Unique Times December 2019

Vol 9 Issue No.98 Dec - Jan 2020

Banking in the era of AI and ML Shri V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

Sri Lanka: The Pearl of Indian Ocean

NEVER SAY NEVER; NEVER SAY DIE : SAGA OF A VALIANT SURVIVOR John Mathew

Editorial

Chief Mentor Mr. V.P. Nandakumar Director & CEO Jebitha Ajit Editor Jebitha Ajit Legal Advisor Latha Anand inally, the Christmas & New Year

B.S.Krishnan Associates are round the corner. This festive bskrishnanassociates@gmail.com season will bring cheer to all. Go for Sub-Editor Vignesh S.G times of reflection and hope to see a Associate Editor Ravi Saini better future!

Rajeev Kumar The story of success is always

Director and special editor kollur inspiring to do more and shrug off Correspondents Dr. Thomas Nechupadam failures. Read the story of 82-year-old John

Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile Mathew, a Keralite who built an empire in Ku Amrutha V Kumar wait right from the scratch. He made his fortune Creative Design PEGASUS from 57 years of hard work as an expatriate enCover Photographer Ashique Hassan gineer.

Marketing UAE In his monthly column, V.P. Nandakumar,

Phygicart.com CEO and MD, Manappuram Finance, takes us

P.O. Box: 92546, Al Karama Dubai to the rapid changes in finance business with

Mr. Anish K Joy the advent of new technology, changing con Mob: +971528946999 sumer dynamics and demographics. info@phygicart.com Our Auto team introduces all features of the

Plot No 19A, 9th Floor, new premium hatchback Altroz from the house

Green Building, Film City, of TATA. In Travel, read about Sri Lanka, the

Sector - 16A, Noida - 201301 country which slowly emerging as a prefect

Maharashtra budget tourism destination of Asia.

Jayasankar M, a/101, Writings on Movie, Beauty, Books & Gadgets,

New Prathamesh Niwas, Cookery, Motivation, Health etc. also there to

OPP. Laxmi Park, Thakurli East, enrich your holidays. Wish you a Merry Christ Dombivli post, Thane District, 421201 mas!

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CONTENTS

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16

Banking in the era of AI and ML

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Crises–learning for small entrepreneurs!

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Never say never; never say die : saga of a valiant survivor

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Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code – The Swiss Ribbons and Essar judgment

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Diabetic Neuropathy is controllable

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42

44

50

52

58

42

Gadgets

44

Recipes

50

Natural ways to soften lips

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Sri Lanka: The Pearl of Indian Ocean

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Tata Altroz

UNIQUE DIARY

Automobile sector gets much needed push

T

he Indian automobile sector, which was in a bad state, has secured a much-needed push in the latest festival season. The sales of passenger vehicles in the country have marked an impressive increase of more than eleven per cent in this season. Not only the passenger vehicle sector, but also the two-wheeler sector has witnessed the growth. The sales of two-wheelers have registered a noteworthy increase of nearly five per cent in the same season. Unfortunately, the sales of commercial vehicles have not grown as expected; it has even fallen around 23 per cent. Anyway, a renowned dealers’ organisation has expressed its happiness indirectly in the growth of the automobile sector.

Airtel, Vodafone Idea to increase tariffs

“If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it!”

Jonathan Winters

A

irtel and Vodafone Idea have decided to increase their tariffs.

Though India is the country which offers the world’s cheapest date service, its main telecom operators are not at a healthy state at this moment. Many of them are struggling to cope with their financial difficulties. The aforementioned telecom giants are not different in that matter. The decision to increase the tariffs has come at the time the government is looking for the possibilities to help the ailing sector. The telecom giants have not specified what exactly will be the hike. The proposed hike is expected to come to effect on this month itself.

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Govt. set to sell BPCL

T

he Indian government is set to sell Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. The government has nearly 53.29 per cent stake in the company. The Union Cabinet has cleared the proposal to sell the entire stake it has in the company. The government is also expected to sell its entire stake (that is, around 63.75 per cent) in Shipping Corporation of India. The government is also likely to take similar action in the matters of Container Corporation of India and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation. The government holds over 30 per cent stake in the CONCOR, while it controls nearly 100 per cent stake in the NEPC.

Former RBI Governor Rangarajan questions feasibility of Govt.’ $5 trillion GDP plan

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

Maya Angelou

F

ormer Reserve Bank of India Governor C Rangarajan, who is an acclaimed economic expert, has questioned the feasibility of the central government’s plan to take the Indian economy, which is at present just over $2.7 trillion big, to its $5 trillion Gross Domestic Rate target by the year 2025. He said that with the present growth rate the proposed target was simply out of question. He added that to achieve the targeted goal the Indian economy should gain an annual GDP growth rate of 9 per cent or more. The present annual GDP growth rate is not that impressive; it is only a little more than 5.

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UNIQUE DIARY

Govt. offers two-year moratorium to telecom companies

T

he Indian government has offered a two-year moratorium to telecom companies in order to help them gain a slight relief from the unfortunate financial condition in which the companies have been trapped. The two-year relief is expected to enable the telecom conglomerates to prevent an immediate outflow of more than 42, 000 crore. Anyway, an association of telecom companies has responded differently in the matter. Even though it has acknowledged the short term good the government plan is expected to give, it has pointed out the difficulties posed by the high level of levies and taxes imposed on the sector.

Govt. to remove more debt from Air India balance sheet

“Advertising is only evil when it advertises evil things” David Ogilvy

T

he Indian government is likely to remove more debt from the balance sheet of airline giant Air India. Recently, it shifted more than half of the loan amount of 58, 000 crore Indian rupees to a special purpose vehicle. The new move has come at a time when the government is planning to try a second attempt to privatise the national carrier. Earlier, a similar attempt failed to elicit the desired result, as no credible private player came forward with an acceptable bid. The decision to restart the process to privatise the company originally emerged immediately after the inception of the second NDA government in the centre.

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BUSINESS

AI is based on the premise that it can analyse all these data sources together to arrive at a sound, coherent decision. Evaluating creditworthiness is but one everyday application of AI. Technology can help monitor various alternative sources of information relevant to creditworthiness, like whether you are paying your rent and utility bills on time.

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

Banking in the era of AI and ML

T

he finance business continues to evolve at a rapid pace with new technology and changing consumer dynamics and demographics. Technological advancements have now begun to contribute to the analysis of consumer data. In just over a decade, the establishment of credit bureaus has changed the way the retail lending business is conducted. The introduction of data-driven credit scores has transformed the way credit is extended to borrowers.

The advent of technology, mobile connectivity, and smartphone devices, and its spread among the masses, especially the youth, has shaken-up the way the new generation does banking. Digitisation and mobility is now the norm in business, particularly so in the financial services. It has become critical for older institutions to evolve with the technology to remain relevant for the next genera-

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tion as well.

Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are no longer terms of computer science familiar only to geeks having made inroads into the real world too. Machines are not only fast and efficient in processing, they are also unbiased. And that is a quality humans may lack.

For example, earlier you could walk into a bank’s branch, sit across the table with the loan officer and thrash out all the details necessary for the loan sanction process. If the banker knew you, or was familiar with your reputation, or had some connections with you or your family, then it’s likely you would be counted trustworthy. And you would get the loan, no matter whether you planned to pay back the loan or not. In fact, this system has been true with large corporate borrowers to some extent.

The Credit Bureau system with its reliance on data driven credit

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scores has several advantages, but there are critical weaknesses too.

Applicants who lack a credit history would be unable to prove their ability to repay, even if they may be working hard to pay back the loan.

And precisely because of flaws like this, a new form of credit evaluation is evolving, and that is where AI/ML comes into play. Many fintech or financial technology firms have sprung up recently to focus on consumers who prefer to do things digitally.

AI is based on the premise that it can analyse all these data sources together to arrive at a sound, coherent decision. Evaluating creditworthiness is but one everyday application of AI. Technology can help monitor various alternative sources of information relevant to creditworthiness, like whether you are paying your rent and utility bills on time. In the past, financial insti-

tutions looked at only a few metrics like credit score and income. Today, lenders have started looking at an individual’s entire lifestyle and their vast digital footprint to determine how likely they are to default. This alternative data about potential borrowers offers not just more insight into people with established scores, but it can also be useful in determining the creditworthiness of people without a traditional credit history.

AI/ML algorithms look at thousands of variables including social

media account use, internet browsing, geolocation data, and other smartphone information and turn all this data into a credit score, which lenders can use. These algorithms also take into account education scores, the field of study, job history, shopping history, payment modes etc. and use machine learning to predict an individual’s creditworthiness. It is afterall reasonable to believe that the more information you gather about an individual, the more likely you would be able to predict

their behaviour, including how diligently they would pay back a loan.

Objectivity is another benefit of the AI-powered mechanism. Unlike a human being, a machine is not likely to be biased. AI/ML not only helps improve credit risk assessment but also enables lenders to service that large segment of population that lack access to formal lending channels.

The one big caveat though is that any system is only as good as the people who set it up or use it. Many

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of these applications are new and have only existed during a time of economic growth. It is easy to appear right about the worth of loans during good times, the real test is how they perform in a downturn.

Even if machine learning can accurately use an individual’s digital footprint (purchase history, app use, search history, social media activity etc.) to determine credit-

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worthiness, it is not necessary that machine learning systems always yield better results than traditional credit measures. That said, only a few companies have taken steps to incorporate AI/ML into their credit evaluation processes. Many are still sitting on the fence, having decided to err on the side of caution. They remain unsure about the time and money such an undertaking requires

December-January 2020

and are therefore hesitant to take the plunge. But then, one cannot forever shy away from taking risk and not grasping the nettle now will eventually cost more

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

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BUSINESS

Rajesh Nair Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

Simon Sinek, in his much watched TED talk, reminds us that there are three frames of our action - the ‘WHAT’, the ‘HOW’ and the ‘WHY’.

Typically, we are guided in that sequence as well. We spend time on ‘What’ we are to do and the mechanics of ‘How’. What we neglect is the ‘WHY’! ‘Why’ is the raison d'être of our existence. It is the sole reason we are in business, our larger purpose and our objective to spend most of lives! It is like a calling rather than employment.

Crises–learning for small entrepreneurs!

P

hil Knight, the founder of Nike, recently mentioned in a podcast of the Stanford Business school, that when you are a small entrepreneur, there is a crisis every day and a ‘Jesus Christ’ at the end the end of every month! While the wording and the chutzpah of the assertion make you smile, it is a stark reality too. It is not an easy life, and life is a series of insecurities in the formative years as an entrepreneur.

Business plans are something a lot of entrepreneurs work on nearly every day of their waking life as a busy entrepreneur. It is often a dynamic document, and the shelf life of these documents are diminishing. It is not just the vagaries of the business

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landscape and the complex machinations of competition, but also the forces of nature which disrupt the best laid plans. Business risks have never been new to the entrepreneur, and every business has an intuitive feel of the impact and the extent to which they need to be looked at and planned for. The recent spate of floods in Kerala is a classic example of disruptions. No data prepares you to expect such a Black Swan event – first in a hundred years!

So is there a point in all these planning? There is, and there is a more need than ever before. For starters, it is increasingly clear that climate presents challenges more than ever before. While a flood of this rage and fervour may not

be a yearly reality, it is best to expect force majeure more often than not. A standard business plan, which looks at your product and service, stresses on the financial health, the sound marketing plan, futuristic resource plan and an ambitious fund raise plan. But, we often do not look at concepts like Insurance.

One may argue that we are not really an insurance economy! The basics of personal life insurance have been hovering like an unnecessary tab on your monthly expenses, an irritating leak. Medical insurance is finding feet with the sceptre of disease and disabilities moving in. The basic parameters of environment pollution has ensured that the Indian polity is facing more

health risks than ever before. But, these are larger matter of behaviour and realities will bring in habits, and often without choice.

But, for the small business or the start-up business, this is also a moment of reckoning. Business insurance, which is a deep thought on business risks, is a matter of urgent necessity. The usual financial treatment and mentality that insurance is an expense are passé. Today, you need to prepare yourself to look at insurance costs as an investment for a risk free future. The very mindset of insurance will provide us a separate lens to view our business. This will cover the thoughts around infrastructure, supply chain, sourcing, communication, data and several other aspects of business that we do not consider priority.

For starters, it is a worthwhile exercise to brainstorm with you team

on the possibilities of various risks and the probabilistic possibilities.

The contingency plans are a great enabler for you to stream line your thinking. Deep involvement in a rick thought process enhances our ability to do things better, more efficiently, pick up a wide variety of things to do across fields, and encourages to seek completion of what we do rather than leaving it incomplete before the next wave of thoughts crowd in.

Risk process engagement also does the following: • prepares our mind for serendipity – picking up ideas from diverse areas and keeping a look out for interesting cross sector insights • builds porous walls around ideas and helps cross pollination of ideas • clears the deck of the mind and prepares it for ‘deep work’ • helps you to build a mental ‘ to do’ library

We often mistake activities and movement for concrete action.

When we get busy with quotidian, repetitive tasks, we also pile up a series of prosaic and not so important tasks that buries our calendar. Time Management principles are popular and we have some very interesting frameworks including that of ‘7 Habits’ by the late Stephen Covey. But, what is useful is also a mental frame, which helps you guide you work life.

Simon Sinek, in his much watched TED talk, reminds us that there are three frames of our action - the ‘WHAT’, the ‘HOW’ and the ‘WHY’. Typically, we are guided in that sequence as well. We spend time on ‘What’ we are to do and the mechanics of ‘How’. What we neglect is the ‘WHY’! ‘Why’ is the raison d'être of our existence. It is the sole reason we are in business, our larger purpose and our objective

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to spend most of lives! It is like a calling rather than employment.

Let me explain the consulting context. I have been in consulting for close to two decades now.

The whole and sole purpose of every consultant is to be become a ‘trusted business advisor’. This is not just about signing contracts and delivering high quality advices or dotting every ’I’ and crossing every ‘T’. It is about solving their problems, helping them achieve their vision

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and reaching and surpassing their goals. Anything that is helping them do this is ‘NOISE’. It is no use thinking that you have delivered the final presentation when the client still has the ‘problem’ on this table. This philosophy guides your activities, your time and your actions.

It is easy to get ‘lost in motion’. At times, entrepreneurs like some of our lawmakers and politicians are lost in this quagmire of ‘activities’. Speeding cars, aircraft being

held up for their arrival or even a wide audience waiting for them to turn up, ‘Where are they going and what are are they doing, we wonder!’ It would be interesting, if they sit back, think and figure out the best use of their time.

It may perhaps also help them think differently and more importantly act differently!

The very act of putting it down on the drawing board makes you aware and makes you conscious.

That itself is a first step

TM

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His life is a real inspiration to many who face unexpected catastrophes and upheavals in life, and learn to navigate valiantly through the seemingly impossible life.

NEVER SAY NEVER; NEVER

SAY DIE : SAGA OF A VALIANT SURVIVOR

T

here are people around us who get into this habit of trivializing depression, or giving up when life gets a bit harder. Unique Times, on our latest episode, brings to you a very unique personality whose life is nothing less than an adventure and an epitome of survival to success. Mr. John Mathew, an 82 year old veteran, crossed his interesting life through the formation of Kerala state, to his shifting onto Kuwait and the great depressive Kuwait invasion and building up his empire right from the scratch once again. Mathew is an expatriate Indian engineer, who has been working in Kuwait for fifty-seven years, the senior most and oldest Indian there.

The invasion of the sovereign state of Kuwait by Saddam's Iraq destroyed the life of three million people and Mathew was not an exception.

He narrates through a heartbreaking love story and his experience in Kuwait. Apart from being a successful entrepreneur, he is an avid reader

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and an established author. Let’s hear him and get inspired by his persistent hard work throughout his life.

The Onset

Mr. John Mathew was born in a beautiful village named Ayroor near Kozhenchery. His father, originally a teacher, turned himself into a planter and decided to shift to Kodumon, Adoor, where later he grew up.

He had five brothers and three sisters, out of the one him being the youngest. After his school, he did Intermediate Science from St. Berchman’s College, Changanassery. Later, studied Chemical Engineering at Calicut, in an institute started by the then Madras government.

But, he fondly remembers that by the time he reached Calicut, Kerala was formed, in 1956. He bagged second rank in the state, a CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) scholar and with the scholarship and under the merit nomination, he was offered a job in their facility in Alwaye, the biggest industry in Kerala, FACT.

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It was at that time he saw an advertisement about an opening in Kuwait; he reckons he didn’t even know where Kuwait was then. It was an adventurous decision to a youngster then to travel to an entirely new world and discover something new with himself.

So, by 1962, he left for Kuwait to good, to Oil and Gas sector, which always was and is his strongest domain. He later reached the maximum grade that a foreigner can ever reach in the country; out of the 21 grades classified in the oil sector, he reached 14, where 15 and above was reserved for Kuwaitis.

The birth and rise of an unshakable entrepreneur

"If you’re starting something on your own, you better have a passion for it, because this is hard work."

When he reached those heights and grade in his career, Mr. John Mathew productively thought of starting his own company there. He confesses his passion of knowing only Oil and Gas, that’s exactly what he wanted to do when he was opening doors of entrepreneurship for himself.

“Arabi Enertech”, an ISO 9001:2008 & 14001:2004, is in to contracting, construction and commercial business. Since the inception in 1978, the company has maintained high ethical standards, business integrity and professionalism. The company went on to bag several accolades and awards from local and international markets.

Arabi Enertech has gone public limited now, with around 7000 employees and crossing a turnover in excess of KD 70 million. ARABI ENERTECH KSC is qualified by the Central Tenders Committee of the Government of Kuwait for almost all important categories of contracting. The company is qualified for all categories of works with Kuwait National Petroleum company; qualified for all categories of works with Petrochemical Industries Company; qualified for all categories of works with Al-Khafji Joint Operations. The company is approved with Kuwait General Fire Brigade under Grade I, which is the highest category of approval, and is qualified for all categories of works with Ministry of Health (MOH). The above stated ones are some of the most important clients of the company. Arabi Enertech

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KSC operates a large fabrication shop of 6000 square meters and a fleet of construction equipment, undertakes turnkey projects in medical equipping and maintenance services of hospitals, and sponsors large international companies to take up oil exploration and product activities. Arabi Enertech is one of the largest engineering contractors in energy sector specialized in E.P.C contracts, construction contracts and maintenance contracts.

Surviving the terrifying invasion

Mr. John Mathew remembers that he hadn’t had much of challenges in running and administration of the company. But, when Saddam Hussain invaded Kuwait in 1990, he was ruined to absolutely nothing. The veteran can’t forget those fearful days, when he hadn’t saved anything back home in India, and whatever was raised at Kuwait was destroyed. He sold his land in Kottayam to meet his daily needs then. There was nothing left even for your next meal. When he got back to Kuwait, it was similar to a nuclear winter, when Saddam put all the oil fields to fire. During the invasion, his family was sent back in Indian Air Force planes. By that time, a committee formed to rescue everyone around before they fled the country.

He worked day in and day out with the committee undergoing severe hardships. He stayed true to his word and purpose, and then returned to India (after liberation) once he made sure the thousands were saved. When he went back to his house in Kuwait after liberation, he could only find a small piece of soap and a Malayalam book. His heart breaks when he speaks about losing his daughters’ much loved piano, and many other fondly cared materials at home. Those were days lived in fear, with big knives under pillows, in order to save the girl children from the invaders. The war worsened in no time. While he narrates the heart-breaking episode, our eyes well up, both the speaker’s and the listener’s.

Before liberation, he started a company in Dubai (before he got back to Kuwait to start the company from the scratch). He started putting things back together, and called all his partners who had fled to different parts of

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the globe back to Kuwait. He sought bank’s help, and the company had a natural growth. Another successful company named Medical Engineering Company was formed later, providing total solutions to hospitals and other turnkey projects. He also started a hotel at Cochin named The Mermaid Hotel, which was inaugurated by the Miss Universe Yukta Mukhi. The inauguration was done in grandeur with a 1000 artists by Soorya Krishnamoorthi. Whenever he is in India, he visits the facility almost every day.

The Passion

Mr. John Mathew has published four books. He believes in Science.

He writes both in English and Malayalam. The Saga of an Expatriate was translated and published in Malayalam as well. The first two books are on evolution, on how human beings evolved from the Big Bang and the third one is a large novel, nominated as one of the best three novels published in the Malayalam

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language in 2013. His new book is in workshop now. Another book John is penning down “the thoughts of an atheist”. He regrets on the fact that the current society has unfortunately gone so very intolerant to open genuine writing & publishing. He mentions a lot of olden day writers’ works if published today would have been torn into pieces. Democracy is about tolerance and acceptance, he says. He still literally writes down on the paper, he doesn’t type. Every time he goes to London, he loves to spend time in the largest library in the world, The British Library.

His home flaunts some very rare paintings which are numbered in copies and costs a fortune. His wife, Ramani, is a talented

December-January 2020

painter, a famous cook and an author herself; she has published several popular books on cooking. He gratefully mentions how his wife stood with him through the tough times. His beloved daughters are Anna, Maria and Sara, who live with their families abroad. He believes in giving due respect to individual space and freedom, whether it be family or his employees.

For years, he has been passionately doing philanthropic activities, which he doesn’t want to be much vocal about. He travels across the globe frequently, and thinks that Kerala is a beautiful piece of land with amazing resources. Mr. John Mathew vouches on the fruits that you can bear when you work hard.

His life is a real inspiration to many who face unexpected catastrophes and upheavals in life, and learn to navigate valiantly through the seemingly impossible life.

“Don't be afraid of your fears.

They're not there to scare you.

They're there to let you know that something is worth it.”

AN EVENT BY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

MISS SOUTH INDIA 2020 PRESENTS

18TH EDITION POWERED BY

EARTH RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER

www.misssouthindia.org

Every state in India must wake up to these facts that it is high time to make things happen by pooling all the resources and offer a workable platform to allure private investments instead of borrowing any further.

Ravi Saini

Way forward to attract FDI in India

P

rivate and foreign direct investment in India is a key element for the Government to address various burning issues being faced by India. The important factors to get the desired success need to be identified and addressed accordingly.

We have analyzed few such factors, which are: • Simplified Accounting Methods for Taxation and Credit assessments; • Loans, Advances & Capital can’t be added to an income; • Banks must adopt securitizing the future cash flows through the use of technologies, artificial intelligence so that New Business Ventures could get funded; • The entire 100% of the Public Deposits in Banks be secured and insured by Govt of India so that banks could get the desired liquidity needed to enhance credit growth; • Public Private Partnerships

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through nomination mode instead of tedious and time-consuming bidding processes; • No stamp duty and Capital Gains on the land bought through 100% FDI amount provided the Investments are for a minimum period of 15 years or more; • Two dedicated Relationship Managers for projects with over US$ 100 Million FDI and lock in periods of over 15 years.

Startup/Standup India

When we talk about empowered India, we can’t forget to talk about social justice and rural development, which is easily achievable through organic farming.

Why organic farming is important? It is simply because today’s young generation is fast becoming health conscious after watching the ill effects of fast paced growth in the farm sector which is caused due to the growing greed and lust for money and excessive use of chemicals through fertilisers without an adequate knowledge shar-

ing with the poor and illiterate farmers. One simple alternative to it is the animal husbandry, which will make abundance resources of organic fertiliser badly needed today to bring back life to the soil.

It will require quality warehousing facilities, cold storage facilities and training centres. It also needs schools and colleges for producing more and more veterinary doctors and skilled/unskilled labours, which are easily available and growing in numbers, thanks to inequality of distribution of wealth being generated.

There is unscrupulous struggle for power. There is deterioration in economics, politics, and morals. It's only the gullible multitude that suffers. How disgusting?

And, what is the way out? What can be done in the face of politicisation, criminalisation, and communalisation? Well, it is important to work it out to find the answers by putting all heads together and reach a consensus.

This will automatically result in the progressive growth of the MSME (Micro Small & Medium Enterprises) and farm sector. In my opinion, instead of offering MUDRA loans to unemployed people without any collaterals, it should be given to Self Help Groups working for the farm sector, and all the disbursements be monitored through escrow accounts and spent on farmers by providing them best seeds, organic fertilisers, advanced farm machineries et al. It is high time to put the thinking cap on.

To augment the quick redressal to the issues and get the abundance of wealth needed to implement the plans proposed here, the GOI must offer lucrative offers for

getting non Repatriable FDI in India and lay down the Red Carpets for the prospective investors as they would surely need some additional pampering. Most of investors meets were found to be missing all this or the plans were not executed well.

Finding solutions is far better than coming up with excuses for not getting it done.

Every state in India must wake up to these facts that it is high time to make things happen by pooling all the resources and offer a workable platform to allure private investments instead of borrowing any further. I strongly recommend that State Bank of India at New York and all its branches in US and India should establish a special desk to

attract CD (Certificate of Deposit) from all the NRIs and Institutional investors, pension funds, municipal funds etc. and allow credit growth in the farm sector. This will motivate numerous US companies that are interested to work in this sector in both India and US to avail credit facilities and will make SBI NY grow exponentially as SBI NY (and all US branches) is probably the only Indian bank that is FDIC insured and offers the desirable investment protection standards and features that every investor looks for. All the above stated facts will definitely help our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi to get the ball moving fast for his dream initiatives of Start-up India/Stand-up India and Fit India

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FINANCE

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.

Since its inception, the code has been subject to differing interpretations by various courts/tribunals. One such issue has been on the primacy provided to financial creditors. Notably, the Committee of Creditors, the sole decision making body in a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process solely comprises of the financial creditors.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code – The Swiss Ribbons and Essar judgment

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he Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“the Code”) since its inception has helped in unlocking the value of stressed assets. Notably, the code has increased the flow of funds from INR 14, 530 crores in FY 2016-17 to INR 18, 798 crores in the first six months of FY 201819.

Since its inception, the code has been subject to differing interpretations by various courts/tribunals. One such issue has been on the primacy provided to financial creditors. Notably, the Com-

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December-January 2020

mittee of Creditors (“COC”), the sole decision making body in a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (“CIRP”) solely comprises of the financial creditors. The rationale for the inclusion of financial creditors alone is based on the premise that financial creditors are better equipped to assess the overall viability of a corporate debtor and would be far willing to modify the terms of their existing liabilities, due to which the CIRP process would be far more efficient apart from the risk of the entire process being debilitated.

A further priority has been afforded to financial creditors on the priority of payment/distribution waterfall. In accordance with section 53 of the code, the claims of the secured creditors rank pari-passu with that of the dues of the workmen and stand second in the distribution waterfall.

In my view, the need to ensure primacy being afforded to the financial creditor was well captured by the Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee Report (“BLRC”) which was headed by Dr TK Viswanathan. The BLRC re-

port states that in a resolution process, the financial creditors have indeed the best power to choose the best solution to keep the corporate debtor afloat as a going concern. The objective behind the ranking of priority of claims of creditors was based on the legislative guide on insolvency laws published by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Laws and the Principles for Effective Insolvency and Creditor/ Debtor Regime published by the World Bank in 2015.

This primacy afforded to the financial creditor has been subject to differing interpretation by various courts, which, in my view, has debilitated the CIRP process. The tilt towards having parity between the financial creditor and the operational creditor was first introduced in the judgment of the Hon’ble National Company Law Appellate Tribunal in the case of Central Bank of India Vs Resolution Professional of the Sirupur Paper Mills Limited and Others (Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No 526 of 2018. The said dictum

was subsequently followed by the Hon’ble National Company Law Appellate Tribunal again in the case of Binani Industries Vs Bank of Baroda (Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No 82 of 2018.

This issue of primacy being afforded to financial creditor, which was upheld by the Hon’ble National Company Law Tribunal, Kolkata Bench in the case of SBI Vs Messrs Adhunik Alloys & Power Limited CP(IB) No 387/KB/2017, was recently a subject matter of consideration before the Hon’ble Supreme Court. In a recent judgment, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Swiss Ribbons Private Limited & Another Vs Union of India reported in 2019 SCC Online SC 73 has upheld the primacy afforded to financial creditors under the code. The apex court concluded that the distinction afforded between a financial creditor and an operational creditor is neither discriminatory nor arbitrary nor violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. This issue was also considered by the Hon’ble

Supreme Court in the case of Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Limited Vs Satish Kumar Gupta 2019 SCC Online SC 1478, which held as follows: “…Thus, it can be seen that the Code and the Regulations, read as a whole, together with the observations of expert bodies and this Court’s judgment, all lead to the conclusion that the equality principle cannot be stretched to treating unequals equally, as that will destroy the very objective of the Code – to resolve stressed assets. Equitable treatment is to be accorded to each creditor depending upon the class to which it belongs: secured or unsecured, financial or operational.”

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Limited Vs Satish Kumar Gupta 2019 SCC Online SC 1478 has also crystallized certain key propositions, thereby settling a lot of the dust on disputed issues.

In my view, the key propositions that have now got settled, thanks to felicitous judgment in the case

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29

of Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Limited Vs Satish Kumar Gupta 2019 SCC Online SC 1478, are as follows: 1. The role of a Resolution Professional has now been clearly defined. The Resolution Professional are not required to take any decision, but merely to ensure that the resolution plans are complete in all respects before they are placed before the COC. 2. The Prospective Resolution Applicant must in its Resolution Plan include provisions to deal with the interests of all stakeholders including the financial and operational creditors.

3. The objective of the Resolution Plan should be the maximization of value of the Corporate Debtor, while the ultimate decision on

30

what to pay and how much to pay each creditor or class of creditor lies with the COC. 4. The sanctity of the wisdom of the COC has been affirmed. The Apex Court has held that the decision on the “feasibility and viability” of a resolution plan lies with the COC. The said issue would be decided by the COC after taking into various factors including the manner of distribution of funds amongst the various classes of creditors.

5. The Apex Court has also laid down that once a Resolution Plan has been approved by the COC, it shall be binding on the stakeholders including the guarantors. Hence, personal guarantees and undecided claims would stand extinguished once the Resolution Plan is approved by the COC.

December-January 2020

Summary

In summary, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has provided the must required course correction, thereby putting a stop to unnecessary litigation. With the notification of regulations covering personal guarantors to corporate debtors under the IBC vide Notification NO. IBBI/2019-20/ GN/REG050, dated 20-11-2019, the Code has received a must needed thrust. I would assume that the country’s ease of doing business ranking should improve considering the recent felicitous changes in the code coupled with the recent judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Limited Vs Satish Kumar Gupta 2019 SCC Online SC 1478

HEALTH

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

Good control of diabetes over time is the key to treating diabetic neuropathy. There is no cure for neuropathy, but keeping your blood sugar within a target range can reduce symptoms and prevent them from getting worse.

Diabetic Neuropathy is controllable

D

iabetic neuropathy is a common serious complication of uncontrolled diabetes. High blood sugar can injure nerve fibers throughout your body, but diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet.

Symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy may include: • Tingling, • Numbness (severe or long-term numbness can become permanent), • Burning (especially in the evening), and • Pain.

Nerve damage in the feet can result in a loss of foot sensation, increasing your risk of foot problems. Injuries and sores on the feet may go unrecognized due to lack of sensation.

For some people, these symptoms are mild; for others, diabetic neuropathy can be painful, disabling and even fatal.

These conditions are thought

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December-January 2020

to result from diabetic microvascular injury involving small blood vessels that supply nerves (vasa nervorum) in addition to macrovascular conditions that can culminate in diabetic neuropathy.

Neuronal ischemia is a well-established characteristic of diabetic neuropathy. Elevated intracellular levels of glucose can also cause direct injury to the nerves.

To help prevent the complications of peripheral neuropathy: • Examine your feet and legs daily, • Apply lotion if your feet are dry, • Care for your nails regularly (go to a podiatrist, if necessary), and • Wear properly fitting footwear (wear them all the time to prevent foot injury).

Symptoms to watch out • Vision changes • Trouble with balance • Dysesthesia (abnormal sensation to a body part) • Diarrhea • Erectile dysfunction, Anorgas-

mia, retrograde ejaculation (in males), urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) • Facial, mouth and eyelid drooping, muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, speech impairment • Fasciculation (muscle contractions) Risk factors Anyone who has diabetes can develop neuropathy, but these factors make you more susceptible to nerve damage.

• Poor blood sugar control is the greatest risk factor for every complication of diabetes, including nerve damage.

• Your risk of diabetic neuropathy increases the longer you have diabetes, especially if your blood sugar isn't well-controlled.

• Diabetes can cause damage to the kidneys, which may increase the toxins in the blood and contribute to nerve damage.

• Having a body mass index greater than 24 may increase your risk of developing diabetic neuropathy.

• Smoking narrows and hardens your arteries, reducing blood flow to your legs and feet. This makes it more difficult for wounds to heal and damages the integrity of the peripheral nerves.

Treatment Good control of diabetes over time is the key to treating diabetic neuropathy. There is no cure for neuropathy, but keeping your blood sugar within a target range can reduce symptoms and prevent

them from getting worse.

• Medications can be taken to help control the discomfort such as pain relievers or creams to relieve pain. It may include medicines used to treat depression, such as tricyclic anti-depressants and antidepressant duloxetine hydrochloride, and medicines that control seizures, such as pregabalin and gabapentin.

• Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and biofeedback,

can be used.

• Physical therapies such as exercises, stretching and massage can be tried. When using heat or ice, be careful. Neuropathy can make it hard for you to feel changes in temperature.

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is a type of therapy that reduces pain by applying brief pulses of electricity to nerve endings in the skin, is also helpful

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33

Vignesh S.G Sub-Editor, Kochi, India

In other sense, it is improper to put burden on men alone. This crime is too complicated. Definitely, lack of awareness is one of the prime reasons for the existence of marital rape. Even women are not correctly aware about this issue. Then, how are men supposed to be aware of?

An Open Letter to Sensitize the Issue of Marital Rape

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his letter is being written at the time the unacceptable issue of marital rape is becoming a serious threat to the concept of married life.

Needless to say, a considerable part of the Indian society is still unaware about the existence of this issue in the society.

As an issue that concerns women most, it has been wrongly branded as a feminist issue - not only in India, but also across the world.

Do you really think marital rape is a mere feminist issue and men have nothing to do with the issue? If you think so, you are still ill-informed.

Though women in all social classes are equally vulnerable to marital rape, those in the lower classes in the social strata are more vulnerable than the rest.

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December-January 2020

Unfortunately, those in the lower classes in the social strata lack independent voice, as generally their households are controlled by men, who are breadwinners.

In other sense, it is improper to put burden on men alone. This crime is too complicated. Definitely, lack of awareness is one of the prime reasons for the existence of marital rape. Even women are not correctly aware about this issue.

Then, how are men supposed to be aware of?

Moreover, the easy availability of adult contents online often gives a wrong picture about married life to men-sometimes, even to women.

Making women economically self reliant may not alone serve the purpose properly, though it is a good step to begin with.

A bill, which ensures tougher punishment for marital rape, may

also confront certain road blockers including the question of what amounts to a marital rape – simply, what all are those actions that can be treated as a marital rape.

And, the privacy point may also come in the way of the bill.

The simplest and less risky way to start is to commence an awareness program. India is one of the very few countries which have successfully executed several awareness programs; the successful awareness program for women education is a perfect example.

If the government has a will, it can lunch a national wide awareness program to address the issue of marital rape. It may not require too much funds. What it actually needs is a will - precisely, what it needs is a state of mind which can empathise with the issues women confronts in her day to day life.

By initiating programs like

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana, the central government has already proved its commitment towards improving the life of women in the country.

A campaign to fight marital rape should reach every region in the country equally. There are states like Kerala where the position of women in their family is far better than the rest and there are states where the position of women is pathetic. So, a single national policy is not feasible. That means a state-centric approach is needed. The situation of each state should be studied separately, and each state should be offered a campaign which suites its requirement perfectly.

What people know less is the importance of will and consent. These two elements have a deep connection with marital rape. In the majority of the cases of marital rape, what is absent is will. But, sadly, only those cases that lack consent are treated as marital rape.

That means in the campaign, along with the importance of consent, the importance of will also should be discussed.

Beneath all these is the less discussed fact that marriage is not the license for rape. Unfortunately, the repetition of incidences of marital rape proves still there are people in the society, who believe the opposite version of the aforesaid fact or the

tampered version of the said.

A simple acceptance of the existence of this issue in the society can give a tremendous boost to the effort to contain the evil.

Family is the base of society. It is important to keep those elements that bind family together intact and unspoiled.

Before demanding a safe space for women in the society, what each one of us needs to think is whether his/her house is safe for women or not. If it is not, what relevance is in getting a society safer for women?

Let’s work for making our homes safe for women first! Be The Change, What You Want to See!

HEALTH

Nizar Abdul MajeedKutty Senior Lecturer Department of Physiotherapy UniversitiTunku Abdul Rahman Malaysia

A combination of exercises, both aerobic and anaerobic, around 20 minutes a day, can reduce the risk of a fall. Strengthening the hand grip muscles is a good idea, as it helps you to grab for safety and prevent a fall. Walk, bicycle, or climb stairs to strengthen the muscles of your legs and lower body.

The writer is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at UniversitiTunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia

Fall Prevention: Why Old people Fall Frequently?

F

alls are too common in the elderly population, and they have devastating consequences. They are the leading cause of injury and death by injury in adults over the age of 65 years. One of 3 community-dwelling older adults falls each year, with 24% of those who fall sustaining serious injuries and 6% sustaining fractures. Due to ageing of societies worldwide, it is expected that falls and their related injuries will become a more prominent public health issue in the coming decades. The total healthcare costs spent on falls are high, partly due to the high incidence of falls, but also because of the high costs per incident. A person who falls may subsequently experience pain, hospitalization and surgical intervention, admission to long-term care facilities,

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December-January 2020

loss of independence, poorer quality of life, or a fear of falling, and even death. Falls can cause fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand. Even when bones aren’t broken, falls can result in a trip to the emergency room. The safest and most effective way to prevent broken bones is to prevent falling.

Many older adults are not aware they are at risk of falling until it happens. A study published in the medical journal JAMA found that for people over 75, the rate of mortality from falls more than doubled from 2000 to 2016. Elizabeth Burns, a health scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who was an author of the study, said the reason for the increase was unclear. “The most likely reason is that people are living longer with conditions

that in the past they might have died from,” she said. In addition, she continued, older adults are on medications that increase their risk of falling. Women are slightly more likely to fall than men, but men are slightly more likely to die as a result of a fall. The biggest risk factor for falls that can’t be changed is your age. Most of the other risks can be mitigated.

Why People Fall

Normal walk and balance require freely moving joints; muscles contracting at the right time with the appropriate strength; and accurate visual, vibratory, and proprioceptive input. As people age, they may experience stiffened joints, decreased muscle strength, and impaired neurologic feedback.

These changes, in combination with other risk factors, increase the likelihood of falls. The strong-

est independent risk factors for falls are previous falls, weakness, gait and balance impairments, and use of psychoactive medications. The risk of falling increases with the number of risk factors present. The majority of falls have a multifactorial origin.

With respect to falls prevention, all factors should be analyzed and evaluated.

Risk Factors for Falls

• Previous Falls • Decreased Strength • Balance Impairments • Use of Psychoactive Medications • Visual Impairment • Depression • Dizziness • Functional Limitations • Age > 80 Years • Female Sex • Low Body Mass Index • Uncontrolled urination • Cognitive Impairment • Arthritis • Diabetes • Stroke • Cardiovascular disease • Pain

Fear of Falling

Fear of falling may contribute to further functional decline in an already frail patient. When people experience something unpleasant, their natural response is an aversion to that experience. People may begin to limit their activities after a fall or as they become weaker and less agile with increasing age. This leads to a more sedentary lifestyle and physical atrophy, which further predisposes them to falls. Successful encouragement to maintain or increase physical activity may promote the ability to avoid falling or to catch oneself before a fall.

Screening for Falls

People who report a fall or balance difficulties should undergo an assessment of fall by a doctor or physiotherapist. They will assess the risk by performing certain special tests and advice you regarding the steps to be taken to avoid a fall.

How Can We Fix This Problem

Senior care experts offer the following advices for preventing falls at

home.

• Keep free of clutter. The easiest method for preventing falls is to keep your home neat and tidy.

Remove all clutter, such as stacks of old newspapers and magazines, especially from hallways and staircases.

• Eliminate tripping hazards.

Get rid of throw rugs and make sure your carpet is even, and eliminate extension cords that stretch across a floor. Pets can also be a hazard. Take a closer look at the height of thresholds between rooms; it is important to remember that it only takes just a fraction of an inch to cause a trip.

Remove oversized furniture and objects.

• Install grab bars and handrails. These safety devices are crucial for going up and down stairs, getting on and off the toilet, and stepping in and out of the bathtub without injuring yourself. Install grab bars by toilets and bathtubs and handrails in stairways and hallways.

• Avoid wearing loose clothing. Baggy clothes can sometimes

make you more likely to fall. Opt for better-fitting and properly hemmed clothing that doesn’t drag on the ground.

• Improve lighting. Inadequate lighting is another major hazard. To create a home that is more suitable for the elderly, have adequate lighting in stairways, hallways and pathways, with lightswitches placed at each end. Adding nightlights in bedrooms and bathrooms for better guidance at night is also beneficial. Check lighting for adequate illumination and glare control.

• Wear shoes. Fall risk markedly increases when not wearing shoes. Athletic and canvas shoes (sneakers) are the styles of footwear associated with lowest risk of a fall.

Indoor footwear with an enclosed heel, Velcro fastening, and a firm sole optimizes balance compared to backless slippers.

• Make it nonslip. Bathtubs and showers, as well as floors in kitchens, bathrooms, and porches, can become extremely dangerous when wet. To prevent use matt finish floor tiles and non-slip mats.

38

• Be extra-careful when you negotiate stairs. Even with precautions like guardrails, stairs can present a significant falling hazard.

If it’s not possible to live on one level, try to limit the trips you take up and down the stairs.

• Move carefully. Stand up slowly from a seated or lying position. Rising too quickly can lead to a rapid dip in blood pressure that can sweep you off your feet. Pay attention when you walk. Leave your cellphone in your purse, and hold off on conversations until you're sitting.

• Make use of technology.

Wear an electronic pendent with a button to push to call for help.

Steps that an individual can take to decrease their risk of falling: Exercise to improve balance and strength

Exercise is a proven way to prevent falls, by strengthening the muscles that keep us upright and improving our balance. Before starting any new fitness program, see your doctor to make sure it's safe for you.

December-January 2020

This is especially true if you've been feeling dizzy or if you have a chronic health condition like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma. Consider yoga or Tai chi to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility. These exercises involve slow deliberate movements along with breathing and muscle activity, which improves balance. A study found that for adults over 70 who practiced tai chi twice a week for an hour, the incidence of falls was reduced by 58 percent. Integrate balance and strength practice into everyday life; for example, stand on one foot while brushing your teeth, or stand with one foot in front of the other.

A combination of exercises, both aerobic and anaerobic, around 20 minutes a day, can reduce the risk of a fall. Strengthening the hand grip muscles is a good idea, as it helps you to grab for safety and prevent a fall. Walk, bicycle, or climb stairs to strengthen the muscles of your legs and lower body. Use hand weights, elastic bands, or a weight machine to build upper and lower body muscle strength. According to one Age and

Ageing review, at least 1 in 3 adults aged 60 and older suffer from severe muscle loss, called sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia drastically affects the strength of the legs, hips and core, all of which are critical to mobility and maintaining independence. The loss of muscle mass and strength in the arms can make it difficult to catch yourself if you do trip.

Try these exercises that can help keep you strong and stable through the years.

Heel raises: Stand up straight behind a chair, holding the back with both hands. Position your feet hipwidth apart. Lift up on your toes.

Hold. Lower your heels to the floor.

Repeat 10 times.

Standing side leg lift: Stand up straight behind a chair, holding the back with both hands. Slowly lift your right leg straight out to the side about 6 inches off the floor. Hold.

Return to starting position. Repeat 10 times on each side.

Standing hamstring curls: Stand up straight behind a chair,

holding the back with both hands.

Extend your right leg behind you with your toes touching the floor.

Bend your right knee and try to bring the heel to your right buttock. Hold.

Slowly lower your foot to the floor.

Repeat 10 times on each leg.

Sit-to-Stand: Begin seated in a chair with arms. Then, brace yourself on the arms and push your butt up in the air using as little help from your lower body as possible. Once you’ve lifted your body out of the chair, slowly lower yourself back into a seated position. Repeat 10 times.

Clamshell exercise: Lie on your right side with your feet and hips stacked, your knees bent 90 degrees, and your head resting on your right arm. Draw your knees in toward your body until your feet are in line with your butt. Place your left hand on your left hip to ensure it doesn’t tilt backward. This is your starting position.Keeping your abs engaged and your feet together, raise your left knee as far as you can without rotating your hip or lifting your

right knee off the floor. Hold for 1 second, squeezing your glutes at the top of the move, before slowly lowering your left knee to the starting position. Continue for a total of 20 repetitions, and then repeat on the other side.

Alternating Lunges: Stand tall, with your feet hip-width apart.

Place a sturdy chair to one side to hold for balance (As you gain strength, you can perform this exercise without holding onto a chair).

Keeping your back straight, step forward with one foot. Bend your front knee until your back knee is almost touching the ground. Make sure your front knee doesn’t extend past your front toes. Then, push through your front foot to return to standing.

Repeat with the opposite leg. Start with five repetitions per leg before increasing to 10 repetitions per leg.

Maintain general health

Drink water! Hydration is a good way to fight dizziness. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Eat food with VitaminD to in-

December-January 2020

39

crease bone strength.

Get screened for osteoporosis (a condition where bones get weak or brittle).

Wear the right glasses: Have your eyes checked yearly. Eyesight is a crucial component when it comes to falls. Bifocal and progressive lenses make falling more likely, so wear single vision glasses when needed for safe walking.

Focus on your mindset

Many people develop a fear of falling after they’ve fallen. Although caution is helpful, fear can cause older people to limit their activities that lead to less movement, loss of physical fitness, and can eventually increase their risk of falling. People may resist the transition to a cane or walker, but using these aids can prevent problems down the road.

If your doctor has recommended a walker, use it. It will allow you to be more independent for longer.

Mind your medications

Drug use among the older population has increased in the past decades. Several types of drugs are associated with a significant risk of falls, the so-called ‘fall risk increasing drugs’. Ask your doctor to go through all your medicines with you. Fall risk increases with the

40

number of drugs used per day and polypharmacy (the use of at least three drugs) is regarded as an important risk factor for falls in older people. Any drug that reduces blood pressure or slows the heart may cause falls, faint feelings, loss of consciousness, or "legs giving way," especially in cases of polypharmacy.

Medications, especially those that help with sleep, can compromise balance. If you are on any medications that cause drowsiness or dizziness, consult your doctor. Your doctor may consider risk/benefit ratio. Your doctor may suggest a safer drug or non-drug alternative or minimize the dose without losing the benefit of the drug.

Falls are avoidable for most seniors. As the population ages, the number of Malaysians who die following a fall, is escalating. Although the trend is disturbing, falls need not be an inevitable part of aging, and they are preventable. As the life expectancy of Malaysians increases, the rate of home injuries among elderly people is expected to increase. Most home injuries can be prevented. Elderly people should be taught to practice safety measures at home. Improvement in home furnishings, especially in accident-

December-January 2020

prone areas such as the kitchen and toilet is necessary. Fall prevention measures should include regular medical check-ups for visual acuity, activities of daily living, physical health, cognitive and memory functioning, and home inspection to ensure adequate lighting, railings and support bars in bathrooms, and proper arrangement of furniture to avoid tripping and falls. Preventing falls can save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of people.

The good news is that while falls are dangerous, there are ways to prevent them.

Eye health

Though it may seem obvious, paying attention to eye health is important for fall prevention. Getting regular eye exams and updating eyeglass prescriptions as needed is important to prevent blurred vision, which can lead to falls. In addition, cataracts, which occur in nearly 50% of people ages 75 to 80, should be addressed early to decrease your risk of falls. Recent studies show that having cataract surgery earlier in the course of the disease is associated with a reduced risk of falls.

Getting older is inevitable, but there is a lot you can do to age gracefully

GADGETS

Vivo Z5i

` 18, 300 (approximately)

Android 9 Pie OS

6.53 inches Display

16 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP Triple

Primary Cameras

16 MP Secondary Camera

8 GB RAM

128 GB Internal Memory

256 GB Expandable Memory

5000 mAh Battery Capacity

Realme 5s

` 9, 999 (approximately) Android v9.0 (Pie) OS 6.51 inches Display 48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP +

2 MP Primary Cameras 13 MP Secondary Camera 4 GB RAM 64 GB Internal Memory 256 GB Expandable Memory 5000 mAh Battery Capacity

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December-January 2020

Vivo U20

` 10, 990 (approximately) Android v9.0 (Pie) OS 6.53 inches Display 16 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP Triple

Primary Cameras 16 MP Secondary Camera 4 GB RAM 64 GB Internal Memory 256 GB Expandable Memory 5000 mAh Battery Capacity

Motorola One Hyper

` 27, 990 (approximately) Android v10 (Q) OS 6.39 inches Display 64 MP + 8 MP Dual Primary Cameras 32 MP Secondary Camera 4 GB RAM 128 GB Internal Memory 512 GB Expandable Memory 4000 mAh Battery Capacity

December-January 2020

43

COOKERY

Toshma Biju

Kallappam Ingredients

• • • • • • • • •

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Idli rice - 2 cups (soak it in water for at least 6 hrs) Cooked rice - 1 cup Grated coconut - 3/4 cup Yeast - 1/2 teaspoon Sugar - 1 tablespoon Salt - to taste Grated coconut - 1/2 cup Cumin seeds - one pinch Onion - 1 small

December-January 2020

Method

Combine 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon yeast in around 3 tablespoons lukewarm water, and keep it aside for 5 to 10 minutes.

Grind the idli rice in a mixer grinder, adding little water if needed. When it is half-ground add the cooked rice and grated coconut, and grind everything together to make a very smooth paste. Transfer it to a large bowl. Mix it in yeast mixture, stir well, and allow it to ferment for 6 to 8 hrs.

Grind 1/4 cup grated coconut with 1 pearl onion and 1 to 2 pinches of cumin seeds. Just before preparing the appams, add the crushed coconut-cumin mixture and salt (as much as required) to the batter. Mix well. If the batter is very thick, you can add coconut milk.

Heat a non-stick pan. Apply oil on the tawa (you do not need to apply oil if you are using a non-stick pan). Pour batter into the tawa. The batter will spread by itself. Flip over to the other side after a minute or two. Cook until it turns light brown.

Serve hot with Chicken Stew.

Chicken Stew Ingredients

•

• • • •

Chicken - 300 grams (cut into small pieces) Cinnamon stick - 1 inch Whole black peppercorns - 1 tablespoon Peeled and cubed carrot - 1 nos Green beans - 100 grams (chopped small) Peeled and cubed potato - 1 nos Sliced onion - 1 nos Green chilli - 1 nos Chopped garlic - 4 cloves Chopped ginger - 1 inch Cashew nuts - 10 (boiled in water and ground to a paste) Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper powder - 1 teaspoon Coconut oil - for cooking Salt - to taste

• • • •

Sliced onion – 1 nos Chopped garlic – 2 nos Sprig curry leaves – 1 nos Coconut oil – as much as needed

• • • • • • • • • •

Method

Wash the chicken pieces and cut them to small pieces. Keep all the vegetables prepped. Heat a pressure cooker with coconut oil, add cinnamon stick, cloves, and peppercorns and let them fry for few seconds. Add in the onions, garlic and ginger.

Sauté them, until they are soften. Add the vegetables - carrots, beans, potatoes, and sauté for 10 minutes. Add chicken, cashew nut paste, turmeric powder and salt. Sauté well until it is evenly coated. Add half of the coconut milk and some water. Pressure cook for 1 whistle. Allow the pressure to release naturally and pour in the reaming coconut milk and give it a stir.

Heat a sauce pan with oil, add curry leaves and allow it to splutter. Add onions and garlic and sauté until they turn brown.

Sprinkle the browned onions over the curry and serve.

For Garnish

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Beef Dry Roast Ingredients

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Beef - 1 kg Thinly sliced shallots - 25 nos Slit green chillies - 2-3 nos Ginger garlic paste - 1 tablespoon Turmeric powder - ¼ tablespoon Red chilli powder - 1 tablespoon Coriander powder - 1½ tablespoon Pepper powder - 2 tablespoons Meat masala - 1 teaspoon Garam masala - ½ teaspoon Curry leaves - 4 - 6 sprinkles Coconut bites - ¼ cup Mustard seeds - a pinch Salt - as much as required Oil - as much as required

December-January 2020

Method

Clean and cut beef into cube shaped pieces.

Cook the beef in a pressure cooker with salt, pepper powder, meat masala, and a little water just enough to cover the meat. Pressure cook for 2 whistles and then remove the cooker from the flame. Allow it to rest until the pressure goes off.

Keep it aside.

Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.

Add curry leaves, sliced shallots, green chilies, and a little salt. Sauté until the onions turn translucent. Add ginger garlic paste, and sauté for a minute or until the smell resides. Add spice powders, such as chili, coriander, turmeric and garam masala, and mix well. Make sure to turn the heat to low, while adding the spice powders, so that it does not burn.

Remove the lid from the pressure cooker and transfer the cooked beef with the remaining water to the pan. Mix well with the masala, and cook on a medium flame until the gravy dries out. Stir the gravy occasionally while cooking, to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add salt as much as needed.

Meanwhile, heat a little oil in another pan and fry the coconut bites. As it starts to brown, add curry leaves and fry it along with the coconut bites until browned. Keep it aside.

When the gravy dries out, reduce the flame to a low and sauté the beef in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes. Add the fried curry leaves and coconut bites, and mix well together. Scrape the sides of the pan, toss until the meat is brown black and dried out completely.

Pork Roast Ingredients

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Pork - 550 gms Crushed ginger - 1 tablespoon Crushed garlic - 1.5 tablespoon Chopped green chilli - 2 nos Pepper powder - 2 teaspoons Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon Coriander powder - 2 teaspoons Vinegar - 1 teaspoon Coconut bits - 1/2 cup Salt - as much as required Curry leaves - as much as required Small onion - 3 (sliced) Mustard seeds - 1/4 teaspoon Fennel seeds - 1/4 teaspoon Coconut oil - 2 tablespoons

Method

Marinate cleaned pork with ingredients listed from crushed ginger to curry leaves for around 15 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup water. Bring it to boil and reduce flame to the lowest. Cover and cook, till pork is done - it will take around 60 minutes.

Heat oil in a wide pan and crackle mustard and fennel seeds. Add sliced small onion and curry leaves. Once the small onion turns brown, add cooked pork, along with water and mix well.

Cook on low flame till the pork is nicely roasted and becomes dark in colour.

You can add coconut oil in between, if it becomes dry.

Coconut Rice Ingredients

• • • • • • • • •

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Basmati rice - 1 cup Small onion - 15 nos (sliced) Coconut - 1.5 cups Dry red chilli - 2-3 nos Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon Cashew nuts - 10 nos Salt - to taste Oil - as much as required Curry leaves - as much as required

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Method

Cook the rice, and keep it aside.

In a wide pan, heat oil. Crackle the mustard seeds and cashew nuts. Add sliced small onions. When it begins to brown, add dry red chilli. Fry it for a minute. Add grated coconut, curry leaves and salt. Mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add cooked rice and gently mix it, till everything is combined.

Cook for a minute or two and remove from fire.

Milkmaid Cake Ingredients

• • • • • • • •

All purpose flour - 2 1/2 cup Sugar - 2 tablespoons Baking powder - 4 teaspoons Salt - 1 teaspoon Condensed milk - 1 can Eggs - 2 beaten Oil - 2/3 cups Vanila extract - 1 teaspoon

Method

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, milk and oil, and add all at once to the flour mixture.

Using a wire whisk, mix till it is combined taking care not to over beat.

Pour in to greased cake tin.

Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degree Fahrenheit for 40 minutes or till golden.

Cover the cake with sweetened whipped cream or chocolate cream.

BEAUTY

Natural ways to soften lips

D

o you know what the most beautiful part of your face is? It is your lips. Do you know why it is known as the most beautiful part? Actually, that question is difficult to answer. But, we can say one thing for sure that not many may disagree with the aforesaid statement regarding lips.

There is a saying that the smoother your lips is the brighter your face becomes. What it indicates is that the beauty of a face has a direct connection with the smoothness of its lips. In other words, the beauty of a face is directly proportional to the smoothness of its lips.

The aforesaid statement explains why the demand for lip balms increases day by day.

Nowadays, lip balms are popular even in villages, unlike in the past when it was only available in cities.

What the aforesaid stats emphasises is the fact that people – especially women – have become more conscious about their lips than before now.

Why they are so conscious?

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International

Mob: 9388618112

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May be because their lips are more vulnerable now than before; or may be because they are encouraged more to take care of their lips now than before.

Whatever, it is. There is clarity in one thing. There is a demand – the demand for a solution to keep lips soft and beautiful.

Is it necessary that all such demands are addressed only through the chemical path?

Haven’t you ever searched for a safe path? If your answer is ‘yes’, then you are at the right place – at the right page.

In this edition, we introduce some of the effective ways to smoothen lips naturally to our beloved readers.

Let’s begin!

Rose Petals

This method is more suitable for women. Rosy pink lips are every woman’s dream. But, it is not easy to get that. Isn’t it? Anyway, there is a good notification for you. What this method offer is that.

Take a handful of rose petals. Sock it for few

hours – at least six to seven hours. Strain the water completely. Pour a few drops of milk into the drained rose petals. Turn the mixture into the form of a paste.

Apply the paste on your lips. Let it sit there for few minutes – at least fifteen minutes (the more it stays, the better it becomes).

Remove it with cold water. Try it daily for better result.

Honey and Lemon

It is a well-known fact that honey and lemon are two miraculous substances. It is also well aware that the combination of these two substances gives solutions to many beauty issues.

Here, it is important to mention that smoothing lips is one of the best beauty solutions this combination can give. The combination is actually a natural moisturisercum-natural bleach, as honey holds moisturising properties and lemon contains bleaching properties.

Take two spoons of honey and a spoon of lemon. Combine them thoroughly. Apply the mixture on your lips. Let it rest there for few minutes – at least 20 to 30 minutes. Wash it off with slightly

warm water. Try it at least twice a week.

Aloe Vera

There is nothing in the world which is equal to aloe vera. It is not short of a gift from the Almighty. It has several medicinal properties.

Even modern medical researchers recognise the plant as a store house of several vitamins and minerals.

There are many who apply the gel extracted from this plant on their faces daily. A new report says that it is also beneficial to lips.

Extract a spool of gel from the plant. Add few drops of olive oil or coconut oil into the extracted gel.

Mix them well. Apply it on your lips.

Use it whenever you feel you need the support of a lip balm. Actually, it is a best alternative to lip balms.

Sugar and oil

It is a perfect combination for those looking for a perfect natural scrub for their lips. What makes it special is that it is one hundred per cent natural and is extremely effective.

Take a spoon of sugar. Pour a spoon of coconut oil or olive oil into the sugar. Mix them well. Apply it on your lips and slowly and gently scrub in circular motion. Wash it off with clean water. It is better to apply aloe vera on your lips after the scrubbing process.

Stay Healthy! Stay Beautiful!

Spread Happiness!

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TRAVELOGUE

Sri Lanka: The Pearl of Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean Island is blessed with splendid beaches, fetching monuments, mind-blowing historic ruins, magnificent museums, peaceful religious sites, vibrant cities, impressive villages, soothing rivers, playful waterfalls, silent forests and many more less explored treasures.

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J

ust a few kilometres away from the southern tip of India lies this beautiful Island, called Sri Lanka. It is close to India for many reasons. The southern part of India even shares a strong social and cultural connection with this Island.

The Island nation recently witnessed a regime change. Putting a sudden end to political uncertainty, the Rajapaksa family re-entered the corridor of power. Solider-turnedpolitician Gotabaya Rajapaksa sworn in as the President of the Island, and his brother and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa inducted as the Prime Minister.

The newly elected Sri Lankan President was quick to reach up to India. He selected the world’s largest democracy as his first official trip destination.

The preliminary signs indicate that what is about to come is the glorious period of the India-Sri Lanka relation.

Sri Lanka has a bitter past – the past of a brutal civil war. Tens of thousands of people lost their life during the civil war and several people are still missing. Though the war officially ended with the fall of the LTTE in the year 2009, the wound

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it inflicted has not yet been healed.

The Island country is yet to fulfil many assurances it has made to the global community – including the assurance of bringing the war devastated northern region back to its glorious past – at least, to normal. Though the induction of a war hero as the top leader of the country is like advising the affected population to ditch their hope that the country will serve justice to them some day, the President’s promise that he will be the President of all Sri Lankans strengths the hope of the affected.

Anyway, only the future can tell whether the President will act more than his lip service or not.

Needless to say, owing to the decades-long civil war and political instability, the Sri Lankan economy is in a very bad state. Actually, it is under a bitter debit trap. To recover from the trap, the country urgently needs a financial boost. It looks eagerly on its tourism sector for that boost. Fortunately, that sector has the capacity to gift the needed support.

The Indian Ocean Island is blessed with splendid beaches, fetching monuments, mind-blowing historic ruins, magnificent muse-

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Sigiriya, Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Nuwara Eliya are the five major attractions in this part of the world.

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ums, peaceful religious sites, vibrant cities, impressive villages, soothing rivers, playful waterfalls, silent forests and many more less explored treasures.

Sigiriya, Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Nuwara Eliya are the five major attractions in this part of the world.

Sigiriya, also called Sinhagiri, is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site.

It showcases how advanced the ancient Sri Lankan people – especially their town planning system – was. It was built by King Kashyapa, according to Culavamsa, the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle. It was his palace, and the place where it is situated was his capital city. He lived in the palace till his death. Later, it was inhibited by Buddhists, and they lived there until the late fourteenth century. The structure of the palace is in the form of a lion, and that is why the place is known by the name Sinhagiri. The palace is situated in the Matale district of Sri Lanka, which comes in the central region of the Island country.

Colombo, as you all know, is the capital of Sri Lanka. It speaks loudly about its colonial past – the city succumbed to almost all the major colonial invaders such as Portuguese, Dutch and Briton. The city’s rich colonial past gifts it several attractive colonial ruins. If the city is closely observed, it can be understand clearly the city is not over with its colonial hangover.

The city is the most developed region in the country. It is its business centre, as well as its administrative centre. It is home to most of major government buildings in the Island. Colombo National Museum and Viharamahadevi Park are the prime attractions in this city. The city offers an exceptional shopping experience too.

Kandy is an exceptional city surrounded by mountains. Bogambara Lake is the prime attraction in the city.

It is home to several Buddhist monuments and temples; Sri Dalada Maligawa shrine, popularly known as The Temple of the Tooth, is the most popular among them. What makes the city different is it splendid scenic beauty.

Galle is where one should go to see the real glimpse of the Island country’s rich colonial past. Galle Fort, the city founded by Portuguese colonials, are the prime attraction in the city.

Apart from the Fort, there are sev-

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eral colonial ruins such as Stone Sea Wall and Reformed Church erected

by Dutch. Galle Lighthouse is also a main attraction. Other than all these, the city’s beaches are what that makes the city a true tourist heaven.

Nuwara Eliya is a city in the tea country hills. The colonials’ invasion to Sri Lanka was not without a reason.

It was their discovery of the potential of the land to be turned into the biggest tea production centre close to the International shipping channel that prompted them to try their hands at this land. They succeeded in their plan to an extent. What is seen in this city is the ruins of that big plan envisaged by the colonials. Anyway, Sri Lanka still benefits from that plan.

It produces some of the finest tea products, though its production capacity does not match its rivals in the region. Interestingly, the Sri Lankan plantations do not only serve to its agriculture goals, but also to its tourism goals, as more and more tourism come forward every year showing interest to visit the plantations. This city stays in the list of attractions as per that trend.

It is the best place to experience a Sri Lankan tea plantation. Apart from the tea plantations, in this city, there are several attractions such as Seetha Amman Temple (the temple which has an interesting story to tell), Hakgala Botanical Garden and Galway’s Land National Park. It is the best place to get a glimpse of some of rare birds live in this Island like blue magpies, bulbuls and flycatchers.

The Sri Lankan cuisine is not very different from the Indian cuisine, though there are some indigenous dishes and some colonial inspired dishes special for the Island.

The country is perfected connected. Its people are friendly. The present Sri Lanka does not look much like the Sri Lanka of the war days.

What that is covered in this article is very less and what is needed to be explored is extremely huge. That means this land offers much more than what little is mentioned in this small travel write-up.

Sri Lanka is slowly emerging as a prefect budget tourism destination in Asia. The expense part is not different from India.

Let’s plan a trip to this Island soon

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.

The Altroz comes with two engine options – a 1.2 litre petrol and a 1.5 litre diesel – both BS6, coupled to 5 speed manual transmissions. As for the petrol, it is the only 3 cylinder engine in its class.

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Tata Altroz

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he Altroz is a key product in the Tata Motors’ path of reinventing itself. It is the latest offering in the new era of Tata products built from ground up, and aims squarely at the premium hatchback segment dominated by the Baleno, i20, Jazz, Polo, Glanza etc. While the official launch will happen sometime in January, 2020, we got to sample one in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The readers of Unique Times will be among the first to read it this time.

This is a new platform for Tata Motors, which they call the ALFA architecture – short form for Agile, Light, Flexible and Advanced. It will form the basis of many future cars in various body styles and has provisions for an electric power-train to be fitted in later. Making it light was one of the top priorities, and the result is a body shell which weighs a lot less than that of the smaller Tiago. It uses a high grade of steel that makes it lighter without compromising on strength. Tata says it is their safest car ever, and going by their recent

December-January 2020

crash test results, we have every reason to believe them. It feels very solidly built and there is a sense of robustness and indestructibility that is missing in others.

The Altroz looks the part and like most Tatas, hasn’t deviated much from its original concept form. The front end has a striking appearance that gets better the more you look at it. The upward swept headlamps, the glossy black grille, the chrome line that runs underneath it and the fog lamps with LED DRLs in the bumper are all very distinctive.

The side profile has this uniquely placed turn signal on the fender and characteristic body lines that make the car look much lower. The rear door handles are hidden near the C pillar to give it a cleaner look to the overall body. The glossy black outline around the windows makes it look more dynamic without having to resort to a lower shoulder-line or a larger window. The rear gets more glossy black trim which along with the black tail lamp surrounds make it look like one solid piece of glass.

The 16 inch polished alloy wheels look the part and the car looks very good from most angles. At 1755mm, it is the widest car in its class by a considerable margin. Incidentally, it also has the shortest wheelbase of all its rivals, although it is about the same four metre length.

Step inside and you are greeted by a cabin that is very generous in size. The dashboard layout is typically Tata in design, with well-made bits and a floating screen at the centre.

The new flat bottom steering wheel is small and very nice to hold. The horn pad stretches all the way to the edges, so you don’t have to extend your fingers to the centre boss, to operate the horn. The downside is, all the buttons on the wheel are also mounted on this pad that it makes the whole set-up feel a bit wobbly when you first operate them. We also feel that the dashboard layout has a lot of vacant space, and that silver dashboard trim reflects light quite badly when you have the sun shining behind you at an angle. Apart from this, there aren’t any issues to report.

Tata has got most of the ergonomics right, this time round. The steering only adjusts for rake, but it is very easy to find a good seating position.

The front seats have very good lateral support and so much room. The rear seat has decent width and adequate support, offers a comfortable posture and comes with a flat floor and its own AC vents. Also, worth mentioning is the doors which open to 90 degrees making ingress, egress or loading something on the seats, so much easier. The boot is 340 litres and Tata’s attention to detail using colour coded mats for the car all round is top notch. The 7 inch touch screen infotainment system, which is by Harmon Kardon, doubles up as the display for the HVAC and also connects to the 7 inch driver information display for displaying song details and navigation info. You have to connect the phone for navigation, but it comes with Apple Car Play and Android Auto and gets six speakers including two tweeters on the A pillar. The sound quality is excellent, with good staging, clear vocals and

tight bass.

The Altroz comes with two engine options – a 1.2 litre petrol and a 1.5 litre diesel – both BS6, coupled to 5 speed manual transmissions. As for the petrol, it is the only 3 cylinder engine in its class. With similar engine capacity, it makes 86bhp and 113Nm. It has a bit of a three cylinder thrum at certain rpms, but for most part, it feels smooth. The engine has good low end and midrange power making driving much easier in city conditions. It feels adequate for the highways too, cruising effortlessly at triple digit speeds, although you don’t get much passing power for overtaking. The diesel on the other hand, has plenty of poke. It produces 90bhp and 200Nm torque.

Even before the turbo spools up, there is adequate low down power making it better than most diesel cars in ‘stop and go’ traffic. Like in the petrol variant, the clutch is light and the gearshift action is positive, although we would have liked a shorter gear lever with a slightly lesser throws. The diesel sounds a

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lot coarser when revved hard, but for part throttle driving conditions, the refinement is decent.

The biggest improvement Tata has made in driving dynamics is reflected in the Altroz’s handling. It is agile, eager to turn in and has good amount of grip. It feels very composed through most high speed corners and the choice of dampers for the suspension is excellent. It also rides well over broken roads, and the suspension, like in most Tata cars, seems like it can take quite a beating. Even with relatively lower profile tyres, the car seems to ride well over potholes and ruts. Interestingly, Tata offers wider 195/55 R16 section tyres on the petrol Altroz and 185/60 R16 tyres on the diesel, while logically it should have been the other way around. We spoke to a few engineers around and they said this profile was chosen to give the diesel’s tyres more durability in the long run and this was the closest tyre size available in the market.

Tata has got almost everything right with the Altroz. It has the styling, well-built feel, space, ride quality, safety, equipment levels and good road manners. The engines are a bit pedestrian, and we wish they had offered it with the

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1.2 litre turbo petrol in the Tiago JTP and Nexon. A dual clutch automatic for the petrol is on its way, but there should have been an automatic variant, right from the start.

It comes loaded with keyless entry, push button start, climate control, cooled glovebox, ambient lighting, rear AC vents, stop/start and 7 inch touch screen Harmon Karon audio system. While it misses out on LED

December-January 2020

headlamps and auto-dimming mirrors, it also gets several segment first features like Cruise control, wide opening doors, flat floor etc.

Tata also offers several ways of customising one with selected features from the model above, without having to spend for a higher trim level.

With rivals like Jazz, i20 and Polo showing their age, the Altroz’s timing couldn’t be more perfect

MOVIE REVIEW

Panipat

I

t is a historic movie directed by noted filmmaker, Ashutosh Gowariker, who is also an actor, script writer and a producer. The film offers a rare opportunity to witness the Third Battle of Panipat, which is an important event in the history of India. Sadashiv Rao and Ahmad Shah Abdali are the main figures in the battle. In the film, Arjun Kapoor acts as the Maratha commander, and Sanjay Dutt appears as the Afghan King. Apart from them, Kriti Sanon, Zeenat Aman and Padmini Kolhapure appear in the lead roles. The film is produced by Sunita Gowariker and Rohit Shelatkar. The film is a must watch, not just for its historic element but also for its excellent craft.

Pagalpanti

I

t is a comedy movie directed by reputed filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who is the maker of highly successful comedy film ‘Singh is Kinng’. The film discuss about a group of tourists who ventures into an unusual trip. There are several exceptional comedy sequences in the movie, like what is seen in Mr. Bazmee’s previous films, like ‘Mubarakan’ and ‘Welcome Back’. The story part of the film is done by Mr. Bazmee, Rajiv Kaul and Praful Parekh.

Urvashi Rautela, John Abraham, Kriti Kharbanda, Ileana D’Cruz and Pulkit Samrat act in the lead roles in the film, in which its comedy element is the prime selling element.

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The Good Liar

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t is a thriller movie directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bill Condon, who is also an established screenwriter.

Unlike the usual thrillers, the central characters of this movie are oldies. The film tells us the story of a well-to-do old widow, who accidentally falls into the life of a mysterious old man. The film is based on The Good Liar written by Nicholas Searle. The screenplay of the film is done by Jeffrey Hatcher. As the mysterious old man comes Ian McKellen. Meanwhile, Helen Mirren appears as the widow. Apart from them, several talented actors such as Russell Tovey, Jim Carter and Mark Lewis Jones act in the lead roles.

Last Christmas

I

t is a highly interesting melodrama directed by renowned American actor-cum-filmmaker Paul Feig, who is best known for his contribution as the director of successful romantic-comedy ‘Bridesmaids’. Undisputedly, it is the best romantic-comedy in theatres this Christmas. The film takes us through the exceptional love story of a lazy young storekeeper, Kate, and a charming young boy, Tom. It describes how the life of the beautiful lady overturns when she meets the kind-hearted boy.

Emilia Clarke acts as Kate, and Henry Golding appears as Tom. Apart from them, Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh and Rebecca Root appear in the lead roles.

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BOOK REVIEW

Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer Author Price

: Sunil Gupta, Sunetra Choudhury : Rs. 336 (Paperback)

O

ne of the writers of the book, Sunil Gupta, is a retired Tihar jail officer. The book is the compilation of his experiences as a jail officer.

The book touches several sensitive areas. The ex-jailer, in his book, even discusses in details the eight death sentences executed in the jail during his tenure, including those of Ranga-Billa duo. The book is the best opportunity to get a clear glimpse of the Asia’s most secure jail. The book is published by Roli Books. Several renowned personalities, including Delhi Bar Council Chairman K C Mittal and TMC MP Derek O’Brien, have attended the launching ceremony of the book.

Dopehri Author Price

T

: Pankaj Kapur : Rs. 210 (Hardcover)

he writer of the book is a renowned theatre, television and film actor.

This book is his debut novel. It deals with a family-oriented subject.

The central character of the book is Amma Bi, who is a lonely oldie. Unexpectedly, one day, to her house – which does not have anything close to her heart other than her late husband’s king size portrait, a charming young lady, named Sabina, comes as a lodger, like a gift send by the God to kill the darkness of loneliness. The oldie, with the help of the youngster, rediscovers the beautiful world of happiness. She even gets ready to go an extent further, when the newly found heaven is threatened. Not only is the novel touching, but also it is humorous.

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BOOK REVIEW

In Service of the Republic: The Art and Science of Economic Policy Author Price

: Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Dr. Ajay Shah : Rs. 560 (Hardcover)

I

ndia is a developing economy. During the period between the year 1991 and the year 2011, it witnessed a tremendous growth. Not any time in its modern history the country has seen a growth better than what that was observed in the aforesaid glorious period. Since the year 2011, the Indian economy has been consistently losing its charm. It is high time to formulate a policy to revive the Indian economy. What this book written by two eminent economists offers is that much needed boost. The book neither fits under economic category, nor under political category.

Precisely, it is the excellent combination of both.

Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life Author Price

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: Viswanathan Anand, Susan Ninan : Rs. 539 (Hardcover)

hen you confront an obstacle, you do not know what to do and you need an adviser, you often look for a wise head. If that adviser is a chess master, you will be more than happy. Do you know why it is so? It is simply because you know very well than no one knows the art of surmounting obstacles better than a chess player. What this book offers is such a rare opportunity. Vishwanathan Anand, one of the writers of this book, is one of the brilliant minds of this generation. There is nothing more worthy than learning the aforesaid art from one of the best chess players of the world.

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Printed On 09/ 12/ 2019

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