home of Yoga and is also today unfortunately the capital of diabetes in the world, hopes are often raised about whether our ancient science might be able to find a remedy to the illness. Many consider the late Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, as the world' s greatest living yoga master. Named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine in 2004, he is the author of the bestselling yoga book of all time, “Light on Yoga”. In

that book he has stated “After working for 60 years as a teacher, I am giving groups of asanas for different functional and organic ailments and diseases, based on experiences with my pupils”.

He has included a group of 28 different yogic asanas, which under proper guidance, would give relief to diabetes.

Before rushing to buy the book of the great yoga teacher, one has to consider two factors - the nature of diabetes and what the requirements are for a dia28 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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Stress response Yogic therapy works by rejuvenating the main glands involved with diabetes, like the pancreas that is involved with insulin release. The stress glands also seem to be implicated, where a high stress level can overload the blood with high sugar as a response to stress.

Regrettably the matter does not end here, because of the very nature of yoga. Just doing the prescribed yogic asanas will not help out. The yoga stu-

dent must learn to control and his or her self in a holistic manner, at all levels of being: physical, emotional, mental, intellectual and spiritual, recognizing the effects of stress, emotional imbalance, and dietary and living habits, on the disease condition.

Many international studies have reported the beneficial effect of the practice of yoga on diabetes. Some studies have mentioned up to 65 percent beneficial effect of yogic therapy.. Medical scientist K.N. Udupa has even mentioned 5 cases of juvenile diabetes who were completely controlled by yogic treatment. S.A.A. Ramaiah's study conducted in Washington, D.C. compared the effects of walking, treadmill, static cycling, and different yogic asanas/poses found that the Bow pose ( dhanur asana) was the most effective. Surya Namaskara was another group of asanas that was very valuable in controlling diabetes. It was concluded that the direct stimulation of the pancreas by these

postures rejeuvenated the pancreatic capacity to produce insulin.

Stimulation All of these studies have emphasized the possible mechanism of the yogic practices as a direct influence on pancreatic secretion by rejuvenation of the pancreatic cells through alternate abdominal contractions and relaxation, during asanas and breathing exercises.

In yoga, bandhas are neuromuscular locks, that regulate and increase endocrine (glandular) secretions in the body, but also realigns, revitalizes and improves he functioning of the organs and the glands that get affected by diabetes.

Basically the techniques belong to different groups acting at different levels.

The loosening techniques Sithilikaran Vyayama like jogging, forward-backward bending, spinal twisting along with Suryanamaskaras..

A few of the specific asanas for dia-

betics are those which bring about a stretch and twist in that region of the spine (lower thoracic and upper lumbar) where pancreas are located behind the stomach .Such techniques are Vakrasan, Ardh-Matsyndrasan, Dhanurasan (Bow pose). These are believed to increase the blood supply, massage the organs , activate its cells and thereby cause an increase in all its secretions including insulin.

A special kriya ( exercise) in this group is Agnisara. Here, standing with knees bent, the upper abdomen (region of pancreas) is flapped in and out after complete expiration. Starting with 1015 flappings, one can even go to about 50-60 flappings.

Is a full cure for diabetes by yoga too much to hope for? So far no yogic master has claimed that they have completely eradicated diabetes from their afflicted students. But amazing as it may seem, yoga has been shown to significantly reduce medication and insulin taken to manage the condition.

telecom news

Batelco signs partnership agreement with Bahrain Credit As part of its continued efforts towards providing innovative benefits to its customers, Batelco announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Bahrain Credit.

Batelco and Bahrain Credit have agreed on bundling selected products

and services to offer exclusive and rewarding benefits to their mutual customers, which further enhances and complements their lifestyle.

As part of the agreement, Batelco Fixed, Home Internet and Mobile Postpaid line customers subscribing for an Imtiaz card and paying their Batelco bills with the Imtiaz card, are entitled to enjoy a reimbursement of BD10 monthly in their bills for one 29 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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year.

Customers wishing to benefit from this offer need to transfer their current Credit Card balance to their Bahrain Credit Imtiaz card in order to receive the monthly BD10 credit.

The partnership agreement was signed by Batelco’s Acting General Manager Maha Abdulrahman and Assistant Vice President of Bahrain Credit Rasool Al Aali, at the Bahrain Credit headquarters in the presence of a number of officials from both entities.

To get your Imtiaz card, visit any Bahrain Credit branch. For more information, call Batelco on 196.

fashion

Cheena's BUXOM beauties

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Outspoken and bold, Cheena Chhapra’s Summer collection during Fashion Week Pakistan 2018 was a treat to watch. The queen of style brought on to the ramp fresh and subtle hued pieces worn beautifully by real women in their late 60s, including, in a strong display of support to womanhood, a pregnant lady.

Living up to her fashion philosophy, that every woman has a desire to look pretty and desirable, Cheena’s collection made full use of traditional Pakistani textile weaving and embellishments heritage such as block prints, phulkari, gara and kaanta.

“Generally plus sized women are given very few options of colours and designs to choose from, so catering to the great majority whose demands were not met has given me a positive feedback, a new outlook and more motivation to keep on going!” exclaimed the bubbly designer.

Commenting on body-shaming of young girls, she said, “The mental strain words can have on young minds, when they persistently berate young girls with these kind of stereotypes, is very strong. It gives the idea that their bodies aren’t their own and they are open to outside opinions about it. Just protect your children, let them know that they are loved. Show them what true self-value is. Give them the courage to talk back, challenge these stereotypes and reclaim their body, mind and sanity.”

Chhapra’s show was a joyous occasion, her own smile as wide as 31 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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those of the models and the crowd. The good cheer it generated in the room was clear in the images and footage of the event.

The women modeling the outfits included: lawyer and activist Ayesha Tammy Haq; restaurateur Naila Naqvi; actor and producer Niggie Imtyaz; educators Hira Thimur Suri, Zehra Gheewala, Laila Dossa, Dr. Shamma Dossa and Hina Sharif; Chef Zarnak Sidhwa; actress Uroosa Siddiqui; yogi Shakila Hasan; stylist Mariam Sarwar Sheikh; chartered accountant Moneeza Usman Butt; Director of the Museum and Gallery Department of State Bank of Pakistan Asma Ibrahim; artist, and greatgrandmother, Ishrat Zahid Hussain; and corporate queen Nasreen Hussain.

Cheena’s exquisite chaddars and outfits were her way of telling women that size is irrelevant as long as the cut and fits are proper and garment is affordable. With stylish fabrics, colors, cuts that were unique and timeless, the outfits painted a picture of pure elegance and a welcome infusion of confidence. Her collection showcase resulted in a resounding cheer throughout the packed hall.

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fashion

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North Eastern Millennial Magic

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fashion

When you think of handlooms from India’s North East, does your mind stop at Assam’s glowing silks and the tribal shawls of Meghalaya? A group of fashion designers came together to prove that North-eastern fashion is all set to go global and seamlessly segue into everyday modern wear.

At the Lakmé Fashion Week’s Sustainable Fashion Day 2018, fashion label Khumanthem and Exotic Echo Artisans Society, Tilla by Aratik Dev Varman and Kuzu and designers Daniel Syiem, Jenjum Gadi, not only brought the audience to their feet with fabulous contemporary cuts, but also enlightened them about the challenges they face while producing in the different states of the North East—lack of raw materials, political unrest, the need to implement region specific

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government schemes to help with grants, exposure etc.

To set the sustainable note, the fashion show began with resident coordinator United Nations in India, Yuri Afanasiev speaking about on driving more business to the North Eastern states without obliterating its fragile ecosystem and creating supply chains that benefit North Eastern states to improve their quality of life and economy. The designers also spoke about their issues and inspirations - designers Sonam Dubal and Aratrik Dev Varman of label Tilla; Sonnie Kath, founder of the Exotic Eco; Orsola De Castro, founder of the Fashion Revolution; were some of the speakers at the talk. Osama Manzar, founder, Digital Empowerment Foundation; and Siva DeviReddy, founder GoCoop demonstrated digitisation at the grass root level to aid weavers. Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia walked for Kuzu while the Tetseo Sisters, a folk music band from Nagaland performed at the closing. Here are highlights: Aratrik Dev Varman x Tripura A confluence of sheer fabrics like Chanderi and mulmul, this NID alumnus’ summer line is based on the woven breast clothes used by tribal women in Tripura. “The fact that we have such great diversity of structures and patterns makes it a wellspring for new ideas but the challenge is to retain uniqueness,” notes Aratrik Dev Varman, who went on to create gowns and drop-waist dresses using woven strips and panels that are hand- joined together.

Karma Sonam x Sikkim Lepcha, one of the oldest weaving techniques of the country takes centrestage through Karma Sonam’s clothes, made of 100 per cent natural fibres. Sporting elements borrowed from the dressing style of Bhutia and Lepcha tribes in the region, her eponymous label, Kuzhu, showcased designs like cropped jackets. Made with materials such as nettle and merino wool, the outfits featured wrap pants and kimono style blouses.

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fashion Jenjum Gadi x Nagaland To mark his return to the platform after a gap of 10 years, Jenjum Gadi coordinated with Nagaland’s Exotic Echo Society to produce loin-loom clothes, woven using the backstrap method. Unisex in nature, the line celebrates tassels and fringes that are tastefully integrated with natural-dyed cotton materials. Knee-length hoodies and floppy waistcoats where the unique offerings Jenjum brought to the forefront this season.

Daniel Syiem x Meghalaya “My focus is on reviving Ryndia (eri silk), our heritage fabric, by infusing a touch of modernity,” shares Daniel Syiem, who has returned to LFW for the third time.

Presented in an earthy colour palette, Daniel’s organic range of clothes are embellished with quirky items such as pine cones. Quadruple collars, drop shoulders, and curved hemlines are some of the interesting details showcased by Daniel this time.

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Carrefour’s FIFA moment

retail therapy

Carrefour Bahrain is dedicated to providing its loyal customers with the very best products, as well as unique offers and promotions throughout the year.

Customers were in for some fun when Carrefour Bahrain organised a Score and Win Kids Penalty Shootout in the spirit of the FIFA World Cup, recently.

The activity took place on June 29 and 30 at the hypermarket at The Bahrain Mall, and on July 6 and 7 at its City Centre Bahrain branch. Over 900 kids participated in the event.

“At Carrefour we are constantly seeking ways on how we can offer our customers a unique and fun shopping experience,” says Jerome Akel, country manager for Carrefour Bahrain at Majid Al Futtaim Retail. “We were pleased with the positive responses on this initiative, and we will continue to find ways that aim to create great moments for everyone every day.”

One of the largest hypermarket and supermarket chains in the world, Carrefour was launched in the region in 1995 by Majid Al Futtaim, the exclusive franchisee to operate the brand in 38 countries across the Middle East, Africa

and Asia. It operates different hypermarkets and supermarkets to meet the growing needs of its diversified customer base. In line with its commitment to provide the widest range of quality products and value for money, the retail giant offers an unrivalled choice of more than 100,000 food and non-food products as well as 38 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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thousands of household goods.

The first store in Bahrain was launched in 2008. Today, it operates seven hypermarkets and four supermarkets on the island. The brand is committed to continued business growth in convenient locations across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Visit www.carrefourbahrain.com

travel

How to go on holiday LIKE YOU MEAN IT Thirty awesome hacks to make your summer vacay a super success

Now that we are well into the second part of our summer break, families and individuals (oh yes, they are very different, believe us) are gearing up for a nice junket back home or to a new country. Let’s take the pain out of your travel experience – well, as much as we can, because by now you would have worked out most of the dynamics like air tickets and hotels.

Here are some overlooked hacks that can make for a pleasant journey.

Travel Hacks Before You Leave

1. Instead of a hotel (if you have not booked already), look into reserving a home if traveling with a family, or a single room if alone. Websites like AirBnB can provide homes and private rooms from home owners who are renting them out, usually offering better accommodations than hotels.

You can even look for service apartments that offer kitchenettes for budget breakfasts and quick coffee breaks that can save families money.

2. Ever got your holiday clothes all laundered only to find them crumpled from packing at the other end? The

By SANA ABDULLA

trick is to a. Use non creasing fabric whenever possible. The options are huge because you get cotton and lycra fabric mixes these days which allow breathable clothing that stays the course on holidays.This allows you to b. Roll your clothes when packing.

Instead of creating a folded pile in

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your suitcase, rolling allows you to fit more things in. Plus, you can even roll underwear and socks within your clothes for optimal space-saving. c. If you are packing clothes that will crease, roll up anyway – and ask for an iron and ironing board at the destination. Hotel laundries can be horribly expensive so try some oldfashioned D.I.Y. unless it is a very expensive, fragile fabric. d. For expensive and fragile fabrics, there is no option but to get them properly ironed and packed flat in tissue paper or old cloth bags. Even then, watch for creases.

3. Scan your passport, identification card, and itinerary and email them to yourself. This provides an extra copy of each in the event of loss or theft. As an iPhone user, you can email the documents to yourself, open the email on iPhone and save them onto iBooks.

This provides you with an offline record.

4. It’s important to remember to call your credit or debit card company before you leave to ensure that you have your card authorized for your foreign destination. This prevents them from suspecting suspicious activity. Scan your credit and debit cards and WhatsApp/email a copy to yourself.

5. Mark your baggage as fragile.

This is a tip I learned a while ago from a friend who found it to be a great way to ensure that your baggage is handled correctly. Your luggage is kept at the top because of this, which will make it one of the first bags to be released.

9. Travel insurance is a nonnegotiable. These days you get packages that not only cover health and hospitalisation but also lost luggage and delayed flights.

Remember it is vital even for home trips because all these issues can pop up on a happy home holiday too and drain your savings.

Travel Hacks For the Departure

10. Bring your own (300 ml) water

bottle. Depending on the airline’s own policies regarding drink costs, the amount of times water is offered may not be to your liking. Having your own water bottle ensures that you have water when you want it. When they do come around, top off your bottle with what they give you. (*Do NOT top up with airline toilet water or even the food service galley water. Many a time they are not fit for consumption)

6. Always pack your own soap, shampoo and toiletries because most hotels just use detergent for these as their home brands. Buy shampoo in tubes, ditto for body gel and lotions and you will avoid spillage. Put it all in a clear plastic zip bag.

7. No holiday warrants more than three pairs of footwear: room flip flops, outdoor sneakers, one sexy pair for the party or disco.

8. Remember: after you have sorted your clothes for packing, ruthlessly slash the pile by half and double your travel money!

11. Never underestimate the value of a fanny pack. Yes, they can be embarrassing and seemingly out of 40 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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the mid-to-late 1980s, but trust us, it has ensured that valuables are safe, and it expedites security checks.

12. Splurge on in-flight Internet service if your flight is more than sixand-a-half hours long. It will help you to complete work for the last time before you hit your destination.

13. Alternatively, load your usb with the music, books, audio tracks, games and movies you want so that you can just plug in and enjoy your choice of leisure.

14. Ensure that you have a pen before leaving home so you can complete customs forms. Keep your pen with you and not in your overhead bag. Fill the forms out when you get them, and ensure that your family members have theirs filled as well.

People will clamour for your pen; flight attendants rarely have them.

15. 20 minutes before you land, sprint for the bathroom. Usually when the seatbelt light comes on, you still have 15 minutes of leeway until you truly have to be seated. Use this opportunity to relieve yourself to prevent fighting for restrooms when you land.

Travel Hacks When You Arrive

16. Dart directly for baggage claim.

It is amazing how many people seem to hang around idly after immigration.

Save that for someplace else to save yourself time and to prevent any arguments with fellow travellers.

17. Use ATMs to get local currency.

Using money converters in the airport usually come with their own fees and the exchange rates are a rip-off. ATMs always dispense local currency, of course, so use your debit or credit card and get your money there.

18. Shop for groceries when you arrive. You don’t have to shop for a feast, but getting basics like water and a few snacks in local stores instead of at the hotel can save you a ton.

19. Having a problem finding a decent tour guide, think tours are a

little pricey or just want to avoid people while you explore for the day?

No problem, simply follow a podcast about the place you are visiting or install Google Goggles onto your phone and take some photos as you explore. Every time you photograph a famous monument, your phone will fire back a bunch of interesting information for you to read. You’ll be an expert in local culture, customs and history in no time.

20. Do you rightly feel that lack of access to free WiFi is oppressive? Then don’t stand for it. At airports, locate the First Class Lounge, pull up a pew, connect and browse away like the Robin Hood of internet service.

Likewise, if you’re on the street, sidle up to a swanky restaurant and sign the hell in. And if the networks are protected, never fear…because humanity is generally decent, lots of people share WiFi passwords online – FourSquare is the best place to find them. In the words of no one; WiFi access is a right, not a privilege! Join the revolution!

21. When in your room, remove only the necessities from your luggage.

Trying to make yourself at home by taking out every pair of shoes and all of your toiletries will only make

repacking a living hell, and it increases your chances of forgetting something when it’s time to go home.

Exploring Your New Location 22. Use guidebooks sparingly.

Guidebooks only presents you with tourist spots; even those that advertised themselves as being off the beaten path.The best thing is to do some word-of-mouth research from friends who have been to the destination or read up travel blogs.

23. Use the local language as much as possible. It reflects well on you and is easy. Pick up basic phrases and words on Google with pronunciation.

It shows you are willing to make the effort, which can work in your favor in some situations.

24. Have a souvenir list prepared, and stick to it. This will save you money and prevent you from purchasing something that ‘you’ll find someone to give to another time’.

25. Eat locally only. Save McDonalds unless you have no appetite for the local spices or meats. Trying the local cuisine will save you more money and allow you to experience new and flavorful meals.

26. If travelling with children who can be fussy, carry familiar spices or a pre-prepared meal mix (pre-seasoned

upma, thepla and pickles come to mind).

That service apartment kitchenette can be very handy!

27. “When in Rome, do as the Romans” is a general saying that I like to translate it as, “don’t be a stubborn traveler, and get out of your comfort zone”. If a country advises modest dress, for example, follow through. It can even ensure your safety as a foreigner.

Travel Hacks for Returning Home 28. If you are a frequent traveller, live out of your toiletry bag and keep it packed. This will allow the packing process to be a bit easier and will prevent you from having to make expensive toiletry purchases if you forget something.

29. Use IFTTT when sharing traveling photos to make it seamless and easy. Using Dropbox or Evernote will allow you automatically to have a copy of your precious photos.

30. Unpack immediately when you enter the door. You may be tired out of your mind, but you’ll be glad you did it in the morning. Plus, it saves your luggage from smelling like soiled laundry.

business news

Rsquare wins Saudi support SNIC Insurance has implemented an online survey solution provided by Bahraini IT firm Rsquare Technologies which it says will speed up the motor insurance claim handling process and enhance customer experience. At an event held to mark the implementation are, from left, SNIC Claims manager Hussain Al Mansoor, assistant general manager of corporate services Ahmed Radhi and Rsquare Technologies founder and chief executive Shanthini Raja.

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youngistan

Kings of the kitchen Take six enthusiastic, energetic boys. Add two knowledgeable mentor moms. Stir in plenty of cooking tips and delicious recipes.

Et voilà! You have a summer cookery class worth drooling over.

Anjusha Gupta and Shobha Ravishankar put together their informal cookery sessions for the guys because this is the Age of Equality..and guys gotta learn to weild a tasty ladle.

Next up is a quick set of classes for boys and girls off to uni abroad. Want to enroll? Call 39289789 for deets!

MICQ Guiness hat-trick celebrated

accolade

aspects of this project, where exhibits featured depictions of Bahrain’s landmarks and various facets of Arab culture.. She touched on how the Bahrain team had incorporated these aspects of Bahrain, as a way of thanking the country which has become their second home.

MICQ Guinness Certificates recipients

The Group has successfully set earlier Guinness Records for the largest crochet blanket and the longest crochet scarf in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Speaking at the function, the Chief

Guest, Alok Kumar Sinha, Indian Ambassador, praised the underlying “Go Green” theme, that had been chosen for the record event, which was particularly relevant since India had just recently hosted the “World Environment day” in June 2018.

Special invitees to the event included Juzer Rupawala, Director, Lulu Hypermarkets and Thanuja Anil, President ILA, Bahrain.

Ashwini Anil. Goodwill Ambassador for MICQ, Bahrain explained about the MICQ projects in general and the unique 42 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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1 Asha Rani 2 Ashwini Basmatkar 3 Ashwini Govinda Munglimane 4 Darshana Rashmin Udeshi 5 Harini Mukundh 6 Maliakkal Bleseena George 7 Prajakta Khedkar 8 Priya Sethuraman 9 Rajeshwari Alpesh Chouhan 10 Savera Mahendra 11 Sowmya Ramkumar 12 Swapnali Milind Divekar 13 Vasanthi Gurusami

weather

Bring on the showers Monsoon rituals to coax the rain gods are common in India. With children visiting their home country during the rains, let’s see what

By K.R.N. SWAMY quirky practices are followed Maharaja Features inhabitants of Kolathigaon village of Rangeilunda block opted for ‘dance of Benguli’ or frog dance to invite rain.

As per the tradition they get together two big frogs, a male and a female.

The legs of the frogs were tied

metros and donkeys are easily available ,last year. some of the residents of India’s southern city of Bangalore had married off two donkeys, in the hope that the ancient ritual will usher in good monsoon

together to prevent the animals from escaping. They were put on a new cloth in a new basket. The frightened frogs start to jump inside the basket and croak loudly. They were moved around the village in a procession. At every house the croaking frogs were worshipped with turmeric water. A Frogs & donkeys yagna was also arranged in the village.

If the marriage of frogs is not It is believed that the croaking of frog possible, then a frog dance would do! couple would draw the attention of In 2009, In Ganjam district of Orissa the rain god towards the village and poor frogs had a panicky time, during bring in rains. the efforts of the peasants to draw the attention of the rain god.. The As you cannot get frogs in

rains. Residents decided to invoke the ritual – after their prayers failed to deliver. Two donkeys – the bride Ganga and the groom Varuna – tied the knot at a temple on the city outskirts to loud cheers of about 100 guests, who attended the ceremony.

Great attention was also paid to ritualistic details. Only at one point did the groom get restless: when his attendant tied the holy threads around his hind and fore legs The guests, each of whom contributed to the marriage expenses, were later treated to a

Happily this year the monsoon seems to have arrived in time in India. But how does rural India react, if the monsoon gets late, as the whole life of the countryside depends on it?.

In olden days, sacrifices were performed in India to appease Varuna the rain god, to invoke his blessings for getting rainfall. Primitive societies would perform rain dances, while the simple village folk would observe strange and bizarre rituals in various parts of the country. Some of these outrageous practices are prevalent even today!

One ritual popular in villages all over India- from Assam to Gujerat & from Uttapradesh to Tamilnadu is that of marrying of two frogs, under the belief that Varuna will be pleased and bless them with rain. In 2009 when the monsoon failed, for residents of Hengerbari locality of Guwahati in Assam, the wedding of Bijuli and Barun on March 13 was a memorable one. Amid Vedic chants, priests solemnized their wedding before 2,000 odd guests. After the ceremony , the newlyweds were served a sumptuous feast of mosquitoes and flies. Bijuli and Barun are frogs, and the ritual was done to appease the rain gods, as the city was reeling under severe drought. After the feast, the newlyweds were left alone in a nearby pond.

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traditional meal at the temple.

If the drought continues to be severe, more stringent measures are required and in Bihar State, young naked girls plow the fields and chant ancient hymns after sunset, to invoke the rain gods. Elderly village women help the girls drag the ploughs. “They (villagers) believe their acts would get the weather gods badly embarrassed, who in turn would ensure bumper crops by sending rains,” Upendra Kumar, a village council official, said from Bihar's remote Banke Bazaar town. “This is the most trusted social custom in the area and the villagers have vowed to continue this practice, until it rains very heavily.”

Miracle prayers The Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh and Kashmir holds a special prayer known as Namaz-e-Istisqa. for rains. The Namaz-e-Istisqa is usually held where there is a drought, shortage of food or other calamities, that are believed to be punishments from God. The prayers are done with heads uncovered in an open ground . Cattle and goats are tethered to the ground’s confines, to show that even they need the rains., It is not a regular prayer. The prayers were held in 2009 and the earlier gatherings were in 1967, another drought year.

Traditional means of invoking the monsoon have been in vogue in the Thar for centuries, the most famous among them is the ancient method of Dhani performed by the Ghachi community, whose members are said to be experts at reading the nature’s subtle signs just before the onset of rains.

The ritual is performed every year on Akha Teej (the festival infamous in Rajasthan for child marriages), and the process adopted by them is ridiculously simple. Two boys, both below nine, stand in front of each other with two bamboo sticks, one black and the other red. As the entire

Varunadeva the rain god in his mount or vahana, the salamander.

community begins a yajna with the chanting of mantras, the sticks are gradually raised over their arms.

Experts from the community watch the movement of the sticks, their friction and the effect of the heat on the boys to make the predictions.

Hundreds of people from the city and adjoining villages come to watch the ceremony.

In the tribal forests of Madhya Pradesh Bhima, one of the five pandavas, known as Bhimsen, Bimai is worshipped as a rain god. When the scarcity of rain is felt he is invoked by a shaman assisted by the village priest and rain is assured by propitiating him with a black cock, liquor, incense etc.

In some villages a symbolic marriage ritual is instituted between Bhima and ‘Konden’—a maiden from a Kond tribe to assure rain. A rigid and complex worship system of Bhima’s marriage is performed for three to seven days by ten to twelve villages assembled in Bhima’s village.

Tribal customs The Koyas are a tribe inhabiting the hills in the north of the Godavari 44 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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District of Andhra Pradesh. They believe in observing totemic rites, taboos and special rituals for invoking rain. During this festival, the images of a male and a female are married under a ’mohua’ tree. Then, the priest sprinkle water on the images and the marriage of the rain god is said to be solemnised. It is believed that when the rain god is thus married and he would ensure ample rain.

Tappeta Gullu dance of Andhra Pradesh is a devotional dance which invokes the rain God with its vigour, rhythm and tempo. This dance sees 15-20 vibrant artists with drums around their necks, creating mesmerising beats and heartstopping acrobatics.

Amidst all these paens of fallacy, it is a great solace to hear that, as per Nripendra Krishna Roy, Joint Commissioner, Sales Tax, West Bengal, by playing the flute, especially the ragas Megh Malhar and Mian ki Malhar, one can brings the rain and he claims that since 2005 he has brought rains to many areas of rural Bengal, within 48 hours by this music.

business track

India’s humming flower business This sunrise business sector is bringing laurels to the Indian economy.

In the Indian way of life, flowers play a huge role. Strung as garlands across the thresholds of homes, they welcome newborn babies home. In temples and churches, flowers are offered as garlands, bouquets and loose blooms to the idol. Nearly 90% of the homes in India have a dedicated prayer space where morning and evening, flowers are bought and offered to God. Flowers are very intimately associated with the social activities too. In social life, flowers are offered to welcome, to felicitate and to greet friends or relatives and guests in functions. Marriages see flowers being used by the kilo since they are required for decorating the venue and also for garlands of the bridal couple. In Mumbai, the sellers in the wholesale flower market in Matunga prepare the largest floral Ganapati and sometimes, change the floral image over the three days of the festival.

And flowers follow people in their final farewell too. Garlands and wreaths are offered on dead bodies of martyrs and very important persons (VIPs) and national heroes as a gratitude for the work done and sacrifice made by them.

Lavish market With the increasing per capita income in India, wedding and festival celebrations are getting more lavish and even daily floral décor and offerings are getting more elaborate. Thus flower consumption in India is growing at a whopping speed of 30% per annum. In addition to spatial décor, flowers are widely used as hair ornaments; they are used for extracting essential oils, which are used in perfumes. Many flowers have medicinal values and hence are used in Ayurveda. Numerous festivals have added to the demands of flowers and have made India a floral super power of the

by ADITI NAGAPPA

With Onam round the corner, get ready for giant floral floor designs called Pookalam

future. A huge domestic market supports India’s floriculture business and high quality export oriented flower production is providing a unique competitive edge.

The Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) data has projected a 600-crore worth floriculture export for 2018, owing to the 20 per cent annual growth in terms of exports in the floriculture industry of India in the last decade. The export has increased from 546.71 crore in 2017 to almost 600 crore till February 2018.

“There is a great demand for Indian flowers in Gulf countries Besides the major cut flowers, the export of traditional flowers such as jasmine and marigold is also gaining momentum in recent times,” said A K Singh, managing director of the agriculture ministry's National Horticulture Board (NHB).

Agro advantage Cultural and seasonal factors have turned floriculture into one of the vital 45 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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commercial trades in agriculture. Commercial floriculture in India is now viewed as a fast-growing industry, particularly under the protected environment of greenhouses. On the exports front, it has been steadily growing over 20% annually (barring year 2005-2006).

The country has exported 22,000 metric tonnes of floriculture products worth of Rs.547 crore ($ 82 m) in 2016-17. Major export destinations were the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

India is bestowed with several agroclimatic zones conducive for production of sensitive and delicate floriculture products. Surprisingly, the small landholding pattern, considered a handicap for the country's agricultural production, comes as an advantage in floriculture due to its 'low volume high value' character. Since the sector has huge export potential, a number of small and marginal farmers have started turning towards flower production. Several of the processes in horticulture are manual

and India’s deep pool of rural labour gives the country a distinct advantage here. There are more than 300 exportoriented units in India. More than 50% of the floriculture units are based in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Of course, India has only now begun to take the potential of its floriculture sector seriously. The small European country of Nederlands produces 66% of the world’s flowers worth about $3 billion annually. The United States leads the world in floriculture and rings in a massive $31 billion worth of business each year.

Potted success But if you include all types of floral panorama, like flowers, cut flowers & foliage, potted plants, garden plants, nursery stock (trees), flowering leafy, annuals & perennials, dry flowers and bulbs & tubers, parental material like plant parts from tissue culture, then China is a world leader in terms of produce.

The 2015 National Flower Statistics produced by the Chinese government put China's flower total production area at 1,305,500 hectares. The total sales amount $19.52 billion which represented a growth rate of 2.48% During the same period, India produced in 2015 – a total of 2. 2 million tons (1685 thousand tons loose flowers and 472 thousand tons cut flowers worth 3000 crores of rupees, utilizing about 2,33,000 hectares across the nation. The major flowers grown are jas-

mine, mullai, rose, crossandra, chrysanplants. Dry flowers don’t mean only thimum, marigold, tuber rose, arali, flower parts, but also includes dried jathimalli etc. shoots, seeds, barks etc. Export of dried Andhra Pradesh leads in loose flowers flowers and plants from India is about Rs production with 2,24,410 MT cultivated 100 crore annually. The industry exports over 34,850 hectares, followed by Kar500 varieties of flowers to 20 countries. nataka at 2,07,500 MT cultivated in They are widely used to make hand29,700 hectares and Tamil Nadu with 3,12,970 MT grown in 28,700 hectares. West Bengal has emerged as the largest producer in cut flowers with 25,429 lakh pieces, followed by Karnataka and MaharashIn death too, flowers keep us company tra. Other promimade paper, lampshades, candle holdnent cut flower producing states are ers, jute bags, photo frames, boxes, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, books, wall quilts, topiary, cards and Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh several gifts. and Jharkhand. The northeastern states, Today, flower patenting is the emergespecially Mizoram, have also turned toing trend in cutting-edge agricultural wards cultivating flowers of export variresearch today, with corporate players eties in a big way. The Government of across the world starting to realise the India has identified floriculture as a sunimportance, both scientific and comrise industry and accorded it 100% exmercial, of getting genetically-modified port oriented status. But the country’s saplings patented and Indian flower share in the international flower trade is growers are making full advantage of minuscule – a mere 0.4 percent. these innovations. roses – that was the India’s strength in floriculture is dry 2016 benchmark. Japan, where the bigflowers, which have good demand both gest inroads have been made, now acin Indian and international markets. India stands first in dry flower export owcounts for 45 per cent of India’s flower ing to the availability of a huge variety of export trade. Abhay Gaikwad, research-

Flower markets in Madurai ( jasmine), Bengaluru (roses) and Delhi (marigold) 46 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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business track JASMINE

ROSES

Of all the flowers, the Southern jasmine is India’s bestseller. India grows 59000 tons of jasmine every year, mainly in the southern states. With its heady fragrance, exclusive size and peculiar shape, Madurai Malli ( Madurai jasmine) from Tamilnadu has not only India in thrall, but also perfume manufacturers across the globe. Fashion house Christian Dior, for instance, is a buyer. A major exporter, says every week around 400 kg of jasmine are sent to the United States, France, England, Canada, West Asia, Malaysia and Singapore. “There is a bigger demand in the global market.

We have the capacity to meet the demand, but due to lack of infrastructure and government support, we haven’t been able to increase exports,” he says.

From the retailers who buy the produce from the centres, the famed “Madurai jasmine” reaches the consumer through shops and street vendors. Every day, these fresh flowers find their way to international markets also. It's a fast race at break-neck speed. The jasmine is sent from Madurai to Chennai before eight in the morning. Flowers are tied into garlands or strands, packed into specially made thermacol boxes and air-lifted. London, France, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai are the top four destinations for this perishable, yet significantly precious, commodity. The Madurai malligai was given the geographical indication (GI) tag—the second jasmine after the Mysore malli only as late as 2013, mostly through the efforts of the Madurai Malli Farmers’ Association.

India grows 201000 tons of roses annually and is the largest supplier of roses to Japan and Australia. For Valentine’s Day, India exports over 19 million stem roses – that was the 2016 benchmark. Japan, where the biggest inroads have been made, now accounts for 45 per cent of India’s flower export trade. Abhay Gaikwad, researcher at the Horticulture Institute, says, “This year, India overtook Netherlands as the biggest exporter of roses to Japan.”

Gaekwad, who single-handedly exported 60 lakh roses to Japan in 2006-7, may have helped India cross that milestone.

Earlier around 70 per cent of the total rose production was exported, but now around 60 per cent of the roses produced are consumed domestically. With the rising middle class and fast developing tier 2 and tier 3 cities, the domestic market is growing at the CAGR of 23 per cent, he added.

er at the Horticulture Institute, says, “This year, India overtook Netherlands as the biggest exporter of roses to Japan.” Gaekwad, who single-handedly exported 60 lakh roses to Japan in 2006-

7, may have helped India cross that milestone.

Earlier around 70 per cent of the total rose production was exported, but now around 60 per cent of the roses pro47 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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duced are consumed domestically. With the rising middle class and fast developing tier 2 and tier 3 cities, the domestic market is growing at the CAGR of 23 per cent, he added.

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48 SALAAM BAHRAIN JULY/AUGUST 2018 www.vmbros.com

cuisine

All the deets on dates It’s the time of year when golden globes of dates are ripe for picking. Do you know your dates and their fine qualities?

by ISHAN GEORGE

Dates, those honeyed fruits of the desert, are one of Bahrain’s delights.

Ripening in the dead heat of summer, they are usually ready for harvesting around this time and come in hundreds of varieties.

Today, dates are commercially produced beyond the MENA region in dry places like Arizona in USA. This chief of fruits that is said to have been cultivated by Babylonians 8,000 years ago has special mentions in the

Quran and Bible.

They are used as symbols of happiness in rituals in many communities. Once a staple food of the Middle East, these small, sweet, fleshy and soft fruits are a wonder of nature – they are full of vital electrolytes that we lose in the desert heat. Called khajoor in India and Pakistan, they are highly nutritious and are used in salads, curries, puddings,

breads, jams, spreads, juices and deserts.

Palestinians make cookies with dates and Afghans add dates and figs to their cakes. While Americans use it in baked desserts, mothers in India serve dates soaked overnight in milk to children to

Bahraini Rangina Rangina is a pitted fresh ripe date sweet topped with a toasted flour and ghee mixture.

Ripe fresh dates are crucial. The dates are sweet enough, so they don’t need much added sweetness.

Ingredients • 150g butter • 250g flour • 2 tbsp sunflower oil • 40g raw cane sugar • 1 tsp ground cardamom • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 2 fat pinches of salt • 100g walnuts, well-chopped • 450g pitted, peeled and chopped FRESH dates Preparation 1

2 3 4 5 6 7

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir constantly for about 10 -15 minutes, until the flour becomes golden brown and gives a lovely roasted aroma. It can burn very fast, so always keep an eye on it.

Add the sugar and salt to the flour. Mix well.

Add the oil and stir.

Pulse the peeled and pitted dates in a food-processor with the cinnamon and cardamom till it comes together in a smooth and soft paste – but it should not be liquid.

Add the well-chopped walnuts to the pitted dates and set aside. Reserve about a tablespoon of the walnuts for garnish.

Take a square or rectangular loose-bottomed tin and cover the bottom with baking paper.

Cool the buttered flour mix and pour it into the tin and press firmly with the back of a spoon or two fingertips, so that the mixture becomes tight and the surface smooth. Chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes. We need a cheesecake biscuit crumb style base.

give them the all necessary energy boost.

Luxury dates

Significant During Ramadan, Muslims all over the world break their fast with a glass of water and a couple of dates. Members of the Pakistani community distribute dates stuffed with almonds and other nuts to their near and dear ones before the advent of the holy month.

Among the Parsees, dry dates have a significant position during rituals for birthdays, anniversaries and weddings.

They are part of the sacred offering on a silver platter called ‘ses’ which also includes betel leaves and nuts, almonds, kumkum, a lump of sugar and coconut.

The first item to be served at traditional Parsee wedding ceremonies is the date pickle that is relished with chappatis and rice crackers called sariya.

Three types They are three main types of dates soft, hard, and semi-dry. Generally they get sweeter as they get drier. It contains more natural sugar than any other fruit and is rich in fibre, potassium, protein and vitamin A. The best dates have been harvested and preserved in the right conditions.

The finest dates are the large crinklyskinned Medjool from Egypt and California, whose flesh is intensely mellow and sweet. Halawi, grown in Israel, is considered to be the best of the wet varieties. In Iraq, the principal semidry variety is the less succulent Zahidi.

The main Moroccan variety, Medjul (meaning “unknown”), is also cultivated in California.

One of the expensive and sought after dates are a variety called Agwa that are small, round, dark in colour and tastes like a plum. It’s grown only in Medina 8 9

In most old houses that are tourist attractions such as Shaikh Isa bin Salman’s birthplace in Janabiyah, there is a Madbasah room.

This is where date harvests from the plantations were stored. The semi-ripe fruit was layered continuously and as the bottom layer ripened, the juice of the dates was run off in narrow channels, caught in pitchers and stored. This was the only sweetener in those days and a valuable commodity. and is available only during the months of September and October. It is said that Prophet Mohammed offered Agwa to his sick mother who was miraculously cured after eating them.

One of the largest and oldest producers of gourmet dates in the world is Bateel, a company based in Riyadh and UAE. They specialise in offering highest quality dates that are produced on their farms in Saudi Arabia. Adhering to strict quality and grading processes, the company has transformed this ordinary date into a luxury brand and is today one of the most sought after gifts during the Ramadan season.

With retail outlets around the world from London to India, the company has also introduced their signature five star cafés in Dubai where a complimentary, signature Bateel premium date, sweet and chilled, is served with the finest coffee blends from Yemen, Ethiopia and Central America.

Today, many private boutique labels offer everything from fresh high quality premium dates to date chocolate truffles, date jams, mustard spreads, date cookies and biscuits and date and walnut cakes. Customers can also choose from dates filled with lemon and orange peel, almonds and caramelised pecans.

In Bahrain, one can also purchase a sparkling date drink and date dhibs – a syrup made from pressed dates.

Playing match-maker Pollination is a complicated process in date cultivation. Date palms are either male or female and cannot be windpollinated or insect or bird pollinated.

The responsibility of match-making, as it were, falls on man. To pollinate the date trees, the tightly wrapped shaft of flowers called nabat are harvested in February from the male trees and the flowers shaken to collect the fine pollen dust. You have to be careful with how much nabat you use. Too little and you

After the base is firm, pour the date mixture over it. Level the top and sprinkle with remaining crushed walnuts, pressing them slightly. Leave for 15 minutes to settle.

Now comes the slightly tricky part. Put a serving plate over the cake tin and swiftly flip the tin so that the flour mix is on top.

Remove the baking sheet and using a very sharp knife, cut into squares and serve. * You can also pour half the flour to the base and then use the remaining half to top the dates, thus ‘sandwiching’ the dates.

Then you don’t need to flip the Rangina over before cutting but must chill for 15-20 minutes after each flour layer.

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cuisine

Lamb stew with Savoury Date Chutney Pulsed dates, tamarind, fresh ginger, black cardamom and cinnamon infuse this succulent, slow-cooked stew with an inticing flavour. Serve alongside fluffy phulka or a heap of steaming rice.

Ingredients • 100 ml sunflower oil • 2 onions, finely sliced • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 cinnamon stick • 3 black cardamom pods • 1 tbsp ground coriander • 1kg stewing lamb • A pinch of saffron • 1/3 tsp chilli flakes • 1 tbsp lemon juice • A handful of fresh coriander leaves, chopped For the stewing liquid • 200g dates, pitted • 400ml water • 1 tsp tamarind concentrate • 25g ginger, peeled and chopped

Preparation 1 2

3

Take all the stewing liquid ingredients and pulse in a blender until you have a loose, jammy consistency, then set aside.

In a large casserole, heat the oil over a medium temperature and add the onions, garlic, cinnamon and black cardamom, cooking until the ingredients have turned golden and the pot is smelling fragrant. Sprinkle in the ground coriander and coat all the ingredients for a minute or two, then pop in the lamb, stirring well until everything is wrapped in the masala base. Brown the meat, then reduce the heat a little to a medium-low temperature, cover and cook for 30 minutes, leaving the lamb to relax in its juices.

Meanwhile, mix the saffron and chilli flakes in a small bowl with 1 tbsp of hot water. Let it stand for 5 minutes, then strain it into the pot. Spoon in the stewing liquor, stir well, cover and cook for an hour, or until the lamb is tender and falling apart. Before serving, squish in the lemon juice and stir in the coriander leaves for a final flourish.

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won't get enough dates. Too much nabat is not good, either. If too many dates grow then they will fall off prematurely and you will have no harvest.

Date Varieties Agriculturalists have listed over 1,500 varieties of date fruit that are grown in the warm climates of Asia and Africa and in some parts of Europe and the USA. Pakistan is among the twelve top date producing countries in the world. Some of the interesting types to watch out for are: Asharasi – This is an excellent dry date of Iraq, with a rich nutty flavour.

The flesh at the tip is translucent amber, shading to a creamy-white at the stalk.

Khalas - The most famous date of Arabia has a caramel flavour when cured and is also excellent when fresh. The name means 'quintessence', which aptly describes the fruit.

Clusters if ripening dates protected with nets from birds and insects

A date palm starts blossoming and giving fruit after the fourth or sixth year.

Date palms grown in sandy or poor soil start giving fruit before the ones grown on rich soil, because the latter's priority is to accumulate leaves and then bear fruit.

Normally, male flowers mature by the end of January or the first week of February. Farmers determine the quality of male date flowers by their smell and other features. Dates are drupes (fleshy fruit having a single hard stone enclosing a seed) that vary in size, between two to eight centimetres long.

Immature dates are green, yellow or red. Several hundred to just over 1,000 fruit are borne in each bunch, which can weigh up to 36kg. Dates go through five distinct stages as they mature over six to eight months.

Arabic names for the different stages are hababouk, kimri, khalal, rutab and tamur. Dates grow rapidly in the first two stages, then turn their characteristic colour, lose water and accumulate sugar

cured. It is soft and syrupy, but after drying is firm yet tender and has a pronounced flavour. The syrup sometimes will drip from the ripe bunches on the tree.

Buying Tip Both fresh and dried dates should be glossy and plump with a little wrinkling on their smooth skins.

Their skins should not be broken, cracked, or shrivelled. Avoid fruit with an aroma of sour milk or those with crystallized sugar on the surface. Dried dates should be firm but not hard.

Khidri - It is a large maroon red date which is medium sweet with a mild flavour that hints of raisins. It originates from Egypt and has a firm chewy texture.

Yatimeh is a popular North African date eaten fresh as well as

in the khalal stage (also known as bisir), and finally ripen completely in the last two stages.

At full maturity, dates are dark brown and have very low water content.

However, they may be harvested prior to full maturity for special markets. In the khalal or third of five developmental stages, dates are firm, crisp, moist (5085 per cent water content), and have their characteristic colour, usually red or yellow.

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Date palm flowers are also an interesting food item. For consumption, the tough sheath is removed from the cramped mass of flower buds, which are used in salads or pounded together to use in other dishes. They have no distinct flavour, only a slight astringency and are generally found in markets of dateproducing countries. The premature nabat, known as tala'a or ghaidh, is considered a delicacy among Gulf Arabs.

It is eaten raw right out of the spathe.

Sole Distributors:

V.M & Bros. Co. W.L.L.

Building 2367, Road 1532, Block 115, Bahrain Investment Wharf, HIDD Industrial Area, Kingdom of Bahrain. www.vmbros.com

cuisine

Mid East style Puran Poli A delightful fusion of Middle Eastern dried fruits with coconut stuffed in a Maharashtrian-style poli Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • •

400 gms ground chicken ¾ cup shiitake mushrooms, diced 2 cloves garlic, pressed 2 green onions, thinly sliced 2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp untoasted sesame seeds 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger 1 tsp rice vinegar 1/4 tsp white pepper powder 36 won ton wrappers 2 tbsp vegetable oil Soy sauce, for serving

Preparation To make the dough 1 In mixing bowl combine flour and salt mix well and add little water at a time until everything comes together and knead into a satiny soft dough. Make into a big ball.

2 Drizzle 1 tbsp melted ghee, wrap and set aside for 20-30 minutes.

3 Divide the dough to equal portions 8-10 portions and set aside, covering with either cling film or a lightly dampened tea towel to prevent it drying out.

For stuffing 4 5 6 7 8 9

Soak chopped dates and figs in milk for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile grate the coconut and set aside.

Now place soaked dates and figs along with milk in the processor and blend to smooth paste.

Heat butter in a pan, add ground dates and figs paste and saute until slightly thickened.

Add grated coconut and continue to cook stirring continuously until the mixture starts leaving the sides of the pan.

Turn off the flame, stir in cardamom powder.

For the Puran Poli 1 Now take one portion of the dough ball roll to a small 3 inch diameter circle, place a portion of filling in the centre of the circle.

2 Bring together all the sides to the centre and seal tightly.

3 Lightly oil your palms and press the stuffed ball of dough slightly so that it flattens into a thick disc.

4 Roll out again into a circle of about 5inch diameter.

5 Heat a non-stick tava/griddle and place the rolled puran poli and cook on a medium flame till it turns golden brown in colour from both sides. You can smear some ghee on the poli when turning it.

6 Repeat with the remaining dough and stuffing and serve hot.

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health

Get me a little sunshine vitamin Vitamin D deficiency tops the list of the most diagnosed health problems today.The increasing diagnosis of the disease is highly related to urban development, as doctors attributed the lack of exposure to the sun as being the first reason causing Vitamin D deficiency, especially that the sun rays is the source for 80% to 90% of the body’s need to this vitamin.

During the last twenty years, world-wide medical research departments became fully convinced that the danger of Vitamin D deficiency lies in its effect on the body’s public health as well as its possible role in causing many serious diseases including the raise of breast, colon, prostate cancer incidence percentage by 30% to 50%, in addition to other illnesses like the osteoporosis, the increase of diabetes incidence percentage, blood pressure and other incurable diseases, as well as its effect on the incidence of psychiatric problems especially depression and schizophrenia.

On the other hand, availability of recommended quantities of Vitamin D helps in forming blood cells and raising body’s immunity level. It also plays a main role in reducing the percentage of cancer incidence, in addition to its anti-cancer properties; it also plays a vital role in maintaining the insulin level in the body. Doctors see Vitamin D as a regulator of the immune system which has a main role in the treatment of bone and muscle rheumatic disorders.

Some doctors describe Vitamin D deficiency as the silent visitor, and the

reason behind this description is that it silently sneaks to the patient without his knowledge, and he will suddenly find himself facing serious symptoms that negatively affect his health. We have started noticing significant diagnosis of the disease in Dubai, which at the first glance sounds surprising in a sunny country like Bahrain, especially that the Vitamin D deficiency is mainly related to nonexposure to the sun.

“At Al Hilal Hospital we periodically undertake Vitamin D awareness programmes, targeting our visitors from the medical staff in the different concerned medical departments including the internal department and the orthopedic department. The campaign aims at introducing them to the disease symptoms during the medical consultancy sessions. This campaign mainly focuses on the need 55 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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for sun exposure without sunscreens which prevent the skin of forming Vitamin D. The use of sunscreens is considered one of the most common mistakes committed by patients, and it leads to counterproductive” said a spokesman for the hospital.

He also mentioned that the Vitamin D deficiency is a global problem rather than being local, with the rate of diagnosis in the US and Europe reaching up to 65% of the healthy adults, the percentage increases in the Middle East, raising many concerns, not only because of its percentage but also because of the deficiency level, where 73% of adults suffer sever deficiency of the Vitamin ratio having less than 15 ng/m.

Right now, the hospital is offering a Vitamin D check-up and consultation for just BD 3. Go on, top up the sunshine!

health

Obesity, no exercise can cause infertility Trying to start families later in life, Vitamin D deficiency, consanguinity, diabetes and smoking are also other important causes that affect a couple’s child bearing ability With changing lifestyles and increasing stress levels, obesity - caused by poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle has emerged as one of the major cause for higher infertility rates in the region than the west. Trying to start families later in life, Vitamin D deficiency, consanguinity, diabetes and smoking are also other important causes that affect a couple’s child bearing capacity.

It is estimated that infertility affects 15 per cent of the global population of reproductive age, but this percentage is even higher in the GCC which has witnessed rapid regional economic advancement resulting in increased food access, consumption, and lifestyle changes, family history, urbanisation and high-calorie diets.

“Staring at a computer screen while drinking countless cups of coffee and eating junk food has become the way of life for most of us. The result is weight gain - which eventually leads to obesity. Obesity directly affects your fertility. It causes hormonal imbalances and problems with ovulation in women, thus affecting their ability to conceive.

In addition, obesity is associated with infertility in men as well, resulting in decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and poor semen quality,” said Prof. Dr. Human Fatemi, Subspecialist Reproductive Medicine & Reproductive Surgery, Medical Director, IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic in Dubai.

“In today’s fast-paced world, infertility is globally acknowledged to be a major health problem, but its causes are specific. I believe that if you address the root cause, your chances of treating the problem successfully are much higher,” added Prof. Dr. Human Fatemi.

A recent study conducted by the facility not only brought to light the region specific causes of infertility, but also highlighted how obesity, vitamin D and marriage within the family, affects fertility rates. To add to it, the study also highlighted that hormonal abnormalities and ovulation dysfunction were associated with obesity.

Our lifestyle has changed completely in this part of the world in the past 30 to 40 years. Fifty years ago, there was no air conditioning and now people are inside all the time. Obesity is determined by the BMI (Body Mass Index) level of a person, which is calculated as an average ratio of one's height and weight. If one’s body mass index (BMI) is higher than 29, the receptivity of the uterus declines, as well as the chromosomal formation of the eggs decline too,” added Dr Laura Vidales, also a specialist there.

An elevated BMI can cause hormonal 57 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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abnormalities, ovulation dysfunction, menstrual irregularities, anovulation and low conception rates. Also overweight women have an increased chance of a cesarean section for delivery. In men, obesity is associated with low testosterone levels. In severely obese man, reduced sperm production (spermatogenesis) related with severe hypotestosteronemia (Low abnormal concentration of testosterone) may favor infertility.

Moreover, the occurrence of erectile dysfunction increases with increasing BMI. It has been noted that overweight women undergoing IVF treatment are significantly more likely to respond inadequately to controlled ovarian hyper stimulation (COH) and fail in achieving pregnancy compared with non-obese women. Increased BMI is also associated with a greater need for fertility hormones such as gonadotropins, lower pregnancy rates (PRs), fewer eggs, and higher

miscarriage rates amongst women undergoing assisted reproductive technique (ART). A reduction in endometrial (uterine lining) quality represents a further outcome which can compound the effect of obesity on fertility. “It is important to control obesity at the right time. The foremost treatments for obesity and weight-loss are regular exercise and a balanced-diet. These help restore ovulatory function and

reduce the rate of miscarriage in obese women who face infertility problems.

A multidisciplinary approach to weight management is important. This includes the initial assessment of infertility and BMI, emphasis on the importance of lifestyle change, education about proper diet, exercise and behaviour modification. A more holistic approach to obesity and reproductive health may help,� concluded Dr Laura Vidales, IVF

Specialist at IVI Abu Dhabi.

It is noted that if a person can attain a decent BMI level within six months of following a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise, the chances to bear a child increases. While preventing obesity, especially among those with a family history, is not easy, it is certainly important to make health a priority.

youngistan

Pak School marks Class IX success Following the footsteps of their seniors, the students of SSC-I (9th Standard) of Pakistan School, Bahrain have also produced excellent results in Federal Board Exams held this year.

Their performance has brought laurels to the school and to their parents.

The credit for the results was shared between the students, the teachers who showed professional sincerity, the special forethought and scrutiny planned by Principal Attiq ur Rehman and the solid support and guidance provided by Chairman Sami ur Rehman and Board of Management.

The result of Grade 9 is of special importance, as the students shift from internal examination system to external evaluation system. The teachers had included revisions and extra coaching classes for weak students, additional coaching for high achievers and continuous interaction with parents. A prestigious award ceremony was held the very next day after result declaration to appreciate and encourage the stars of Pakistan School, Bahrain. Saad Bin Rafiq, Community Welfare Attache, Embassy of Pakistan to Bahrain, was

Chief Guest. Other guests included The Chairman and members of the school board, community members, Teachers and parents.

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Chairman Sami ur Rehman also distributed certificates to teachers and other staff members in recognition of their efforts.

holiday fun

LEGO & cartoon heroes fun for Eid

Wondering how to keep you children fruitfully entertained in the dead heat of a summer Eid? The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) has great plans for you this Eid Al Adha (August 22 to 24). Bahrain will host the popular LEGO shows at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center (BIECC) from August 22 to 31 to coincide with the Eid Al Adha festivities.

Simultaneously, the Kingdom of Bahrain is also set to host the Cartoon Network Live! Heroes Unite show which will run for a period four days from the 23rd and until the 26th August 2018 at the same venue.

This is the second time that LEGO will entertain busy minds in Bahrain for Eid – the first hit show was in 2017.

The production brings together an international, award-winning creative team to ensure a quality family entertainment stage show for audiences of all ages featuring Cartoon Network’s most popular heroes from Ben 10, The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time and The Powerpuff Girls.

“By hosting such events, the BTEA continues its efforts in achieving its long term strategy that aims to develop the tourism sector and position the

Kingdom as the center for family tourism by hosting various events and festivals to visitors of all ages,” said the Director of Marketing and Tourism Promotion at BTEA, Yousef Mohamed Al Khan.

The LEGO SHOWS brings to life the world of LEGO under one roof and will be featuring millions of LEGO bricks, huge LEGO sculptures and models.

Much loved LEGO brands such as, Ninjago, City, Duplo, Friends and Star Wars to name a few, will be present, and not forgetting the build challenges and obstacle courses.

salaam society

Samskruthi marks IYD

Yoga International Day was celebrated by Samskruthi, North India Chapter, a non-profit organisation, in association with Embassy of India at Alba Club Riffa. “International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness globally and the benefits of practicing Yoga.” said a Samskriti spokesman 59 SALAAM BAHRAIN

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celeb chakker

When Priyanka changed from Amna calls white male to bombshell out stalkers One keeps hearing of how actors change their gender appearance for specific roles – usually for comic relief. Kamal Haasan’s Chaachi 420 immediately comes to mind..

But did you know of an actress who changed the script and transformed a character from being Caucasian white male to South American/Asian female? That’s what script writers scrambled to do when they saw Priyanka Chopra walk into the audition room for Quantico in 2014.

Quantico, a hit TV series about a group of FBI recruits was created by successful TV writer, Joshua Safran. At the time of the writing of the show, Alex Parrish—the role Priyanka plays—was supposed to be a Caucasian male character. But when Priyanka went to audition for the role in the presence of Joshua Safran and producer Mark Gordon, the Quantico team had a change of heart as they saw TRP gold in Priyanka.

This is the first time the star of Fashion, Bluffmaster! and Dostana was going to audition for a role.

She showed up wearing a designer dress and carrying a fashionable handbag. ‘She walked in the room, and it was like the molecules shifted in that way that superstars have,’ Joshua later recalled in an interview with The New York Times. ‘I was very confused because I didn’t know who she was, but we all sat up straighter.’

Joshua had never imagined Alex as a bombshell. But on meeting Priyanka, he realized that Alex could also have sense of humour and a heart. The team’s best moment was when they found that Priyanka may be glamorous, fashionable and beautiful but also slipped easily into the skin of an everyday character.

And so, the first super-popular character in American TV, played by an Indian movie star was born.

Question: Would that happen in India? Would any script change to make a male character into a main female one? Nah! Not for a long time yet.

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What happens when you are a glamorous model and you get stalked and made obscene fun of? Pakistani model Amna Baber decided to give as good as she got and shared a picture of three boys in Lahore who had hurled abuses at her and made obscene gestures. The Instapost went viral and had surprising results – one of the boys approached Amna and apologized profusely, saying his family had taken him to task and he had not known the implication of the gestures he used.

Baber not only forgave him but also posted part of his apology online without revealing his identity, saying that she was willing to give the young man a second chance in a hard world.

In one stroke, this lady has shown courage and compassion.

Bravo, Ammo!

Blamegamegate in Tollywood Malayalam actor and Bahrain girl Mamtha Mohandas and actress Rima Kallangal have locked horns over Mamtha’s newspaper interview in which she seemed to suggest that a woman is ‘somehow responsible’ if she gets into trouble.

What exactly were Mamtha’s words?

“I don't know if I should be saying this, but if a woman gets into trouble, I feel somewhere she is responsible for it. Because if I have gotten into any sort of trouble where I have felt that someone has spoken to me with disrespect or in this situation, a sexual assault or a sexual abuse or anything indicative towards that manner, I feel I would have entertained some part of it,” she is supposed to have said, according to India Today.

Although she quickly said that she is not pointing fingers at anyone specifically nor does she think that it should happen to anybody, the damage was done. Worse, Mamtha then went on to say that she doesn't think that there is a need for Women in Cinema Collective. She said, “It was formed when I wasn't here. If you ask me would I have been a part of it if I was here, maybe not. It's not because I am against or for it. I just don't have an opinion.”

Actress Rima Kallingal, one of the founding members of WCC has slammed Mamta Mohandas for her comments on her Facebook page.

She wrote, “Dear Mamtha Mohandas and my sisters and brothers and LGBTQ community out there who have been through harassment and assaults and molestations and rapes in life, you are not responsible when you get troubled, cat-called, assaulted, molested, abused, harassed, violated, attacked, kidnapped or raped. The molester, assaulter, aggressor, violater, kidnapper or the rapist is responsible. A society that normalises these wrongs is responsible. A world that protects the wrong-doer is responsible.”

Hmm…next thing Harvey Weinstein whose sexual abuse launched the “#MeToo” movement, will be applying for migration to Kerala. After all, even actor Dileep, who was accused of instigating ‘revenge rape’, assault and filming of the rape, was hastily welcomed back into the fold by male co-stars even while his case of assault limped on in court. When women members resigned, he belatedly refused the offer to reinstate him into AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes)

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Quote of the Month “Here’s what I know, I know I am lucky to have this opportunity. I know for sure there are girls who are much more prettier than me, there are girls perhaps who are much more talented than me, but I know that I have not taken this opportunity for granted. I have worked really hard, there cannot be anyone who can turn around and say, I didn’t give more than a 100percent to this film and this opportunity. I am grateful, yes, but I know how precious this chance is and I am not willing to blow it because someone didn’t get what I got. I know that I have been given a chance of a lifetime and I am concentrating on making the most of it.”

Nobody who has seen the trailer of Dhadak can deny that the iconic Sridevi’s daughter has acting and screen presence in her blood. Sure she got a dream launch because of her lineage but she also has talent and good looks going for her. Now all she needs is a huge dollop of luck.

After all, the pages of filmi history are smudged with the names of starkids who fell by the wayside even after a super hit. Think Randhir Kapoor, Raj Kapoor’s son and Karishma and Kareena’s dad, who faded so fast, Kumar Gaurav, son of ‘Silver Jubilee’ star Rajendra Kumar, Esha Deol, daughter of Hema Malini and Dharmendra, Sikander Kher, son of Anupam and Kirron Kher..this list is scarily long!

Hina ups the sexist bar Former TV soap star and Bigg Boss 11 star Hina Khan’s first music video was meant to take her a step closer to ..umm, now that we have heard the song, we really don’t know what!

Filled with innuendo and sexist remarks about women, the Sonu Thukral number ‘Bhasoodi’ isn’t exactly breaking the records now and we hope it will fade away quietly. After surviving the song, there is only one question that pops up, “Is this the same Hina Khan who rooted for girl power on national television?” Still, the video has crossed 11 million viewers on YouTube, so who are we to grumble?

If you are a Hina Khan fan and wish to see her groove, we would suggest you either watch her perform at various award shows or play the song on mute.

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celeb chakker

Dulquer travels for work Dulquer Salmaan has won over fans with his acting chops, down to earth attitude and oodles of charm. Talking EXCLUSIVELY to Bollywood Life, he said, “Karwaan seemed like a lot of fun. In the film, we drove down from Kerala to Ooty and back. In my career, I have been guilty of choosing many travel films because I like to travel. As an actor, you do not get to travel or holiday much. Such films combine work with my passion for travelling.” The team of the film is quite young and everyone had a ball.

Dulquer is known as one of the handsomest men down South but his craze amongst women is prevalent in the North as well. So, according to him what makes him such a stud? “I really don’t know. In school, I was never the most good-looking guy. Girls would check out my friend. No one looked at me in that way. But yes, it is very sweet,” he says with a smile.

So, how was it like working in a Hindi film? “I have been fortunate with my schooling. I had good Hindi teachers who insisted that we speak in Hindi in their class. It was a boy versus girl kind of competition. Anyone who spoke in English or regional language would lose a point. At the end of the year, the winning team got treats from the losing one. It seemed fun but it was a good exercise if I see it in retrospect. I do not have an issue with the accent but with the tenses as everything in Hindi has a gender,” he said.

Samantha faces eternal pressure What boring and predictable fans we are! Telugu cinema’s super hit heroine Samantha had hardly tied the knot with boyfriend Naga Chaitanya when rumours started to fly about her retirement in 2019 to start a family. Remember the pressure Kareena Kapoor faced on similar grounds when she married Saif? Why, even Aishwarya RaiBachchan was not spared after marriage.

This year alone, Samantha has delivered three mega hits: Rangasthalam, Mahanati and Abhimanyudu. The girl’s on a roll! True, she did tell media that when she decided to start a family, she would take time off for a while. But that does not mean she has any such plans for 2019. Quite to the contrary, Samantha is currently acting with her husband Naga Chaitanya in a film being directed by Ninnu Kori fame Siva Nirvana and she is also on the verge of finishing the shoot of U Turn.

“She is also in discussion with two more biggies which will be finalised shortly. So the question of putting a full-stop to acting doesn't arise,” says a close friend.

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Neetu and her

actress phobia

Is former actress Neetu Kapoor a controlling mom? Well, her disapproval of all of son Ranbir’s actress girlfriends is well-known.

When Ranbir was dating Deepika, Neetu constantly made snide references about how her son was not getting enough sleep and his girlfriend was not a good influence on him. “The first time he felt involved, I knew the girl was not right for him. I told him don’t get serious so soon, the more you see the more you know and learn, so meet many girls, and go out with them, but don’t commit yet,” was her refrain.

Today that very same Deepika is India’s top female star. And now Neetu Kapoor even sent out a bouquet to the actress, saying “proud of you,” after watching Padmavaat. What exactly was she proud of?

Official girlfriend number two Katrina Kaif assumed she had managed to get the Kapoor boy into her fold after they opted for a live in arrangement, much to mama Kapoor’s disappointment. All Neetu could do was talk about being “happy” for her son even as she plotted Kat’s exit from Ranbir’s life. Who can forget that famous X-Mas lunch at the late Shashi Kapoor’s house, after which Neetu conveniently cropped out Kat from a group picture. Following that, Neetu and Rishi did not attend the family lunch as they didn’t want to bump into Katrina there. This was also a strong message to Ranbir to choose his parents or his girlfriend. The rest is history. “Everyone has their own life. I cannot say anything,” was Neetu’s reaction after the news broke out about Ranbir-Kat break-up clearly dissociating herself from the story.

Now Ranbir is dating Alia Bhatt and Neetu is making all the right noises of approval. Recently, she posted happy pictures with actress Alia Bhatt, who celebrated her birthday in Bulgaria, where she was shooting with Ranbir. Neetu appears to be fond of Alia. And when Alia posted a picture of her with Ranbir smartly captioning it, “And its just the beginning,” Neetu replied with heart emoticons on the post.

“See, Neetu is a caring mother. Ranbir is a soft guy. He never wants to hurt anyone but ends up getting hurt most of the time,” explained a family friend, “That’s the precise reason why Neetu wants him to be careful of the relationships he gets into. For instance, if she like Alia Bhatt and feels that the actress is also the kind of person that Ranbir can be with, she will be fine. Ranbir is a simple guy. Neetu is only scared of a high maintenance bahu in the family.”

Gawd! How Punjabi!

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editor's view

The long, hot days of summer are upon us and each of us approaches it through a different angle. Although I’d usually be the first to join the parental chorus of urging kids to put away their Tablets and computer games and head outdoors, the heat of Bahrain in the throes of summer makes this suggestion foolish. As a result, one is left with bored children to deal with – and we all know what they say about the devil and the idle mind.

This is where the delightful Nakhool Tent managed by the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities(BACA)steps in as a life-saver. What imagination and thought has gone into the planning of this children’s wonderland! And best of all, we have a great mix of old-fashioned pretend games with an edgy realism factor, like the Children’s Marketplace where the participants actually sell things and get a feel for how traders make a living.

We were invited to a movie screening of a Bengali children’s film ‘Rainbow Jelly’ and the way the children reacted to it was a telling comment on how far we travel from the innocence of childhood as we grow older into cynicism.

Neither did the kids know Bengali, nor were they familiar enough with English to absorb the flashing sub-titles. Yet they sat through more than 100 minutes, laughing in the right places of non-verbal comedy and even clapping for the protagonist in the end.

Let’s look at another cultural experience: at the inauguration of the new Indian embassy, guests saw the excellent performance of the only BahrainiArab classically trained Kathak dancer, heard a brief musical concert where the Bahraini oud and Indian instruments came together and saw a dazzling portrait exhibition shot in India by an ace amateur Bahraini photographer.

What a bending of cultural barriers it was! Why then, should it be limited to special occasions?

BACA has used its resources lavishly to create a world-class edutainment environment for children at the Al Nakhool Tent. What a pity only a handful of expat families have chosen to use this to widen the horizons for their children. By holding back our children because they don’t know the language, we are conditioning them to ghetto-ise their exposure instead of seeking out the new and the unknown.

A multi-national exposure is a gift that Bahrain bestows upon us and we need to utilise it to the maximum. And that means getting out of our cultural neighbourhoods and seeking new ideas and experiences.

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