Unique Times August 2019

Vol 8 Issue No.94 Aug-Sept 2019

Mercedes C43 AMG Coupe

FM takes credit route to reignite growth engine Shri V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

Cayman

Islands Maybe Mankind is his business;

Saving a road accident victim is his passion

Dr. Kuriachan.K.A. Kattukaran

Editorial

Chief Mentor Mr. V.P. Nandakumar Director & CEO Jebitha Ajit Editor Jebitha Ajit Legal Advisor Latha Anand onely was much better than

B.S.Krishnan Associates alone,” says Toni Morrison, bskrishnanassociates@gmail.com the Nobel laureate blackSub-Editor Vignesh S.G American novelist who passed away Associate Editor Ravi Saini in August at 88. Her narratives,

Rajeev Kumar mesmerizing prose and wordplay

Director and special editor kollur will be making an indelible mark Correspondents Dr. Thomas Nechupadam on our culture.

Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile Our cover story brings forth the inspiring story

Amrutha V Kumar of Dr. Kuriachan K.A., from a ancient royal KattuCreative Design PEGASUS karan family of Thrissur, who got elected as one of Cover Photographer Ashique Hassan the youngest Rotary International District Governor Marketing UAE nominees in the world at the age of 34.

Phygicart.com In his regular column, V.P. Nandakumar, CEO

P.O. Box: 92546, Al Karama Dubai and MD, Manappuram Finance, explains about the

Mr. Anish K Joy different ways adopted by Modi government to un Mob: +971528946999 shackle the NBFCs so that they can fully participate info@phygicart.com in meeting the credit requirements of the economy.

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CONTENTS

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16

FM takes credit route to reignite growth engine

12

On Employment and Skill development

16

Maybe Mankind is his business; Saving a road accident victim is his passion

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Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019A few key aspects

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Compartmentalize your train of thoughts!

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40

42

48

50

56

40

Gadgets

42

Recipes

48

Natural methods to remove dandruff

50

The Pretty Princesses of an Enviable European Kingdom: Cayman Islands

56

Mercedes C43 AMG Coupe

UNIQUE DIARY

Indian economy set to grow at 7 per cent this year: IMF

T

he International Monetary Fund predicts that the Indian economy will grow at nearly seven per cent in this financial year. The latest prediction has made a slight correction in its previous prediction in this matter.

Previously, the IMF forecasted that the economy of India would grow at 7.3 per cent in the year 2019. The weaker domestic demand has been cited as the reason for the correction. Likewise, the IMF has also cut the country’s growth forecast for the next year from the previously predicted rate of 7.5 per cent to the rate of 7.2 per cent. The same reason has been cited for that correction also.

India will achieve a growth rate of 8 per cent plus in 2020: NITI Aayog official

"Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure."

George Woodberry, Poet

I

n contrary to the prediction made by the IMF regarding India’s growth, a senior National Institution for Transforming India Aayog official asserted that his country would achieve a growth rate of eight per cent in the financial year 2020-2021. As per his opinion, the structural adjustment programs, like the Goods and Service Tax policy, implemented by the NDA first, would provide the fuel needed for the growth. The optimistic official said that the proposed growth would enable the country to achieve its goal of becoming a five trillion dollar economy. The statement was made during a high level meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the US.

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August-September 2019

JLRIL suggests reduction of tax on luxury cars

T

he Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd, which is the subsidiary of a UK-based automobile conglomerate Jaguar Land Rover, has suggested the Indian government to reduce the tax rate the country imposes on luxury cars.

The conglomerate claimed that the proposed reduction would increase the sale of luxury cars in the country. The company has cited the high tax rate on luxury cars as the reason for the stagnation of the growth of the sales of the cars. The company also alleged that not anywhere in the world was the taxation on luxury cars as high as in India.

The company has pointed out how the government of the country earns much more than what it earn from its sale of luxury cars.

Govt. conducts talks with foreign lenders for loans to SMEs

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere."

Frank A. Clark

T

he Indian government has approached some foreign lenders, requesting their support to the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises section in the country. KfW Group, the state-owned development bank of Germany, and the World Bank are some of the foreign financial institutions that have been approached by the government. The government is seeking a huge sum of $14.5 billion as support. The KfW has confirmed that it have been approached by the government in this regard. It has not declared whether it has agreed to extend its support to the SMEs in India or not. The World Bank also has not yet made any comment in this matter. The proposed credit plan is expected to boost the country’s SME sector.

August-September 2019

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UNIQUE DIARY

Etihad likely to acquire Jet Airways

A

bu Dhabi’s national carrier Etihad Airways PJSC is likely to acquire embattled airline company Jet Airways. The information has been publicised by a leading national daily. It has quoted a source close to the company to authenticate its story on the possible takeover. The Hinduja Group is likely to join hands with the Abu Dhabi’s national carrier in this business. Neither the Etihad Airways nor the Hinduja Group has confirmed the report publicised by the national daily. Earlier, there were reports that the Jet Airways was on the brink of collapse. Since then, there were speculations that some foreign conglomerate would take over the collapsing company and would pull them up from the pit of loss.

TVS launches cost reduction program

"The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions."

John Hancock

I

n a surprising move, TVS Motor Co.Ltd, the two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer conglomerate, has launched an ambitious cost reduction program. The experimental program has been initiated to meet certain uncertainties in the automobile sector. A senior official in the company said that the program was developed to save the company from the uncertainties. Meanwhile, in a separate development, the company said that it would launch its electric two-wheelers in the near future. It indicates that the cost reduction program it has launched will not affect its business expansion plans. As per a report, it is not the first time the company has launched a cost reduction program.

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August-September 2019

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BUSINESS

Shri V.P.Nandakumar MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

F

inance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s maiden budget has opted for the credit route, rather than fiscal stimulus, to spur economic growth.

In keeping with this stance, she has proposed several critical policy changes to enhance the reach of institutional credit. Importantly, she acknowledged the role played

by NBFCs in the Indian financial system and tried to create a more

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August-September 2019

While the RBI’s moves are laudable, the Income Tax department continued to view Banks and NBFCs from separate lenses. Therefore, the proposed amendments allowing interest on overdue accounts with NBFCs to be taxed on receipt basis (as opposed to accrual basis) under Section 43D of Income Tax Act is a significant step towards parity with banks.

even playing field for NBFCs vis-àvis the banks. Indeed, in its recent directives, the Reserve Bank of India has been pushing for better controls in NBFCs and towards parity with banks considering that their fundamental business is the same, viz. lending.

While the RBI’s moves are laudable, the Income Tax department continued to view Banks and NBFCs from separate lenses.

Therefore, the proposed amendments allowing interest on overdue accounts with NBFCs to be taxed on receipt basis (as opposed to accrual basis) under Section 43D of Income Tax Act is a significant step towards parity with banks. The government should provide NBFCs access to DRTs and SARFAESI on par with banks in dealing with delinquencies.

The finance minister also intro-

FM takes credit route to reignite growth engine

duced a one-time, six months, partial credit guarantee for the first loss of up to 10 per cent for the purchase of high rated pooled assets to the extent of `100 billion from financially sound NBFCs. This will hopefully assuage industry sentiments now badly hurt following recent defaults by a few large NBFCs. Moreover, the decision to allow NBFCs to raise funds through public issues without having to create a debenture redemption re-

serve will encourage NBFCs to borrow more long term funds through the public issue route, as opposed to a preference for private placements.

However, policymakers continue to focus on the cost of credit and not enough on the more relevant concern about access to credit itself.

For micro-entrepreneurs, the cost of credit is less important than the very availability of the institutional credit.

In this context, making one woman

in every SHG eligible for a Mudra loan up to `1 lakh is a welcome move although a lot more remains to be done. In particular, we must unshackle the NBFCs so that they can fully participate in meeting the credit requirements of the economy.

Numerous committees looking into the subject of credit access to MSME have reported that “underwriting” is the biggest challenge faced in providing credit. The tra-

August-September 2019

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ditional underwriting process is still mostly template-based, so when these borrowers do not have documentary evidence to establish their creditworthiness, institutions tend not to extend credit.

A process designed to safeguard institutions is now proving to be a hindrance in the disbursal of credit.

A small shopkeeper wanting a loan but unable to furnish documented proof of creditworthiness, does not get institutional credit even at a higher cost. On the other hand, gold loan companies offer loans to such borrowers against their family jewellery. These institutions are best placed to evolve a credit underwriting mechanism for such borrowers.

However, regulatory restrictions, such as the cap on loan to value of 75% of the gold value, have effec-

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tively tied their hands behind their backs. It also takes away the business case for NBFCs to innovate and evolve a new credit underwriting mechanism using unstructured data because their exposure would be less than the value of the security (and the need does not arise). As a prudential approach, RBI should encourage gold loan companies to take credit risk, albeit with appropriate checks and balances. For example, if a customer gets a loan at 100 per cent LTV, then in case of default, the lender would likely lose, say, 25 percent of his advance versus the total or 100 percent loss in unsecured loans. Lenders should therefore be required to set aside extra capital for taking on this risk.

A provision to extend loans at 100 per cent or higher LTV will in-

August-September 2019

centivise lenders to devise newer credit underwriting methods using non-template based methods, enabling a shift or transition of marginal borrowers from moneylenders to institutional credit. To conclude, here is an opportunity for policymakers to think out-of-the-box and infuse innovation into credit underwriting. Let us encourage stakeholders to work on improving the credit underwriting mechanism to expand institutional credit to India’s microentrepreneurs as well

(V.P. Nandakumar is MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd. Views are personal.)

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BUSINESS

Rajesh Nair Partner-Emerge Ventures Pte Rajesh is also the President of the Kerala Chapter of TiE Global

Employment and employability are on the dashboard of every government. These are indicators which will have the right impact on economy and also facilitate inclusive development.

On Employment and Skill development

E

conomics is one of the most debated of all topics in recent times; suddenly, it has emerged into a pride of place in many conversations whether it is academic debate or ‘over the drinks babble’. There are multifarious metrics that we talk about in economics and each one has their own favourites. But, for the armchair economist in me, if there is any metric which could be the ‘mother of all metrics’ – it is the ‘Employment’ indices in an economy. It is about how many people are gainfully employed to meet their demands and the demands of their near and dear ones, create wealth for others by consumption.

Large organisations, high income levels and great consumption is always part of the picture but it is also incomplete. The key is also financial inclusion. High Median income is never the answer; neither is it more exciting than a decent average income. Income parity is not a socialist phenomenon but as much a capitalist agenda as any another monetary concept. Regular income brings in not just economic freedom

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August-September 2019

but also independence in thought, ability to focus on needs and wants, planning for the future breeding self-sufficiency. But, employment also needs a supporting ecosystem which needs to prepare and wet the soil. This is often where skill development comes in.

Education has reached a sort of pinnacle in quantity, in India. The growth of the number of business schools and engineering colleges has been disproportionately high in the last two decades. With a huge buildup of supply of seats, the ease to get into these institutions has become an open road. The new reality is that; the institutions are now making it easy for students to seek admission -that is to euphemistically say that they are falling over each other to get students. A recent report by a reputed consulting company averred that more than 50% of the jobs we have today, will either not exist or be in a changed format, making it unrecognisable in the context of the past.

The skilling effort for the future has to be a concerted effort involving an integrated determination of various stakeholders – the government, in-

August-September 2019

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dustry, the educational institutions and the individuals.

Employment and employability are on the dashboard of every government. These are indicators which will have the right impact on economy and also facilitate inclusive development. The government needs to initiate schemes which promote skill development avenues. Some of these programs can be run under the aegis the various industry sector bodies.

The recent initiatives of the Deen Dayal Kaushal Vikas Yojana and the Prime Minister’s Kaushal Vikas Yojana, in India, are great initiatives promoted with the right impetus.

Companies are compensated and incentivised to train urban youth and rural youth in skills which can

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be used for seeking employment with these companies or similar organisations. It is a great avenue for entrepreneurship for the large section of trainers who are today working freelance and doing individual programs. Interestingly, the only thing expected from governments – set the stage, articulate conducive and encouraging policies, increase the ease of skilling initiatives and keep a constant watch on the crystal ball of the future.

The most challenging task of all lies with the individual. There is a lot happening. Gone are the days of one job through your career. An average employee of the previous generation, who recently retired at sixty (especially in the Indian context), has on an average changed

August-September 2019

less than two jobs or simply put, most have never changed a job in their career. Their careers took the twists and turn as dictated by that respective organisation. This is changing. A recent research says that youngsters who started their careers post 2006, are likely to change eleven jobs by the time they retire at sixty! That is a whopping number, you may think. But, the numbers for the western world are more bizarre – with countries having average job changes at 24!

Which mean on an average many employees work in one organisation for less than eighteen months?

So while technology is more like a life skill now and not a functional skill, you also need to build the right attitude. An attitude about

yourself, the watch on the horizon, a lot more mulling on your individual career is the need of the hour.

There is a host of things you need to focus on: • Ability to think; • Ability to learn; • Ability to unlearn; • Ability to be open to discuss change; • And, the agility to do thing super quickly.

The professional of tomorrow cannot navigate with just the front mirror and the rear mirror but needs to have the instinct to look at every road sign, changing weather patterns, fading landscape and imbibe every tessellation of what is around them. For the future is just around the blind corner!

Together some of these complete the jigsaw but the puzzle is far from over! The role of the government is also to keep the avenues of new employment ushering in and looking to create the best of infrastructure which can facilitate this.

This also calls for taking caution to preserve some of the big employment areas of yesterday and look out to start academies for restoration of the labour with ‘reskilling’, handholding and helping them transition into modern industry. Beyond a point, subsidies are crutches which will create resistances in embracing the changed scenario.

The future is still full of hope for the optimist. With the advent of new fields like robotics and automation, the completely mechani-

cal jobs will phase out through technology. But, it will also bring in more efficient and productive manmachine combinations. Though the displacement of labour by technology and globalization is hardly a new phenomenon, in the future of work, the ultimate resource that companies will use more efficiently is the human resource. Labour-intensive firms everywhere will need to reinvent their business models, deploying smart technologies and using labour more productively. But, flexible working hours, virtual offices will bring in the right impetus to diversity and inclusion to add women to the workforce like never before.

So, it is time to have the lens focused on ‘employment’; rest will follow

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Maybe Mankind is his business; Saving a road accident victim is his passion

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August-September 2019

We had installed containerized trauma care booth every 20 kms in the highway, where we had a trained paramedical staff on duty.

D

r. KuriachanK.A., one of the youngest International Motivational Trainers, past District Governor Rotary International and Founder of the Road Accident Helpline Centers, is a noble hearted doer, thinks differently and helps humankind in all possible ways. Born in an ancient royal Kattukaran family of Trissur,and brought up in Coimbatore, he got elected as one of the youngest Rotary International District Governor Nominees in the world at the age of 34 for one of the largest Rotary District 3200, comprising of 12 Revenue Districts in Tamil Nadu and Kerala for the year 2001-02. He pursued his P.hd in the subject of Management Organisation Behaviour from the famous Bharathiar University, analyzing the occupational stress of the bus drivers in order to study about the feasibility of reducing the road accident fatalities.

One of your major achievements was to design and implement a 340-kilometre-long Rotary Road Accident Helpline center, which saved many lives. Please tell us more about the project.What do you think it will take to achieve safe roads in India?

As I read a news report about road accident deaths, or watch a TV news report about accidental death, I consider that as though I lost a dear friend or a family member. It is very painful to any person, who comes to know that they have lost their close friend or relative on a road accident. They would’nt have imagined in the morning while having breakfast together that one would lose life in an accident. The family get devastated on hearing the shocking news. Their business or profession gets shattered. Moreover, it will become a real socio-economic issue to the whole District, State or the Nation, if more accidental deaths take place, as majority dying or getting handicapped are in the most productive age group of 18 to 55. So, we should try to reduce maximum road accident

fatalities. Every accident given a helping hand is really saving a life in some way. We cannot create a life, but we can definitely save a life. Your life will get converted from Anandham to Para-manandham, even if you help one road accident victim.

Speaking about Rotary Road Accident Helpline center, it was first of kind project which started in Bhavani in Erode District of Tamil Nadu to Vytilla in Ernakulam District of Kerala for a stretch of 340 Kms. We had installed containerized trauma care booth every 20 kms in the highway, where we had a trained para-medical staff on duty. A trauma booth in every 20kms enhances the ambulance reaching the accident spot within 10 minutes to provide medical care in the golden hour. All together we have rescued more than 14,800 accident victims during the tenure of the project. The project continues to run under the stewardship of Rotary Club in some places, but there is now the 108 Ambulance which is government backed project.

But, I am happy to say that the Rotary Road Accident Helpline center were the pioneers and front runners for many other similar projects in India.

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Road accidents can be reduced to a certain extent by better training of drivers, building well-engineered roads and improved policing.

I like them to prioritize the three Es, which stands for Education, Engineering and Enforcement.

The first part is education. Most of the drivers in the road know the law and road rules, but sadly misuse it due to urgency or lack of knowledge of latest developments. Few feel they are smarter violating the rules, if they are not under watch, at the cost of risking their precious life and others lives. Patience for few seconds can give them lifelong happiness, avoiding unnecessary road accidents. I suggest that continuous education should be given to all drivers at regular intervals.

The second E stands for engineering, which the government should provide. We need better roads,signalling system, and signboards. We must adhere to international standards in building roads and placing sign boards.

The third E stands for enforcement. Once there is proper policing, stricter laws and steeper fines, it is observed that there will be far less violations, which in turn will reduce accidents.

As Rotarian since 1989-90, Rotary club has played an important part in your life. Moreover, you have served the club in different capacities, especially as one of the World’s Youngest Rotary Governor Nominees in the year 1999-2000 for one of the largest Rotary Districts comprising revenue Districts in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. How does the club shape you as a person?

Rotary taught me large projects can be conceived and executed. Rotary club is the organization behind mega humanitarian projects like small pox eradication and in the polio eradication. Rotary stands for Service Above Self. I was fortunate to be one of the World’s Youngest Rotary Governor Nominee that took place in the year 1999-2000, and also one of the Youngest Rotary Governor two years later.

You were the brain behind conducting seminars like Yuva India 2000, which included the participation of 7200 youth delegates in October 1996, and also Teacher’s India 2000 in 1998 and Citizens India 2000 in 1999. Tell us more about these seminars.

All these three events were mega projects of my home club, Rotary Coimbatore Texcity, where I happended to be the project chair-

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August-September 2019

“As a citizen when we claim our rights we also have the responsibility to do our duties”.

man. We were able to gather large support for the same. Yuva India 2000 was conducted in 1996, and it was former Chief Election Commissioner of India Shri T.N. Sheshan who was the keynote speaker in the function. I had a good advisor in Dr B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavaryar. Value based live demonstrations from the Fire and Safety Department, Gender Equality and Aids Awareness skits, Road Safety and Traffic awareness, First Aid Training and Role Model Motivation trainers experiences shared were the highlights of the three day conference at Nehru Stadium. The conference also had display stalls of the Indian Army, Navy and Air force. The planes and helicopters fly past arranged by the Indian Air Force installed great confidence in the minds of the youth delegates.

Teachers India 2000 was a conference meant for teachers. The conference showcased the message “Teachers are makers of tomorrow”.

More than 22 National educationalists and Vice Chancellors from various prominent universities addressed the gathering.

Citizens India 2000 was another conference primarily intended for government employees and NGO

workers. The message that the conference conveyed was “As a citizen when we claim our rights we also have the responsibility to do our duties”.

You worked with South India Viscose Ltd as a senior purchase executive before you started your entrepreneurial journey. How exciting and challenging is entrepreneurship? Please tell us more about Kings Living Styles.

South India Viscose gave me a great opportunity to grow and bloom.

Initially, I was in the team who built the tallest building in Coimbatore.

The project helped me get exposure to the top architects and contractors of that time. SIV was one of the prestigious Corporate Companies in South India with 5500 people directly on roles and more than 15000 people employed indirectly. I was able to grow up ladder as a Senior Purchase Officer.

SIV was a large company with more than 10,000 different types of spare parts required for day to day operations. I was able to successfully negotiate with various vendors

nationally and internationally, to procure high quality products at the right time and with the right price.

These factors were very important because the money I save in purchases will have an effect on company's balance sheet. In addition, I successfully negotiated with different culture and background, and this experience helped me when I started my entrepreneurial journey.

In 2002, I started an interior design and furnishing firm called Kings Living styles, in which we multitask as manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers for high quality interior and furnishing products including variety of mattresses and sofa sets, which are marketed in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Another major project you embarked upon was the Kovai Clean City movement.

How important is to clean our cities, especially at this time when we are moving into a fast consumer society?

Kovai Clean city movement is yet another project that is very dear to my heart. It was started in 1998.

The project was inaugurated by the

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then Minister of Urban Development, Sri Ram Jethmalani. The aim was to segregate the biodegradable and the non-biodegradable wastes, and convert organic waste into manure, for use in farms. There were many highlights in this project, the first and the foremost was that it was self-sustainable. The waste collected was converted into organic manure which was much sought after, and the revenue from its sales was used to cover the expenses to collect and segregate the waste.

Kovai Clean City movement was well appreciated by the District Collector and Municipal Commissioner. Founder of Isha Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev had endorsed the project. He often joined hands with us and motivated us. Kovai Clean City movement was in fact, a forerunner and model for many other clean and green campaigns, and it successfully showcased the idea that citizen movements like this can be self-sustainable.

personalities? What did you imbibe from them?

Yes, in fact, I had met two serving Presidents KR Narayanan and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam respectively, while they were in the office, and one past President R. Venkataraman. I was fortunate enough to introduce more than 500 people from different walks of society to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. I had also met our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2007, then serving as Chief Minister of Gujarat. All these eminent personalities have left very positive impact in my life. Dr. A PJ Abdul Kalam always stressed on the importance to be a doer and following dreams. He

I do yoga, like breathing exercise, and other fitness exercise for at least 45 minutes every day so that my body stays fit.

You were also part of very large anti-corruption movement as the Executive Chairman of the Desabhakta Society of India? Please tell our readers more about the movement and your association with T.N. Sheshan.

After the mega Yuva 2000 conference in Coimbatore, the youngsters who came from different institutions got motivated by the speech and guidance of T. N. Sheshan.

So, my mentor, guide and well wisher, Dr P.R Krishnakumar Varrier, Managing Trustee of the Ayurvedic Trust and Present Chancellor of the Avinashilingam University along with Shri T. N. Sheshan started the Desabhakta Society of India and they nominated me as the Charter Executive Chairman for two years.

The aim of the movement was to strive for anti-corruption.

You were invited by the then President Late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and also happened to meet our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. How exciting it was to meet these two eminent

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was very humble and a role model for all of us. While Narendra Modi instilled in me a confidence to follow our cause without fear and help the needy.

You are an Honorary faculty in many revered institutions. It is understood that you have a passion for teaching. Tell our readers more about your teaching styles, the subjects you are passionate about. How is education scenario in India?

Where are we good at and how can we improve on it?

As an Honorary Training Faculty for the Indian Air Force Officers at the Air Force Administrative College for many years, my passion

August-September 2019

for Nation Building and inculcating Leadership Qualities among the Youth grew many fold, learning and sharing the discipline and dedication from them. In the last 3 decades, I have addressed to more than a million people in different platforms and trained more than 10,000 youth and young professionals in their Soft Skill Development especially the Art of Public Speaking and the Language of Leadership in National & International forums, motivating them to remove the 2 letters ‘im’ from the word impossible from their Life Dictionary, so that they become more successful in their respective chosen field. Every profession, job or work is a good job, provided they enjoy their job and work with a passion.

You have developed a selfanalysis exercise called “Discover Yourself ” which is in demand internationally.

Teaching has always been a great passion for me. I believe that if a person can understand his/her potential and improve by 1%, he/ she can produce 10% better results.

Discover yourself is based on the classic SWOT analysis and there are 25 questions and based on the answers one will be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Once you have an insight into it, the idea is strengthen your strengths and weaken your weaknesses. I have been able to serve more than 10000 persons in different walks of life to become better in whatever they do.

I have to add to that once you find your strength you will have to practise on it.

Tell us about your interest in philately. How did it start? You were recognized for your passion in philately.

Do you think that philately still has an importance in this digital age?

I was interested in philately(the collection and study of postage stamps) from a young age. I was part of the philately club in Carmel Garden school. That hobby helped me a lot, basically for being familiar with country names and currencies.

Through the club we were able to share and exchange stamps installing the sharing and caring.

More than that, the hobby requires patience.The stamps are very delicate you need extreme care to remove it from the envelope or other postal materials.

I think philately is a hobby that withstood the passing on time. There is a lot of value for stamps and the value keeps increasing.

You live a very active life handling business and many other socially relevant projects, how do you manage your time? How do you unwind? What are your hobbies apart from philately?

I surmise that the successful people have time for everything. They never complain for a lack of time. The key to their success is they identify their priorities and delegate work properly. In 1992, the year I got married, I was working from 9.30am to 5.45 pm, I was pursuing my MBA, I attended class after work for 2 hours and I was also the secretary of Rotary Club which required another 2 hours of work every day. That is why after acquiring so many degrees in Engineering, Management, Psychology, Materials Management and a PhD in Organisational Behaviour, I find time to read and study, acquiring more knowledge, which I am always happy to share.

I do yoga, like breathing exercise, and fitness exercise for at least 45 minutes every day so that my body stays fit.

I believe that if your body is fit, most of your problems are over. Apart from philately, I do gardening. I am in touch with nature too as an organic farmer.

Tell us about your family, and please share word of wisdom for our readers.

My wife is Daisy.She, like me, is also very passionate about socially responsible programs. I am blessed with two daughters, Maria and Alice. Maria works with Deloitte in New York after graduating her Masters in Engineering Management from the Duke University. Alice, who did her Higher Secondary schooling in France, is at present pursuing her BBA at PSG college of Arts and Science in Coimbatore "Help others with a smile by sparing 10 percent of your Valuable time. You will get real happiness" 

August-September 2019

25

FINANCE

In the Bill, the Government has now proposed to include even private companies, requiring such companies to also issue shares in dematerialized mode. In my view, this is clearly an attempt to cleanse the system in totality, as shareholders of all private limited companies will have to come within the system by getting their related holdings in dematerialized form.

Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen is a practising lawyer at High Court of Kerala who specialises in tax and Corporate Laws.

Presently he heads the tax and corporate law practice of Nash Capital Partners. Apart from being a qualified lawyer, he is also a chartered accountant, cost accountant and a company secretary. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate Degree and is reachable at sherryoommen@nashcp.com.

T

he Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in action mode since assuming power.

The Government in the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (“the Bill”) which was placed before the Parliament on 25 July 2019 has proposed certain key changes. One of the key changes in the Bill is the proposed replacement of the existing system of judicial prosecution for offences by a departmental process of imposition of penalties. The Bill, for instance, seeks to recategorize certain offences

26

August-September 2019

as being civil in nature where penalties can now be invoked instead of initiation of prosecution proceedings. These offences include: (i) issuance of shares at a discount, and (ii) failure to file annual return. Further, the Bill also seeks to amend the penalties for some of the other offences, which is indeed welcome.

In this article, I propose to share some of the key highlights of the Bill.

1. Dematerialization of shares

One would recall that an amendment was effected vide Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 whereby all public com-

panies, whether listed or unlisted were required to ensure that the issue and transfer of its securities would need to be effected in dematerialized mode alone. This change has indeed brought about a purging in the system, considering the manifold increase in penny stock companies.

In the Bill, the Government has now proposed to include even private companies, requiring such companies to also issue shares in dematerialized mode. In my view, this is clearly an attempt to cleanse the system in totality, as shareholders of all private limited companies

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019-

A few key aspects

August-September 2019

27

will have to come within the system by getting their related holdings in dematerialized form. A question does remain as regards whether the said requirement would only apply for any proposed new issue or for all existing shares as well.

2. Spending on Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”)

Pertinently, with a view to boost spending, the Government has modified the norms regarding CSR. In relation to CSR, Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 (“the Act”) requires every qualifying company to spend at least 2 percent of its average net profit for the immediately preceding 3 financial years on CSR related activities. It deserves mention that Section 135 of the Act provides the threshold limit for applicability of the CSR to a Company i.e. (a) net worth of the company to be Rs 500 crore or

28

August-September 2019

more; (b) turnover of the company to be Rs 1000 crore or more; (c) net profit of the company to be Rs 5 crore or more. Further as per the CSR Rules, the provisions of CSR are not only applicable to Indian companies, but also applicable to branch and project offices of a foreign company in India.

In respect of the above-mentioned requirement, the proviso to section 135(5) provided that if a company was unable to spend the related amounts (ie, 2 percent of its average net profit), the Board of the related company was only required to state the reasons for not spending the amount. The Bill has proposed certain sweeping changes on this count taking the rigor of spending to a different level altogether. Broadly, the changes are as under:  If companies are not able to spend the targeted amount, then

they are required to mandatorily contribute the unspent money to the Funds mentioned in a prescribed schedule, ie, Scheduled VII. The said schedule includes funds such as Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, etc.  In respect of ongoing projects, the unspent amounts would now need to be transferred to a separate account within 30 days from the end of the concerned financial year. Further, the said amount so transferred would need to be spent within 3 years.  Any funds remaining unspent after three years will have to be mandatorily transferred to one of the funds under Schedule 7 of the Act.  To ensure strict compliance, the Bill provides that any violation may attract a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,00,000 and every defaulting officer may be punished

with imprisonment of up to three years or fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,00,000, or both.

3. Debarring of auditors

Under the Act, the National Financial Reporting Authority debar a member or firm from practising as a Chartered Accountant for a period between six months to 10 years, for proven misconduct. In an interesting move, the Bill amends the punishment to provide for debarment from appointment as an auditor or internal auditor of a company, or performing a company’s valuation, for a period between six months to 10 years. It is indeed certain that the Government is keen to get India Inc in order by ensuring that the auditor, the watchdog of corporate India does it job with dedication and integrity.

4. Disgorgement of properties in case of frauds

The Bill proposes that in case of corporate frauds revealed by investigation by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, the Government may make an application to the National

Company Law Tribunal for passing appropriate orders for disgorgement of profits or assets of an officer or person or entity which has obtained undue benefit. This is indeed a bold move considering the increased spate of corporate frauds.

5. Commencement of business

The Bill states that a company may not commence business, unless it (i) files a declaration within 180 days of incorporation, confirming that every subscriber to the Memorandum of the company has paid for the shares agreed to be taken by him, and (ii) files a verification of its registered address with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days of its incorporation. The Bill provides that if the concerned company fails to comply with these provisions and is found not to be carrying out business, the name of the company may be removed from the Register of Companies.

6. Debarring of individuals as Directors

A provision has been introduced empowering the Government to move the National Company Law Tribunal seeking declaration of an individual as an unfit and improper person thereby debarring such person from being a Director for a period of five years. One of the changes proposed in the Bill is the declaration of a person as unfit and improper person on the ground of failure to conduct the business of the company on “sound business or prudent commercial principles”.

Hence, there lies a greater need to introspect into the proposed business models prior to its execution, else one could run the risk of being disqualified on this score of a failed business model.

In summary, the changes proposed are indeed welcome as it seeks to purge the system which has been corrupted with corporate frauds. In order to ensure meeting the related objectives, it is imperative that authorities should ensure strict compliance of the same

August-September 2019

29

MOTIVATION

Dolly Neena Dolly Neena is founder of Your Wing, a training company born out of a noble cause and spirit.

She holds a decade long experience being a passionate mentor and entrepreneur.

If you are a leader/manager at work, self-assess how you get affected with the contact of employees and situations.

Extroverts become more energized with contacts and introvert leaders might get super-satisfied with business data management.

COMPARTMENTALIZE YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHTS!

M

ost of the behavioural traits can be acquired by conscious learning. Whether it be management style, relationship building, leadership style or persuasions. However, temperament is something that is a disposition of the years of piling up of your mind conditioning and habitual traits. The impulsive pressure on retorting back, strike back with ego, shout or fight etc. stems out from a stubborn temperament.

Successful people learn how to manage their reactions well. They understand their own emotions better. Controlling temperaments inside a work place, at your career, is an art.

"Pride is painful. The person who can quiet the self can see the world clearly, can learn the subject and master the situation."

Life’s varied whirlpools, pressures and strenuous responsibilities may weigh us down to exhibit bad temperamental styles. It can affect our health, happiness, relationships and wealth.

Do a self-analysis on what blows your lid off faster, what energizes or peps you up the most? Understanding our own

30

August-September 2019

August-September 2019

31

temperamental styles can help us reduce disagreements with our colleagues, family members and friends. Which of your reactions and responds are more harmful, which ones are more beneficial?

Do you play victim, go in self-denial, do you react in angry mode fast without thinking, or do you sulk for long? A commonly known four types of temperaments: sanguine (optimistic, active and social), choleric (short-tempered, irritable), melancholic (analytical, wise and quiet), and phlegmatic (relaxed and peaceful).

If you are a leader/manager at work, self-assess how you get affected with the contact of employees and situations. Extroverts become more energized with contacts and introvert leaders might get super-satisfied with business data management. Evolved beings now showcase skills that range

32

from both. Apart from genetics and environment, a child’s destiny and behaviour can be influenced by his temperament as well. A child can go through fear, anxiety, trauma, pain etc. that can mould a temperament. Managing temperaments should start from childhood, if only parents can identify where and how they can help a child in need. Children would be with different energy, adaptability, mood, intensity and sensitivity levels. Activities should be spread accordingly. Even a simple method of letting a child sit on a parent’s lap, or hug when she is crying can elevate their level of security to the peak.

People are different – Practical, decisive, conscientious, ingenious, stimulating, imaginative/creative, friendly, idealistic, sensitive, tolerant, responsible, dependable, empathetic and so on. When at work, remember than we are all on the

August-September 2019

same team. A company’s primary customer is their employees. The attitude that’s disseminated inside the organization is very well that’s reflected onwards to a client place.

Understanding and managing personality types of different employees has become very crucial in every work place. There are very few people out there really equipped, and hard-wired to communicate smoothly with other personality types. Thus, there are conflicts – some crucial, some manageable.

There is absolutely no reason to take things personally. Most of the heated up conversation roots out from an external. Keep conversations in check – most of the times, when another person is mentioned in his/her absence, the news goes out of your hands. Hence, it is very important to do more of positive gossips than the negative ones.

Go ahead and spread positivity by

applauding and encouraging everyone. The more you do, the more you get in return. The way you treat others should turn in more productive than counterproductive. Egos are so personal and so distinct – learn to handle them individually.

The diversity in personality types should be discovered as drivers in success, rather.

There are heated emotional upheavals at work, when you are given more tasks than you think you can handle, when you are not given a salary hike or promotion that you thought you deserved, when any of your colleague or boss treats you unfairly, when you think some act of others hit your self-esteem, when your input was not applauded the way it should have been, or when your efforts were not recognized.

There are hundreds of instances that can bring about negative emotions at work. That is exactly where your positive learning on temperaments should work effectively.

“NFL quarterback Andrew Luck congratulates them for sacking him. Here's how one cornerback described what it felt like when Luck popped up and said to him, "Great job!" "You know if you hear a quarterback get mad, you are in his head," the cornerback said. "With Luck, you thought you hurt the guy, you hear 'good job' and you just say, 'Aw, man.'" That's what you want to hear from your critics as well, when you smile at their insults: "Aw, man."

Even though it might seem easy said than done, or even impossible, with constant, meticulous,

effort, you can control the train of thoughts that rally inside your head. You need to decide what you need to feed more. There are self-destructive ones, and there are constructive ones. Take some time out before every decision to analyse what’s right. When in dilemma, always seek help. It is not a weakness to ask for help, but it takes a lot of courage to speak up. Most of the times, venting out your feelings do help – however, only you can decide what or who would be a safer choice to. Exercising is another great way of handling your bodily hormones and gives you a calmer mind. Relaxing your muscles helps – inner and outer. Stretching helps you to harness your inner emotions too.

Breathe slowly, whenever conscious.

Isn’t music a great way to relax and

August-September 2019

33

unwind? Play some tunes that you love the most – those tunes which help you pep up. When you are not in control of your own mind, just stay silent – for like, long – until you get to think before you talk. Know and learn the skill how to communicate strategically and assertively. Above all, don’t hesitate to apologize for any undesired emotional outburst done by you. Be familiar with your self-talk. Know your trigger points well enough. Biologically some people run away from the scene – it also helps to retrospect and introspect – provided you turn back in to confront and address the issue on time.

Writing the issue down at times help your brain to co-relate as to what’s to be done. It might help you find a solution faster. Travelling is another key element to keep your stress levels low.

Your mind is your home; that’s where you live all day, all life! Keep it peaceful!

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August-September 2019

MOTIVATION

Exercise improves fitness and sleep and may reduce pain and fatigue in some people with fibromyalgia. In particular, there is strong evidence that cardiovascular exercise is effective for some patients.

Dr Arun Oommen MBBS, MS (Gen Surg), Mch( Neurosurgery), MRCSEd, MBA Consultant Neurosurgeon, VPS Lakeshore Hospital Kochi, India

Facts about

Fibromyalgia F

ibromyalgia is a common and disturbing ailment. Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2–8% of the population, with a female to male incidence ratio of approximately 9:1. Fibromyalgia is basically a functional somatic syndrome, ie a physical response to depression and stress.

Exact cause is unknown but is believed to involve psychological, genetic, neurobiological and environmental factors. The same genes causing fibromyalgia are also associated with other functional somatic syndromes and major depressive disorder. The central symptom of fibromyalgia, namely widespread pain, appears to result from neuro-chemical imbalances including activation of inflammatory pathways in the brain which results in abnormalities in pain processing.

Fibromyalgia patients have a lower threshold for pain because of increased reactivity of pain-sensitive

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August-September 2019

nerve cells in the spinal cord or brain.

Neuropathic pain and major depressive disorder often co-occur with fibromyalgia – the reason for this comorbidity appears to be due to shared genetic abnormalities. Neurochemical abnormalities that occur in fibromyalgia also regulate mood, sleep and energy, thus explaining why mood, sleep and fatigue problems are commonly co-morbid with fibromyalgia Mode of inheritance is currently unknown, but it is most probably polygenic.

FM is characterised by chronic widespread pain and allodynia (a heightened and painful response to pressure). Other symptoms include debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. Some people also report difficulty with swallowing, bowel and bladder abnormalities, numbness and tingling and cognitive dysfunction.

Pain may be localized in areas such as the shoulders, neck, low back, hips, or

other areas. Not all people with fibromyalgia experience all associated symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with stress-related disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, irritable bowel syndrome and depression.

A systematic review found significant association between fibromyalgia and physical and sexual abuse in both childhood and adulthood. Poor lifestyles including being a smoker, obesity and lack of physical activity may increase the risk of an individual developing fibromyalgia.

Diagnosis

FM basically is a clinical diagnosis. Blood tests and radiological tests may be normal.

To meet the fibromyalgia criteria

No universally accepted treatment for Fibromyalgia is available. Moreover response to treatment is all poor and inconsistent. for diagnosis, patients must have: (90% accuracy in diagnosis) A. Widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum of three months B. At least 11 of the 18 specified

tender points The 18 sites used for the fibromyalgia diagnosis cluster around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow regions. The finger pressure that your doctor must apply to these areas during an exam is just enough to cause the nail bed to blanch or become white.

When light pressure is applied to the surface of the muscles throughout the body, patients with fibromyalgia find this painful, especially at the specific tender point areas used for diagnosis.

Treatment

No universally accepted treatment for Fibromyalgia is available.

Moreover response to treatment is all poor and inconsistent. Treatment plans that incorporate medi-

August-September 2019

37

cation, patient education, aerobic exercise and cognitive-behavioural therapy have been shown to be effective in alleviating pain and other fibromyalgia-related symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and related psychological and behavioural therapies have a small to moderate effect in reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia. The greatest benefit occurs when Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used along with exercise.

Medications commonly used include anti-depressants like duloxetine and milnacipran and the tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) Anti-seizure medication like gabapentin and pregabalin. Weak opioid like tramadol may be tried but not strong opioids. The combination of tramadol and paracetamol has demonstrated efficacy. The use of NSAIDs is not recommended as first line therapy. May be a combination of antidepressants and anti epileptics for 3-6 months may be required to produce some improvement in symptoms.

Exercise improves fitness and sleep and may reduce pain and fatigue in some people with fibromyalgia. In particular, there is strong evidence that cardiovascular exercise is effective for some patients. Long-term aquatic-based exercise has been proven beneficial as it combines cardiovascular exercise with resistance training.

Note

Fibromyalgia has a wide range of symptoms and can mimic so many disease processes which can be Rheumatological, neurological, gastro intestinal, urological and even psychological. Although in itself neither degenerative nor fatal, the chronic pain of fibromyalgia is pervasive and persistent. Hence an extensive workup may be needed to rule out these problems. Most fibromyalgia patients report that their symptoms do not improve over time.

Hence such patients always switch from one Doctor to another in search of proper diagnosis and treatment

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August-September 2019

Fibromyalgia has a wide range of symptoms and can mimic so many disease processes which can be Rheumatological, neurological, gastro intestinal, urological and even psychological.

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41

COOKERY

ONAM SPECIAL Toshma Biju

Unniyappam Ingredients

• • • • • • • • • • •

42

Coconut (chopped into small pieces) - 1/2 cup Jaggery - 1 cup Water - as needed Rice flour - 1 1/2 cups Wheat flour - 1/2 cup Ripe Banana – 2 nos Salt - a small pinch Baking soda - a pinch Cardamom powder - 1 teaspoon Roasted sesame seeds - 1 teaspoon Oil - for frying

August-September 2019

Method

First heat a small pan. Add 1/2 teaspoon oil. Roast the chopped coconut pieces until it turns slightly golden brown.

To the same pan, add the jaggery along with 1/2 Cup of water. Heat in medium flame until the jaggery is completely melted. Filter the jaggery syrup.

Then, roughly chop the bananas. And, using a mixer grinder, grind it to a smooth paste.

Now, take a heavy bottomed pan and dry roast the rice flour and whole wheat flour for about 1 minute until a nice aroma arises. Do not roast until the colour changes.

Now, take a large mixing bowl, add the rice flour, wheat flour, jaggery syrup, banana paste, coconut and mix well into a batter. Add water accordingly. Leave the batter to rest for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, add the salt, baking soda, cardamom powder, roasted sesame seeds and mix well until combined.

Now heat the paniyaram pan with some oil in each hole and fill 3/4th of the hole with prepared batter.

Cook in low flame until small holes appears on top and the side turns golden brown. Now flip the appam using the spatula or spoon, and cook the other side until they are fully done.

Ellunda Ingredients

• • • •

Black sesame seeds – 250 g Jaggery - 150 g Ghee - 2 teaspoons Water - as needed

Method

Wash sesame seeds and roast them with 1 teaspoon of ghee in a pan until they start to burst. Heat a pan and melt jaggery along with a 1/4 cup of water.

Strain all the impurities with a strainer. Add roasted sesame along with 1 tsp ghee to the melted jaggery and mixed it well. When it cools a little, make it into small balls.

August-September 2019

43

Kaliyadakka Ingredients

• • • • • • • • •

44

Roasted rice flour – 1 cup Roasted urad dal flour – 3 tablespoons Fresh grated coconut – 1/2 cup Cumin seeds – 1/4 teaspoon Salt – to taste Ghee – 1 tablespoon Boiling water – as required Asafoetida – 1 pinch Oil – to fry

August-September 2019

Method

Grind the grated coconut with cumin seeds to a fine paste.

In a bowl, add the slightly roasted rice flour, urad dal flour, ground coconut paste, salt, ghee, and asafoetida.

Make a soft dough adding enough boiling water. Set aside for 15 minutes. Divide the dough into small even-sized balls.

Heat oil in a deep pan at medium-high heat. Drop some balls carefully into the hot oil. Bring down the flame to medium-low and deep-fry until golden-brown, stirring in between so that they will be evenly browned. It takes about 15 minutes. They should be crunchy inside. Drain on to paper towels to absorb excess oil. Cool and store in an airtight container.

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Sharkara varatti Ingredients

• • • • • • •

46

Raw banana – 1/2 kg Jaggery – 1/2 kg Jeera powder – 1 teaspoon Dry ginger powder – 1 teaspoon Cardamom powder – 1 teaspoon Rice flour – 6 tablespoons Oil – to deep fry

August-September 2019

Method

Soak jaggery in warm water, crush it well. Then heat it up until it is slightly thick. Cool down, strain and keep it aside.

Take rice flour and roast for few minutes without changing the colour. When smoke starts to come, switch off and set it aside to cool. Take raw banana, first peel of the skin and chop them into bite size pieces. Heat oil in a kadai and deep fry it until golden.

Drain in tissue paper and set it aside. Heat jaggery syrup in a pan, meanwhile get jeera powder, dry ginger powder and cardamom powder.

Once the jaggery syrup nicely bubbles up and becomes thick like honey and starts to form single thread, add the powders and mix well. Then, add fried chips, and keep cooking until the syrup is absorbed well may be for 2-3 minutes. Finally, add roasted rice flour and keep mixing till it coats the chips.

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BEAUTY

Natural methods to remove dandruff

D

andruff is a serious problem for women, as well as men. It is the reason why the demand for anti-dandruff shampoos is growing exponentially day by day. This article is particularly for those who, even after trying almost every chemical available in the market, have failed to find a long lasting solution for their dandruff problem. In this edition, some highly effective natural methods to remove dandruff are shared.

First of all, it is important to understand that dandruff is not a serious issue. Once that is understood, almost half of the problem is solved. Only the other half needs medication.

Coconut Oil

It is easily available in this part of the world as the land is abundantly blessed with coconut trees. It is a well known fact that coconut oil is a rich source of

various vitamins and minerals.

It is good to apply coconut oil on scalp daily. It reduces fungal growth. It has anti-inflammatory properties. It can definitely contain your dandruff problem.

Take a spoon of slightly warm coconut oil. Rub it gently on the inside of your palm. Using that oiled side of the palm, slowly massage your scalp. It gives you a relaxing feeling. After the massage, wash it off with water. Repeat it daily. The result will definitely surprise you.

Tea Tree Oil

From time immemorial, people know that tea tree oil has certain medicinal properties and can be used for treating acne, dermatitis and similar skin problems. It is the presence of terpinen4-ol that makes this oil different from the others and that enhances its relevance as an anti-dandruff

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International

Mob: 9388618112

48

August-September 2019

item. This compound, which is present in the oil, can help reduce dandruff. It achieves it by fighting the growth of fungi and bacteria.

It is not advised to use the oil directly to scalp as it can cause irritation. Take a few drops of tea tree oil. Pour it into the shampoo that you use. Apply that natural shampoo to the scalp gently.

Wash it off after few minutes with water. Use it weekly once.

port, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

It is not advised to use the oil directly on scalp. Pour few drops of the oil on a mug of water in order to dilute it. Apply the diluted oil on your scalp slowly.

Wash it off with water. Do it once in a week. Like the case of the aforesaid tea tree oil, the shampoo method can also be used with this oil.

Lemongrass oil

The healing properties of Aloe vera gel are widely acknowledged.

The gel contains many useful bioactive compounds. There is no doubt that it has the ability to fight the issue of dandruff. It is the anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties of the gel that makes it

Most of us know that lemongrass oil has several medicinal properties. It is often used to treat blood pressure, stress and digestive issues. A new report says that it has the capability to fight dandruff also. As per the re-

Aloe vera gel

an excellent solution for the problem of dandruff.

Take few spoons of aloe vera gel. Apply it on the scalp gently.

Let it sit for few minutes. Wash it off using a natural shampoo. Apply it at least two or three times a week. This compound will not disappoint you.

Try these amazing natural methods, and find a long longlasting or permanent solution to your dandruff problem.

It is important to understand that nature has solution to everything. So, next time, when you face a problem, first you should turn to nature, then only to the others, not the other way.

Health is Wealth! Stay Healthy!

August-September 2019

49

TRAVELOGUE

George Town is the capital city of the Cayman Islands.

And, it is located on the territory’s most populous Island of Grand Cayman. It is also an offshore financial hub. It is the most vibrant city in the territory.

The Pretty Princesses of an Enviable European Kingdom: Cayman Islands

T

he Caribbean Islands always attract people.

The region is considered as one of the most beautiful tourist locations in the world. Monthly, tens of thousands of tourists visit the region. Though all the Islands in the region are equally good, some stand out as exceptional due to various reasons. In this edition, it is discussed about one of these exceptional Islands in the region. It is actually an Overseas Territory of Briton. It is Cayman Islands.

About It

The Cayman Islands are located in the Western Caribbean Sea, close to Cuba, Hon-

50

August-September 2019

duras, Jamaica and Mexico. It is the three small Islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman that make the Cayman Islands. The region, which has a population of over 64,420 people, is one of the most populated British Overseas territories (in fact, the second-most populated British Overseas territory after Bermuda). The Islands are economically powerful compared to other Islands in the region. For that reason, the standard of living in the Islands is far higher than that in the other similar Islands. Notably, its GDP per capita is the 38th highest in the world, accord-

ing to a latest report released by the CIA World Factbook.

George Town is the capital city of this beautiful overseas territory. And, that is located on the Grand Cayman, which is the most populous of the three Islands which make this grand territory. The territory is under the direct control of the UK. The supreme head of the country’s administration who has the supreme power in all matters concerning the administration of the country, the Governor, is the nominee of the UK. The elected representatives of the country are bound to function as per the wish of the nominee of the Kingdom, though the country has an independent legislative assembly. The election to the assembly happens every fourth year. Anyone who has the country’s citizenship can contest in the election.

There is no serious restriction on that matter. From the elected representatives, a council of ministers and a premier are selected to run the country. A person cannot become the premier of the country more than two times. The territory is different in many ways.

The backbone

As mentioned earlier, the territory has a powerful economy. Many wonder how this region has achieved with easiness the goal many are struggling to achieve. The territory’s financial sector is its backbone.

Caymanians owe Sir Vassel Johnson, one of the pioneers of the territory’s financial service industry, for that. Recently, a senior politician of the region openly admitted that it was due to the support of the legends like Mr Johnson the country emerged as a major financial

power. Truly, the territory could not have become the financial capital of the Caribbean region, had it not received the contributions of the legendry financial experts. The region is a tax heaven. It does not impose any income tax or corporate tax on its citizens. In fact, there is no direct tax in the country. The entire revenue the government needs to run the government comes from its indirect taxes.

Many wealthy individuals and global conglomerates misuse the status of the region as a tax destination.

The days are gone the country is known only for its financial element. Now, it is slowly emerging as the tourism capital of the Caribbean region. Because of its financial strength, the infrastructure of the territory is well-developed. In reality, it is what that boosts the region’s

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prospect of becoming the tourist hub of the region.

The Future

It is in its tourism sector that the future of the Islands lies.

There are several beautiful tourist destinations in the region. It is known for its beautiful beaches, magnificent nightlife, exciting adventure sports, attractive countryside and many more. Seven Mile Beach, Stingray City, George Town,

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Mastic Reserve and Hell are the most popular tourist destinations in the region.

Seven Mile Beach is a famous public beach located in the Grand Cayman Island of the Cayman Islands. It is one of the prettiest stretches of sand in the entire Caribbean. It is in this region where some of the most famous resorts and posh houses of the territory are situated. The most exciting

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activity that can be done here is ‘walking’. You can simply walk over the white sands spread over the beach enhancing its beauty, and learn by yourself how that beach cleanse your heart and fill your heart with true happiness.

Stingray City is one of the most attractive shallow water snorkels and dives in the entire Caribbean region. As the name indicates, stingrays are the main attraction here. The real gift this popular tourist destination (in fact, the most popular tourist destination in the entire territory) offers is an unforgettable opportunity to get close to the harmless fish of stingray. You can hug them, kiss them and even swim with them.

The opportunity will definitely take away all your fears and misconceptions about this beautiful, friendly, creature.

George Town, as mentioned earlier, is the capital city of the Cayman Islands. And, it is located on the territory’s most populous Island of Grand Cayman. It is also an offshore financial hub. It is the most vibrant city in the territory.

There is almost everything that a

traveller wants in this city, from museums to nightclubs. The museums display the rich history of the land in detail. Fort George, which was erected to protect the country from invasion, is an important tourist destination in the city, though only a part of the fort has sustained the test of time.

Mastic Reserve is a protested subtropical forest. No traveller must miss an opportunity to enjoy the three-kilometre long Mastic Trail, developed nearly one hundred years ago. The trail will help you to explore the reserve thoroughly and deeply.

Hell! Yes, Hell. There is a hell in this world. And, it is not a joke. But, it is not the hell that you know. Actually, this hell that is mentioned here is a tourist destination in the Cayman Islands. Why it is called by the name Hell because its physical appearance satisfies our mental image of hell. In reality, the region holds this name only because of its sinister black rock formations. Otherwise, it is same as any other peaceful countryside in the world. Interestingly, in this destination, there is a post office where travellers can register their arrival.

The British Overseas territory is an excellent tourist destination. It is worthy to visit this stunning Island.

Put this destination to your bucket list today itself. Explore the World!

Enjoy Life! Be Happy Always!

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AUTO REVIEW

Vivek Venugopal is one of India’s top automotive writers with over a decade’s experience in road-testing and reviewing cars.

He is currently the Editor of Quarter Mile magazine and a columnist in several leading magazines and newspapers. He is also a highly sought after consulting engineer and market analyst for many automobile manufacturers.

T

he Mercedes Benz C43 has always been the perfect ‘stealth performance’ sedan that you could use every day. It looks like a regular C class with some sportier bumpers, but you could do 0-100 km/h in less than five seconds when needed. Every time you start it up, it was silent without waking up the neighbours, and as long as you don’t buy it in one of the sportier colours, you could blend into the corporate parking lot and no one would notice. Perhaps that was one of its biggest issues, because for some people, they wanted quite the opposite. They need the attention. They need the looks to reflect why it was nearly twice the money of a regular C class sedan.

Enter the C43 AMG coupe. Mercedes’ decision to launch the face-lifted C43 only as a coupe is a great one. Now, it has the drama to go with the performance. The roof is lower than the sedan’s and now stretches across to the heavily raked rear glass. The front end is unmistakably like in a C class, but the rear is completely different with stretched out tail lamps and a rear diffuser with quad exhausts. The car has a more muscle car look with extra bulk around the rear wheel arch area. The wheels are classic AMG twin five spokes in 18 inches, and they complement the Designo Hyacinth red colour of our test

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Mercedes C43 AMG Coupe

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car.

Because of the lower roofline, the interiors are cozier too. But, you will love the supportive seats with their red seat belts. The dashboard is the familiar C class stuff, with the fantastic quality of this era of Mercs shining through. The rear seat is fine for short distances but you are limited by the amount of headroom and legroom. Getting in there requires some effort and is best suited for children.

Unlike the 63 engine, the C43’s engine is not hand-built at the AMG Factory in Affalterbach, but it does get AMG specific turbos, exhaust and tuning.

The 3.0 litre twin turbo V6 now develops 390 bhp and 520 Nm torque. That is 23 bhp more than the old car, and it now does 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.

The top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

How easily you get there will certainly leave you impressed. Acceleration is still mega, and because it is all wheel drive, it doesn’t waste any power with wheel spin. There is a constant surge and it pulls well to 6000 rpm instantly. Use the paddles and you would be surprised how quickly it revs. One can only wish it had

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a higher rev limit. The 9 speed automatic does a decent job, although it could have been a bit faster with the downshifts. The C43 also sounds good although not as vocal as the 63.

For most part it is calm and comfortable, but it does get rorty when you floor it, more so in the Sport Mode.

The C43 also packs three stage adaptive variable damping, with new steering knuckles and load-bearing joints on the spring link at the front resulting in negative camber, and pretty much exactly the C63's settings at the rear. The brakes are monstrous internally ventilated compound discs with a diameter of 360 mm and 320 mm.

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The big difference is how it drives compared to a C63 AMG. While the C63 is a tyre shredding hooligan with all its power sent to the rear wheels, the C43 has all-wheel drive. And on wet roads, the grip from the all-wheel drive system is quite handy. You can confidently floor the accelerator midway through a corner and put all the power down without the ESP having to overwork. On a wet track, I reckon it will be even faster than the C63. It is quite a rear biased all-wheel drive system with 31:69 torque split front and rear. That said, it could be more of a playful car in the corners and save some weight by being just rear wheel drive.

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The steering is pretty accurate though it could do with a bit more feel. The brakes are fantastic and stop the car from speeds without any fade whatsoever. The ride quality is on the stiffer side and the suspension can send a bit of thud when you hit a broken patch unexpectedly. The tyres are 225/45 R18 at the front and 245/40 R18 at the rear, giving you good grip.

Blending good looks, decent everyday practicality and good performance, the C43 AMG is in a class of its own. While it was already a perfect all-rounder in sedan form, the new coupe variant has boosted its appeal even further

MOVIE REVIEW

Khandaani Shafakhana

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t is a comedy film directed by talented filmmaker Shilpi Dasgupta. It is a female oriented film.

Sonakshi Sinha acts as the central character of the Bollywood film.

The film is the story of a quickwitted Punjabi girl, Baby Bedi, who is a medical representative by profession. The film narrates her extra-ordinary journey in a very entertaining manner. Apart from the Dabangg actress, Varun Sharma, Badshah, Annu Kapoor, Diana Penty, Raveena Tandon, Sunil Shetty, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Rajesh Sharma appear in the lead roles.

The film has received many positive reviews. Other than its comedy sequences, its songs are the other main attraction of the film.

Pranaam

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t is an action thriller directed by renowned filmmaker Sanjiv Jaiswal. The film tells the story of an IAS officer turned gangster. The central character is played by Rajeev Khandelwal. There are several interesting action sequences in the film. Apart from the main actor, Sameksha, Atul Kulkarni, Abhimanyu Singh and Vikram Gokhale appear in the lead roles. The story of the film is written by the director itself. Its songs have already won the heat of people.

Vishal Mishra and Jaan Nisaar Lone are the music directors of the film.

Akashdeep Pandey is its cinematographer. The film is edited by Amita Shri Narayan Singh.

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Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

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t is a horror movie directed by popular Norwegian filmmaker Andre Qvredal. The film is the adaptation of a well-known series of three collections of short horror stories for children written by Alvin Schwartz and illustrated by Stephen Gammell, ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’. Sarah Bellows is the central character of the movie. Apart from the character, her mansion also plays an equally important role in the film. Zoe Margaret Colletti, Austin Abrams, Natalie Ganzhorn, Gabriel Rush and Michael Garza act in the lead roles. There are several breathtaking horror sequences in the movie. The screenplay of the film is written by Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman.

21 Bridges

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t is an action film directed by popular Irish filmmaker Brian Kirk. The film tells the story of an investigation. It is actually a suspense thriller. There are several interesting action sequences in the film. The central character of the film is a detective, who is inducted into an investigation team which investigates an important case. The bridges in Manhattan are also a character in the film. Chadwick Aaron Boseman, Taylor Kitsch, Sienna Miller, Stephan James and J K Simmons appear in the lead roles. The film has the potential to become the most successful action film of the year 2019.

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BOOK REVIEW

The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire Author Price

: William Dalrymple : Rs. 520 (Hardcover)

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he East India Company, which established its dominance in India in the year 1765 defeating the then Delhi ruler, is the first global corporate power. Over three hundred and fifteen years has passed post the establishment of this company. Yet, no serious study has been made how the company managed to reach the peak it touched during its heydays.

During its successful days, it controlled an army which was twice the size of the army maintained by the then British empire. In those days, it was much more powerful than the country in which it originated. It was not even answerable to anyone, except their stakeholders, for the deeds it committed. The book exposes the corporate.

Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past, 1883-1924 Author Price

V

: Vikram Sampath : Rs. 719 (Hardcover)

inayak Damodar Savarkar is one of the most controversial figures in the political history of India. His personal and political life were equally controversial. He was an atheist, who respected the concept of rational thinking, but was later projected as the proponent of Hindutva, the ideology which has helped the present regime in the country to enter into the hearts of the people of country. Similarly, several controversies exist in connection with this name, from the way he secured his release from the jail in the Andamans where he spent years, to his alleged connection with the biggest traitors the country has ever witnessed. It seems that this biography which discusses his life in details will help to erase many misconceptions about this great personality.

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BOOK REVIEW

Quichotte Author Price

: Salman Rushdie : Rs. 559 (Hardcover)

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he writer of the book is a Booker Prize winner. He is known for his excess usage of magical realism in his novels. This novel is not different. The storyline of this novel is very complicated, yet interesting. It was in the year 1981 that he won the prestigious Booker Prize award. It was his second novel, Midnight’s Children, which enabled him to wrist the top award. This novel is also as classy as his second novel, which has helped him to become one of the most respected writers in the world.

The latest novel can attract all those who love magical realism.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Bureaucracy But Were Afraid to Ask Author Price

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: T R Raghunandan : Rs. 319 (Paperback)

he Indian bureaucratic structure is a very complicated one. The common people of the country only have little knowledge about the structure. The unpleasant fact is that the people of the country put no serious effort to understand the structure. Most often hesitate to put effort even to clarify their doubts about the structure. That is actually a sort of serious ignorance. It is important to understand the structure and function of the most powerful organ of the world’s largest democratic country, the Indian bureaucracy, in depth. This book explains the highly complicated structure of Indian bureaucracy in the simplest way possible.

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Printed On 09/ 08/ 2019

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