Unique Times March 2020

Vol 9 Issue No.101 Mar - Apr 2020

Coronavirus: A wakeup call for the global economy Shri V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

PIONEER OF

STEEL DISTRIBUTORS:

PV UKKURU

INTERNATIONAL TRADE Mexico: The Land of Mayans Tata Nexon EV

Editorial

Chief Mentor Mr. V.P. Nandakumar Director & CEO Jebitha Ajit Editor Jebitha Ajit Legal Advisor Latha Anand pioneer in the field of personal

B.S.Krishnan Associates coaching, Rich Fettke said:

bskrishnanassociates@gmail.com "When you stay focused and keep a Sub-Editor Vignesh S.G commitment you create a momenAssociate Editor Ravi Saini tum, and momentum creates mo Rajeev Kumar mentum."

Director and special editor kollur PV Ukkuru Group from Kerala Correspondents Dr. Thomas Nechupadam had a humble beginning in 1942 selling iron nails.

Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile Eight decades of history behind, Ukkuru Group is

Amrutha V Kumar now a multi-national business entity selling all kinds Creative Design PEGASUS of steel. Ukkuru's son Jose, who is heading business Cover Photographer Ashique Hassan at present could not forget the precious lessons from Marketing UAE his father and the one he always cherishes is: 'Stay

Phygicart.com focused on what you do. Staying focuses without

P.O. Box: 92546, Al Karama Dubai letting anyone distract you is important". Read our Mr. Anish K Joy

cover story to know more about this enterprise that

Mob: +971528946999 also believes in giving back to society.

info@phygicart.com In his regular column, V.P. Nandakumar, CEO

Plot No 19A, 9th Floor, and MD, Manappuram Finance, gives an account

Green Building, Film City, about the broader impact of COVID-19 on the global

Sector - 16A, Noida - 201301 economy and markets.

Maharashtra

Our travel expert unravels Mexico, the land of

Jayasankar M, a/101, Mayans, known for its art, culture, architecture,

New Prathamesh Niwas, mathematics, astrology and calendar. Read our ex OPP. Laxmi Park, Thakurli East, pert teams’ test-drive report on Tata Nexon EV, quite

Dombivli post, Thane District, 421201 a promising SUV for the price.

Mob: 9820708662 Hariharan

Wish you a happy reading.

chennai, Mob: 9840018929

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A

Printed at St. Reddiar & Sons, P.B. No: 3627, Veekshanam Road, Cochin Published at Pegasus Global Pvt. Ltd. L5-106, Changampuzha Nagar Kalamassery, Ernakulam-682 033 e-mail: editor@uniquetimes.org uniquetimesindia@gmail.com Ph:0484 2532040, 2532080 Mob:+91 98460 50283, 94470 50283

Cover Photograph P Jose Ukkuru Managing Director, PV Ukkuru Group of companies

Printer & publisher Pegasus Global Pvt. Ltd. Kalamassery, Ernakulam on behalf of Ajit Ravi. Printed at S.T.Reddiar & Sons, Cochin-18.

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CONTENTS

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22

Pioneer of Steel Distributors: PV Ukkuru International Trade

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Coronavirus: a wakeup call for the global economy

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Five soul searching answers for the entrepreneur

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Healing through Music

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Union Budget 2020: a brief introspection

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38

46

48

44

56

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Truth about Covid 19 Coronavirus

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Gadgets

46

Natural ways to Fight Dry skin

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Mexico: The Land of Mayans

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Tata Nexon EV

UNIQUE DIARY

Adani group likely to enter domestic airline sector

T

he Adani Group, which is one of the most prominent business groups based in the South Asian country of India, is likely to enter the challenging field of domestic airline industry. As per a report published by a popular business news website, the group is planning to submit an Expression of Interest to absorb Air India, the ailing state-run carrier. If the Expression of Interest is taken forward, it will mark the formal entry of the group into the challenging field of domestic airline business. As per the report, the aforesaid deal is at this moment in the preliminary stage.

Centre unhappy with West Bengal’s disinterest towards PM-Kisan

''Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes.

It is best to admit them quickly and get on with improving your other innovations.''

T

Steve Jobs

8

he central government has criticised the Indian state of West Bengal as the latter has not yet joined the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, which is popularly known as PM-Kisan. The government has pointed out clearly how the agricultural population of several states has benefitted from the ambitious scheme, which is around a year old. As per the central government, as many as 8.45 crore farmers have benefitted from the scheme, which is aimed to benefit as many as 14 crore farmers. According to the central government, if West Bengal implements the scheme, it will benefit over 70 lakh farmers.

March - April 2020

UNIQUE DIARY

Donald Trump’s visit to India to improve Indo-US trade relation

T

he maiden visit of United States President Donald Trump to India has paved the way for the improvement of the trade relation between Washington and New Delhi. India is a close friend of the United States. It is one of the most important regional partners of the White House in the South Asian region. Since the induction of Mr. Trump, the trade relation between both these countries is at its lowest point, as the new leader of the US, who is the aggressive advocate of the protectionist economic policy, is not a fan of those countries which, in his view, exploits the economy of the world’s most powerful country. India is one of those countries which export more to the US than they import from that country.

BSNL employees unhappy with delay in implementation of relief package

''Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.''

Dwight Eisenhower

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T

he employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has organised a national-wide protest to express their unhappiness towards the delay in the implementation of the relief package promised by the central government to support the ailing public company. Among the promises made by the government, only that promise concerned to the implementation of a Voluntary Retirement Scheme has been executed so far.

Several key promises including the one related to the allotment of 4G spectrum still remain unimplemented. Meanwhile, the central government has citied the uncertainties in the telecom sector as the reason for the delay in the implementation of some of its promises.

Coronavirus outbreak shrinks potential of global economy to recover

T

he disastrous coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed as many as 2,442 lives in the Asian country of China so far, has considerably reduced the potential of the global economy to recover from the disturbed state in which it has been trapped for last few years. Earlier, a comfortable growth rate of 3.3 per cent was predicted for this year.

The assumption has been presented in a G20 meeting organised in Saudi Arabia for the financial ministers of the member states. In the meeting, the strategy needed to be used to help the world recover the crisis has been discussed elaborately.

PepsiCo Inc to buy Be & Cheery

''The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.''

Peter F. Drucker

R

enowned food and beverage maker conglomerate PepsiCo, which is based in the American country of United States of America, has announced its plan to buy popular snack brand Be & Cheery, which is based in the Asian country of China. The deal is expected to cost a huge sum of $705 million for the US company. With the deal, the conglomerate expects to become one of the leading food and beverage companies in China. At present, Be & Cheery is one of the highly established snack companies in the Asian country. It owes heavily to the e-commerce platform for its tremendous success.

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COVER STORY

Pioneer of

Steel Distributors:

PV Ukkuru

International Trade

F

or more than eight decades, P V Ukkuru Group of Companies have supplied their customers more than just iron and steel.

P V Ukkuru, the founder of the group of companies, began his humble beginning by starting a business of iron nails in 1942 in Coimbatore. Then, little did he know that he was laying the foundation of steel trade in South India.

Leading the network of steel distribution in South India, P V Ukkuru Group of Companies is a trusted name in the steel industry. “We are a business partner, a trusted provider of comprehensive product

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Leading the network of steel distribution in South India, P V Ukkuru Group of Companies is a trusted name in the steel industry.

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Supplying steel to almost all major projects in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, P V Ukkuru International Trade supplies supreme quality branded steel products produced by the Steel Authority of India, Essar TMT, JSPL Raigad, JSW Bellary, Kamachi Steel Chennai, Pulkit Steel Pondicherry and the list goes on.

lines and infrastructure solutions, backed by a solid guarantee, fast and friendly service and incredible sourcing capabilities,” said P Jose Ukkuru, the Managing Director of P V Ukkuru Group of Companies.

My father mastered the art of making nails as an apprentice in a blacksmith’s shop, and in no time he opened his retail shop and managed to become a dealer in goods produced by Tata Steel and Steel Authority of India, he added.

Gradually the fame and quality of the product spread across Kerala and a new branch office in Kerala was opened in 1964. P V Ukkuru’s keen business shrewdness gave wings to the P V Ukkuru Group, setting the stage for his sons Jose & Paulson Ukkuru to identify new markets and expand their distribution network across India and the International market. With branch offices in Coimbatore, Madras

and Kochi in India, P V Ukkuru International Trade is moving forward to realms outside the nation.

“I set my foot in the business after finishing my pre-degree in 1974. I wanted to do higher studies but my father wanted me to join his business as our firm was at its peak of expansion,” said Jose.

For over six months, I was treated as a normal office boy to learn all aspects of business, and it was then I was shifted to sales, marketing, purchasing to managing accounts, he added. Learning from basics, Jose learned to manage the business and still keeps the legacy of his father through the firm. His father was his Guru who taught him lessons which no universities would have taught him. “I have learned a lot of things from my father. He is my inspiration and it is from him I learned that however heights we reach we shouldn't forget what

humanity is and should serve and lend hand to the needy irrespective of caste, religion or social standards,” he said with a smile. Providing free education till class XII for children belonging to financially backward families, Jose also supports old age homes and cater to their needs.

Supplying steel to almost all major projects in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, P V Ukkuru International Trade supplies supreme quality branded steel products produced by the Steel Authority of India, Essar TMT, JSPL Raigad, JSW Bellary, Kamachi Steel Chennai, Pulkit Steel Pondicherry and the list goes on.

Talking about one of the challenges he faced, Jose said that, unlike today, there were very few manufacturers of steel in the market. So the demand for steel was constant and we could market the steel without any challenges. We didn't have any marketing de-

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Being the first company to import steel and finished products from Japan, Korea and the Middle East, Jose envisioned expanding his business across the world.

Known for the customised designs and supply of specialised items, the firm has clients including Geo Tech, The Port Trust, Cochin Shipyard, Cochin Refineries, FACT, KSRTC and the list goes on

partment then. But with the rise of many companies, the material started to flood in the market and it became difficult without a marketing team to do the business.

Today, the company also keeps pace with the times, creating digital awareness and tapping the online requirement for steel and allied products.

Jose is also a distributor of products made out of steel such as shovel, and the latest being the TMT Rebar Epoxy Coated steel which prevents the steel from rusting for 15-20 years. Being one of the top iron & steel dealers in India having a dominant presence in the industry, the firm sect vendors based on stringent market surveys and based on the quality of the products, reliability in business, timely dealings and financial stability. “We have created a brand name by supplying the highest quality of steel in the market for reasonable rates and we continue to so, which is the prime reason for it. We have signed a MoU with the Steel Authority of India and sell steels at a special price for projects of national importance,” said Jose, who is also the Managing Committee Member of Kerala Steel Traders Association.

Being the first company to import steel and finished products from Japan, Korea and the Middle East, Jose envisioned expanding his business across the world. Known for the customised designs and supply of specialised items, the firm has clients including Geo Tech, The Port Trust, Cochin Shipyard, Cochin Refineries, FACT, KSRTC and the list goes on Right now Jose’s future plans are in promoting the aspiring entrepreneurs by training them in how to handle a business and letting them handle the franchise of PV Ukkuru International Trade, Ravi Associates in different parts of India and to focus on exporting steels to other parts of the world.

Talking based on his experience in business all these years, he wants to share a point to aspiring entrepreneurs of today to stay focused on what they do. Staying focused without letting anyone distract you is important. And above all seeking advice from elders is nothing wrong. Half of the unemployment will be resolved if youngsters would seek job advice to experience persons and try to follow their advice

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BUSINESS

The Chinese economy looks set for a contraction in the March quarter as activity in the manufacturing sector was reported at a record low in February. The Indian economy is already going through challenging times as the recent Q3 GDP data suggests the growth slowdown continues with a turnaround still elusive.

The picture for the global economy is also bleak with talk of a recession in the US economy gaining ground.

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

CoronaVirus: a wakeup call for the global economy

I

t was from Wuhan, the sprawling capital of Central China's Hubei province, that the WHO Country Office in China got its first report that pneumonia of an unknown cause had been detected.

Later, on January 30, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of international concern. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has affected over 90,000 people the world over to become a global emergency.

The epicentre of the outbreak is in China with the province of

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Hubei and eastern China the worst affected. The Chinese government imposed a lockdown in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province to quarantine the epicentre of the outbreak of coronavirus disease.

Economic activity and movement of people in these parts have come to a grinding halt.

There were 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China itself, resulting in the death of nearly 3,000. More than 10,000 cases have been reported in other countries, and over 150 people have died till date. The situation is grim, and it demands a quick and coordinated

effort across the world to contain its further spread.

The economic damage

Beyond the public health aspect, another crisis is looming, and that is about its broader impact on the global economy and markets. Even if the virus turns out to be less deadly than feared, the fear itself, and all the emergency control and containment measures required will be a setback for the global economy. It is now sure that the epidemic will hurt the world economy by the disruption of global supply chains.

After all, China is the world's second-largest economy and a significant trade partner for many countries. China is also a leading trade partner of India. Total trade between India and China stood at $92.68 billion in the calendar year

2019, and India was a net importer from China (including Hong Kong) of $56.7 billion. Essential commodities imported into India from China include electronics, consumer durables, auto components, pharma bulk drugs intermediaries etc.

The Chinese economy looks set for a contraction in the March quarter as activity in the manufacturing sector was reported at a record low in February. The Indian economy is already going through challenging times as the recent Q3 GDP data suggests the growth slowdown continues with a turnaround still elusive. The picture for the global economy is also bleak with talk of a recession in the US economy gaining ground.

It is essential to understand that in comparison to the 2003 SARS

outbreak, the Chinese economy is not just bigger; it is also much more integrated into the world economy.

China's GDP is four times larger now, and its share of global trade has grown ten times. Businesses across the world depend a lot more on made-in-China products most of which cannot be sourced elsewhere, at least not at the same prices, and certainly not in such a short time.

And the "just in time" supply-chain management means the most producers don't have surplus inventory on hand. Even as the inventory depletes, the re-stocking won't happen any time soon because Chinese factories and ports are operating at much-reduced capacities.

The spread of COVID-19 to countries outside China (South Korea, Iran, Italy, etc.) is especially

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Source: WHO

worrisome. South Korea, like China, is a significant exporter, and much of its shipments are inputs into the global production process. The potential for disruption of global supply chains is significant. The non-availability of just one critical component can shut down an entire factory.

In such a situation, we may be just weeks away from some crucial producers running out of input materials. It may only be a question of time before the kind of industrial paralysis seen in China spreads to companies in India, US, EU, and elsewhere.

Central banks step in

Amid all the fear and uncertainty, there is once again the demand of a coordinated monetary easing by central banks around the world to stimulate flagging growth, in the way it was done during the global financial crisis of 2008-09. Central bankers making their ritual pledges to "stand

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ready" with support may be seen as nothing but an attempt to shore up morale. The US Federal Reserve has announced a 50 bps rate cut to

It may seem counterintuitive, but in a certain sense, COVID-19 is a timely wakeup call to the world. While we have all been counting the blessings of globalisation and celebrating its success in improving living standards and pushing down poverty in the emerging economies, we were unaware of, and unprepared for, the potential downsides.

1 percent as an emergency response to the economic impact of the virus.

In India, the RBI said it stands ready to act and is keeping an eye on the situation. But the fact is, rate cuts are not vaccines, and beyond rate cuts, central banks have little to offer.

Nonetheless, markets are increasingly convinced the central banks will respond with more rate cuts. If it happens, the central banks will once again move into the stimulus mode, similar to what happened in 2008–09 in response to the global financial crisis. However, the chances of a monetary stimulus working to the same effect are unlikely. A rate cut won't bring Chinese factories back online any quicker. Nor will a rate cut get people to travel again unless the virus is contained and the fears fade for good. The evidence indicates that monetary policy tools are not designed to solve problems of this kind. After all, monetary pol-

icy can only stimulate demand, and under the current containment measures, any additional demand will be even harder to fulfil, thereby stoking inflation. A fiscal stimulus may help, but that would inflate the budgetary deficit at a time when governments around the world are living way beyond their means.

It may seem counterintuitive, but in a certain sense, COVID-19 is a timely wakeup call to the world. While we have all been counting the blessings of globalisation and celebrating its success in improving living standards and pushing down poverty in the emerging economies, we were unaware of, and unprepared for,

the potential downsides. Therefore, policymakers around the world should start thinking about preparing for the next big disruption, say, a more severe outbreak of a newer virus strain.

Governments need to think about the supply chain vulnerability of critical necessities like medicines and medical supplies, produced mostly in China. Do we need multiple raw material sources? Are some items so essential that we should produce them in many places within countries? Concentration risk is material not only to banks and lending institutions but also to the broader economy. The pursuit of economies of scale has led

to the concentration of manufacturing in specific geographies (like China) and we now know the risks it entails.

It is safe to say that supply chains will look radically different within a few years. Technology is already bringing manufacturing closer to the consumers (e.g. the promise of 3D printing), and the trend is likely to accelerate. That would mean the significant capital investment is on the cards after COVID-19 is contained, which would be an excellent economic stimulus as wellď Ź (VP Nandakumar is MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd. Views are personal)

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BUSINESS

Rajesh Nair Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

The core element of the entire message is YOU and the ordeal to get the investor trust you. It could be the elevator pitch, the hundred slide deck or the difficult video conference. It is at the end, your ability to get the investor’s conviction that their money is safe with you. Safety of their investment comes first and then the scale, the growth and the exits.

Five soul searching answers for the entrepreneur

I

n the life of every human being , there comes some ‘penny dropping moments’ or as the management phrase goes – ‘the moment of truth’. This is the moment when epiphany happens and where the puzzle starts solving by itself. This is the moment when the ‘go-getter’ stops just ‘going’ but starts ‘getting’.

Yes, life just drifts away most of the time when we are working with that ‘detachedness’ a sort of ‘present but absent’ existence. So do a lot of us go through the rigmarole of daily life, hurry through every minute of life and blame it on the ‘pay cheque’ or realities of adult life! Yes, we do – because we just want to; because it is convenient to do so; because that is what our friends, batch mates and colleagues do; because it is so difficult and unpragmatic to do anything else. One could think of a thousand excuses to confirm to the schedule one don’t like but one find it difficult to think of even one ruse to do

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something we like! There is no age for this to happen nor is it the results of years of experience. It just happens…

The nature of these incidents completely varies for different entrepreneurs. It will also be too presumptuous to put a structure to the same or to generalise it in a template. But, there are some glaring commonalities that are interesting and are sector agnostic – it can happen everywhere and anywhere …

For someone who has started a business, this question is the ‘holy grail’. There is some very intelligent literature available on this subject and each of them gives you perspectives of experts. You will easily get advice on sprucing up your product explanation, business plan, getting the right resources in your organisation et.al. They are all sound erudite nuggets that one needs to take seriously. But, what is the common thread? What makes the Venture Capital guy choose Jane over John?

The secret sauce of the pudding is – YOU! Yes, none else, nothing more!

The core element of the entire message is YOU and the ordeal to get the investor trust you. It could be the elevator pitch, the hundred slide deck or the difficult video conference. It is at the end, your ability to get the investor’s conviction that their money is safe with you. Safety of their investment comes first and then the scale, the growth and the exits. There is no panacea for generating trust and neither is there an all cure snake oil.

I present these moments of ‘YOU’ as five questions which will trigger the answers….

1. What is it that I am trying

to sell?

It is amazing when entrepreneurs come and discuss their ‘do it all’ solutions – product or service, which has more potential than any other product in the universe. But often, they have not really answered the question – what does their product do? Who will buy it? The moment this dawns on them, they have seen the one ray of light – a humbling, divine moment almost spiritually cathartic!

2. Am I selling or am I gifting?

A senior entrepreneur recently told my team that he is not selling a product, he is gifting something that he created with love and passion and with all the nurturing in-

stincts of a parent. A philosophy like that will make ‘walking ambassadors out customers who will increasingly know you, like you and trust you .

3. Am I pushing or creating a pull?

A quickest analogy is a piece of rope… Which is easier – pushing it or pulling it? That law is the essence of business – the targets, the numbers and the push are all futile unless you create reason around your product and make people pull or demand it…

4. Should I be serving or making money?

One of the first questions you hear from investors or perhaps even from your logical mind is ‘Does this

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product make money?’ Of course, it is an important question. But a more crucial question is how’ll it value add?

How will it serve? It pays to focus on what the customer wants and exceed that expectation with a great ‘product experience ‘ – it will make money!

5. How did I get more time in my hands?

This is an amazing revelation. The busiest of entrepreneurs often seem to find more time than others. An apparent irony of life – when you are really engaged into a ‘calling’ or a vision for your organisation, you often find that you have more time in your hands.

That extra time comes from focus and intention to do the best.

I remember teachers urging us in schools, in a distant past, to think over what we hear, read and silently mull over it. Then I remember some seniors at work urging me to ‘think through’.

In fact, the phrase ‘think through’ has been part of my vocabulary and my daily rant to my colleagues. But, the point in all this is that, we need that little silence for us to make meaning of what happens around. That stillness is vital.

But, the work stats of today are very different. An average educated Indian (though the data may be valid for the uneducated as well) spends, intermittently, more than nine hours looking at a screen – a computer, television or a mobile screen. The furious Whatsapp users get more than 1000 messages in a day. Yes, perhaps our ability to negotiate this data deluge has improved, but it seems just too much. There are days when we just want to be free from the gazillion emails, blinking screens, perfunctory messages – free from all of it These are just some triggers on how you can see light and make you product social currency or talk of the town. So, what else? A very simple set of rules 1. Look around you – notice all the different colours 2. Smile at every opportunity 3. Look at the faces of people around you – they are all going through life 4. Buy a bunch of flowers to give it someone you love 5. Watch a romantic comedy or read a comic 

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HEALTH

Over the past three decades, music has been studied as a cognitive phenomenon. Scientific evidence has been produced pertaining to various clinical conditions, and to musically trained and untrained individuals. This field of research has emerged as a specialized branch of cognitive neuroscience and psychology, and is often referred to as music cognition or music psychology.

Nizar Abdul Majeed Kutty Senior Lecturer Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia.

E mail: nizarkualalumpur@gmail.com

F

amous German writer Jean Paul wrote; “Music is moonlight in the gloomy night of life.� Across societies, music is associated with behaviours such as infant care, healing, dance, and love. Be it a lullaby, healing song, dance song, or love song; songs that share behavioural functions tend to have similar musical features. The healing power of music has been acknowledged in almost all traditions of music. Music therapy is moving from a social-science model focusing on overall health and well-being towards a neuroscience model focusing on specific elements of music and its

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effect on sensorimotor, language and cognitive functions. Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music therapy has been found effective in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer's disease and other aging related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, and acute and chronic pain, including mothers in labor. Music lis-

Healing

through Music tening induces activation in the pleasure and reward systems in the brain which is essentially at the core of the efficacy in all music-based rehabilitation tools. In humans, music listening activates a widespread bilateral network of brain regions related to attention, semantic processing, memory, motor functions, and emotional processing. Music exposure also enhances emotional functioning in healthy samples and in various clinical subject groups. Neurohormonal status modulations induced by music provide a pleasurable experience.

Group music as an intervention strategy

for a number of categories of special needs has been used by several researchers. Studies that reported the use of group music on people with mental retardation showed positive effects on social relationships and improved communication skills.

Music traditions

Dancing and traditional music are important social activities in aboriginal cultures. All the major civilizations of the past have produced trumpets, although our knowledge of these instruments relies on contemporary illustrations. The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by aborigi-

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Singing and vocal exercise have been found to improve normative speech production, and speech intelligibility in people with acquired dysarthria (difficult or unclear articulation of speech). nal people of northern Australia, likely within the last 1,000 years. A study reported in the British Medical Journal found that learning and practicing the didgeridoo helped reduce snoring and obstructive sleep apnea by strengthening muscles in the upper airway, thus reducing their tendency to collapse during sleep. Indian classical music is perhaps one of the oldest forms of music. It dates back to the ancient scriptures of India, the Vedas, and is said to have originated from one of the four Vedas, the Samaveda. Listening to certain ragas, for example ‘Desi-todi’, for 30 minutes every day for 20 days has been shown to produce a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and to enhance feelings of life satisfaction, experience of hope and optimism. Changes in heart rate were much more evident in females than males. The Western classical music tradition has been scientifically ex-

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amined to a far greater extent than music from any other tradition. The findings are generalizable, however, as different forms of music from various cultures have certain common features.

Music and the Brain

Over the past three decades, music has been studied as a cognitive phenomenon. Scientific evidence has been produced pertaining to various clinical conditions, and to musically trained and untrained individuals. This field of research has emerged as a specialized branch of cognitive neuroscience and psychology, and is often referred to as music cognition or music psychology.

Research on music and its effect on brain functions have produced insights into the nature of the brain, especially the phenomenon of ‘neural plasticity’. Musical performance engages a host of cognitive functions, including information processing, attention, language, memory functions and executive functions.

Music is a strong elicitor of emotion but also facilitates regulation of emotion. Music activates the cortical network associated with emotion, including the frontal system, which is involved in emotion processing.

Music is known to engage brain areas such as the mesolimbic area and the nucleus accumbens, the reward center of the brain, which is known to be involved in real-life emotional experiences. Music alters psychophysiological parameters such as pain

perception, relaxation, blood pressure, and respiration and heart rate.

Music Therapy Services in Neurorehabilitation

Neurorehabilitation is an extensive field of music therapy practice serving diverse clinical populations and addressing complex clinical needs. Neurorehabilitation is a subset of rehabilitation specific to individuals with neurological disorders.

People with neurological disorders demonstrate a variety of aftermaths including physical, cognitive, behavioural, and communication impairments, which can lead to psychosocial and daily living difficulties.

Music therapy in neurorehabilitation has steadily grown since the 1980s.

Music therapy studies have been conducted with people of all ages across a wide range of neurological disorders including Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s disease etc. In particular, there are various dimensions of physical rehabilitation which music therapy can benefit, such as walking, fine and gross motor movements in both upper and lower extremities, balance, strength, dexterity, mobility, coordination etc. In people with disorders of consciousness due to Acquired Brain Injury, music therapy has been shown to be effective in stimulating behavioural responses, such as facial expression, blink, and respiratory rate. Several studies reported the effective-

ness of music therapy in reducing agitation and other challenging behaviours in people with brain injury.

Singing and vocal exercise have been found to improve normative speech production, and speech intelligibility in people with acquired dysarthria (difficult or unclear articulation of speech). Music therapy has also been reported to improve speech repetition, naming, reading, and verbal fluency in people with aphasia (communication disorder that impairs a person's ability to process language). Music therapy thus has potential to address both speech and language aspects of communication impairments.

Music therapy also offers great benefits for emotional and social domains in neurorehabilitation. Participating in group music therapy can enhance mood, confidence, motivation, social engagement, peer support, as well as reduce psychological distress for people with acquired neurological injury. Most patients are referred to music therapy to address social and emotional goals. Relaxation, physical rehabilitation, communication rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, pain management, motivation, and sensory stimulation are also common reasons for referral to music therapy. Music therapy services provided in the context of neurorehabilitation cover a vast range of clinical populations. Music therapists cater service for clients who had neurological disorders ranging from acquired conditions, degenerative conditions, congenital disorders, and post-neurosurgery conditions. Neurologic Music Therapy is an evidence-based treatment model that uses standardized, research-based techniques to treat the brain

using music and rhythm. The therapist focuses on the music as therapy, emphasizing specific elements of music in the construction of their therapeutic exercises as research so indicates, in order to optimize function and/or reroute neural pathways to achieve functionality.

Familiarity Breeds Recovery

Listening to familiar music has recently been reported to be beneficial during recovery from stroke. Stroke survivors might benefit from a variety of different music therapy approaches - the familiar emotional pieces to activate certain areas of the brain, and novel pieces to activate others. The researchers found distinct brain activation patterns for the different music pieces.

The self-selected pieces were quite diverse, brought about significant activity in the emotion and memory centers of the brain, while unfamiliar music activated attention and memory areas.

A study by scientists at Houston Methodist Hospital suggests that familiar, positive music may have the power to increase activation and functional connectivity in the brain and, as such, may provide targeted therapeutic benefits to those recovering from a stroke. Regular music listening enhanced structural neuroplasticity in the limbic regions, is linked to better emotional recovery. Several studies show a positive effect of music therapy on mood in patients with stroke. The limbic areas of the brain, known to be associated with emotions, are involved in the rhythm and tonality processing. The brain areas related to emotion and reward have been found to be activated during intensely pleasurable moments of music listening.

Recent neurological reha-

bilitation techniques are based on new technologies such as stimulation via the so-called Binaural Beat Stimulation. It is a special type of rhythmic auditory stimulation that requires two sine tones, one presented to each ear, differing in frequency by 1 to 30 Hz, creating an auditory beating effect for the listener. This technique appears to be capable of systematically modifying ongoing brain activity and results in states of increased vigilance and altered mood. Notwithstanding the benefits of music therapy, there is limited literature on the prevalence of music therapy services that are actually provided in clinical practiceď Ź

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FINANCE

The Union Budget has many sides to offer. The intention appears to be clearly improving the consumption levels in the country, thereby spurring growth. The Government has sought to offer incentives to those who have the necessary funds easily deployable. New tax planning opportunities have now been introduced, thereby providing solace to investors. It would indeed augur well if the State Government could work with the Centre in ensuring that benefits in the Budget trickle down to the masses

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.

B

udget 2020 was packaged around three central themes namely: aspirational India, economic development and a caring society. Policy formulations set forth by the government seek to elevate the nation to the next level of health, prosperity and well-being.

Indian economy is expected to grow at 5% in FY2020 and around 6-6.5% in FY 2021. Impetus provided to agriculture and infrastructure sector is expected to provide the required boost to Indian economy. A 16 Point action plan was suggested to augment farmers income by 2022.

Infrastructure was also given emphasis in the current budget, and National Logistics Policy was proposed to be introduced to create a single window e-logistics market. This would augment inclusion of MSMEs and generate em-

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March - April 2020

ployment.

Honourable finance minister proposed a new scheme ‘NIRVIK’ which provides for higher insurance covers, reduction in premium for small exporters and simplified procedure for claim settlements. It is proposed to digitally refund to exporters, duties and taxes levied at the central, state and local levels, such as electricity duties and VAT on fuel used for transportation, which are not getting exempted or refunded under any other existing mechanism.

This scheme provides for enhanced insurance cover for exporters and reduce premium for small exporters to achieve higher export credit disbursements.

The scheme is being prepared by Commerce and Industry Ministry, and will be launched this year.

Measures were also proposed for developing & supporting start-ups. The

UNION BUDGET 2020:

A brief introspection

government had proposed to provide early life funding, including a seed fund for supporting ideation and development of early stage Start-ups.

Quantum technology has opened new frontiers in computing, communications, cyber security with widespread applications. It is expected that lots of commercial applications would emerge from theoretical constructs which are developing in this area.

In large cities having population above one million, clean air is a matter of concern. The government proposed to encourage such States that are formulating and implementing plans for ensuring cleaner air in cities above one million. Parameters for the incentives would be notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change.

Working capital credit remains a major issue for the MSMEs. It is proposed to introduce a scheme to provide subordinate debt for entrepreneurs of MSMEs. This subordinate debt to be provided by banks would count as quasi-equity and would be fully guaranteed through the Credit Guarantee Trust for Medium and Small Entrepreneurs (CGTMSE).

The corpus of the CGTMSE would

accordingly be augmented by the government.

MSMEs had benefitted from debt restructuring permitted by RBI during last year. In line with the debt restructuring scheme, Government has asked RBI to consider extending this window till March 31, 2021.

Handholding support for mid-size companies in select sectors like pharmaceuticals, automotive and others in technology upgradations, R&D, business strategy etc. is being proposed in the budget.

Ease of living was set as a goal to be achieved and as a key aspect for achieving the goal and also for providing ease of doing business fairness and efficiency of tax administration was emphasised. A “taxpayer charter� is to be enshrined in the statues through this budget. The new measures is indeed a welcome step as it helps in reassuring the taxpayers that government is committed in taking measures from harassment of any kind.

Analysis of Direct Tax proposals

In continuation with the lowering of tax rates announced during September 2019 tax reforms to stimulate investments, bring ease of

compliance and reduce litigations were being formulated.

Personal Income Tax

A new optional tax regime was introduced aimed at simplifying personal income tax wherein Individual or HUF may opt for the new tax rates provided they forego prescribed exemptions and deductions.

This move is expected to relieve tax payers in lower income bracket.

However, an individual who is currently availing more deductions & exemption under the Income Tax Act may choose to avail them and continue to pay tax in the old regime.

Removal of Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT)

With a view to provide impetus to the investment climate in India, it is proposed to abolish DDT in the hands of the domestic companies/mutual fund and to tax such dividend income in the hands of the recipients. Currently, domestic companies are required to pay dividend distribution tax [DDT] @ 20.56% on dividends; mutual funds and business trusts were also liable to pay tax on income distributed to unit-holders and such dividend were exempt in the hands of sharehold-

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31

ers/unit-holders.

Introduction of Section 80M

Section 80M is introduced to remove the cascading effect of taxes on inter-corporate dividend by which a domestic company shall be eligible to deduct the amount of dividend paid by it from its dividend income received from any other domestic company.

Such deduction shall be restricted to the amount of dividend distributed in turn by the shareholder company. The deduction will be available in respect of dividend distributed on or before one month prior to date of filing the return of income.

Tax Concessions for Foreign Investments

• In order to incentivise the investment by the Sovereign Wealth Fund of foreign governments in the priority sectors, proposal made to grant 100% tax exemption for income from interest, dividend and capital gains in respect of investment made in infrastructure and other notified sectors before 31st March, 2024 and with a minimum lock-in period of 3 years. • In order to make available foreign funds at a lower cost, proposal made to extend the period of concessional withholding rate of 5% under

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March - April 2020

section 194LC for interest payment to non-residents in respect of moneys borrowed and bonds issued up to 30th June, 2023.

Tax Concession for Cooperative Societies

As a major concession and in order to bring parity between the cooperative societies and corporates, it was proposed to provide an option to cooperative societies to be taxed at 22% plus 10% surcharge and 4% cess with no exemption/deductions.

Further, these co-operative societies would be exempt from Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) just like companies under the new tax regime are exempted from the Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT). Cooperatives are currently taxed at a rate of 30% with surcharge and cess.

MSME

In order to reduce the compliance burden on small retailers, traders, shopkeepers who comprise the MSME sector, it was proposed to raise the turnover threshold for audit from existing Rs.1 crore to Rs.5 crore. Further, in order to promote cashless economy, the increased limit shall apply only to those businesses which carry out less than 5% of their business transactions in cash.

Startups

To extend the benefit of the tax

holiday to larger/matured startups, it is proposed to increase the turnover limit from the existing INR 250 million to INR 1,000 million and also extend the period of eligibility for claim of deduction from the existing three out of seven years to three out of 10 years.

Furthermore, to attract and retain highly talented employees in eligible startups, it is proposed to defer the point of taxation for Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) from the time of exercise (as per the current law) to earlier of (i) 48 months from the relevant assessment year, (ii) date when the employee leaves the company, (iii) date of sale of shares by the employee.

Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme

Similar to dispute resolution scheme introduced for legacy issues in indirect taxes, a scheme for a one-time settlement of direct tax disputes would be introduced. Taxpayers who opt for such scheme on or before 31 March2020 would be eligible for complete interest and penalty waiver on payment of tax only and who opt for the scheme between 31 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 would get partial relief from interest and penalty. The details of

the scheme are to be released.

Analysis of Indirect Tax proposals

Several measures are being taken for improving GST compliances. A simplified return shall be implemented from the 1st April, 2020. The new return to have enhanced features like SMS based filing for nil return, return prefilling, improved input tax credit flow and overall simplification.

Aadhaar based verification of taxpayers is being introduced to weed out dummy/non-existent units. Dynamic QR-code is proposed for consumer invoices which will help in capturing GST parameters when payment for purchases is made through the QR-code.

A system of cash reward is envisaged to incentivise customers to seek invoice. Deep data analytics and AI tools is proposed to crackdown on GST input tax credit, refund, and other frauds and to identify all those who are trying to game the system. GST rate structure is also being deliberated so as to address issues like inverted duty structure.

On customs side, a number

of measures have been taken for ease of doing business. Measures have also been taken for providing a level playing field to our domestic manufacturers, particularly the MSME sector and for securing borders.

Electronic duty credit ledger in customs automated system

Duty credit may be issued in lieu of remission of duty for export of goods or other financial benefits available to exporters. It shall be maintained in the automated system for the recipient of such duty credit. It may be used by the person to whom it is issued or by the person to whom it is transferred, to be used towards payment of duty payable.

Preferential Trade Agreements

Impose obligations on the importer with regard to the origin criteria, including regional content and product specific criteria, specified under rules of origin as per respective Trade Agreements.

Information regarding the same to be provided in a time bound manner. Officers empowered to seek

additional information to satisfy whether country of origin criteria has been met and temporarily suspend of preferential rate of duty, pending verification. Preferential rate of tax could be denied even without verification on specified conditions.

Make in India initiative

To provide an impetus to electronic domestic manufacturers as part of the Prime Minister’s ‘Make In India’ initiative, the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) rates have been increased on various items.

In summary, the Union Budget has many sides to offer. The intention appears to be clearly improving the consumption levels in the country, thereby spurring growth.

The Government has sought to offer incentives to those who have the necessary funds easily deployable. New tax planning opportunities have now been introduced, thereby providing solace to investors. It would indeed augur well if the State Government could work with the Centre in ensuring that benefits in the Budget trickle down to the masses 

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33

The US’s Asian Plan Vignesh S.G

U

nited States President Donald Trump’s visit to India is the most striking event that has taken place in the country in the recent his-

tory.

It is his maiden visit to India. His wife, Melania Trump, has accompanied him during his visit to the world’s largest democracy.

The couple have received an exceptional welcome. They have been received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

Mr. Trump has been offered a rare opportunity to address a large crowd in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister.

Beyond the glamour of this extravagance lies the actual content of this crucial visit.

India has inked several agreements, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, with the United States.

Both countries have agreed to improve their cooperation on defence, healthcare and energy. The $3 billion defence deal in connection with the sale of Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters, reflects the new approach. The decision to increase India’s LNG import from the United States is another indicator.

As expected, the two countries have decided to build up closer cooperation to fight terrorism. At the same time, India has politely refused the US’s offer to mediate in

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the Kashmir crisis.

The US’s readiness to support India to emerge as a top player in the Asian region is not without reason. That approach is needed to be viewed in light of the world’s most powerful country’s renewed stand towards China. The communist country’s progression from an unfriendly partner to a strategic opponent or a revisionist alternative alters the entire scenario. At a time, it is both an opportunity as well as a threat to India.

Some of the recent policies of the US, from the cancellation of India’s benefits under the Generalised System of Preferences and the shrinking of the H1-B visas quota for Indians to around 15 per cent, prove its disinterest toward Delhi as an individual entity.

At the same time, the US’s recent emphasise on the Quad Initiative – the platform which brings Australia, Japan and Indian together along with Washington – exposes where the actual interest of the White House lies in.

Moreover, its recent announcement on the need for the promotion of a Quad-led – private funded – alternative to take on the Belt and Road Initiative, led by China, showcases clearly the thoroughly thoughtout plan the US holds at this juncture.

Unfortunately, nothing valuable is available to prove whether anyone other than India is willing to go by the line drawn by

India does not need to think too much to understand where the interest of the US hangs on. It does not have to become a subordinate power of the world’s most powerful country. In reality, Washington depends on Delhi as much as the latter relies on the former.

the west – particularly the White House. Clearly, Japan and Australia have other interests too.

In reality, India’s future as an indispensable power in the Asia region hinges on its ability to stay uninfluenced by the US. India does not need to think too much to understand where the interest of the US hangs on. It does not have to become a subordinate power of the world’s most powerful country. In reality, Washington depends on Delhi as much as the latter relies on the former.

What that has gone is the days when the US’s interest dominates the interest of the world’s largest democracy. What that is coming is the days when the Indo-US relation becomes a mutually beneficial rela-

tion.

Undisputedly, what the modern day techs, like Artificial Intelligence, provide to India is a huge opportunity. The country needs to analyse the areas where it needs to collaborate with the US – not on the basis of the terms drawn by the White House but on the basis of the terms put forth by the New Delhi.

China is not completely an unacceptable neighbour. India still cooperates with this neighbour in some sensitive areas. That equation is less likely to change any time in the near future.

It is high time for India to turn on its Non Alliance Mode. Keeping an equal distance from every aggressor is the right strategy at this moment.

The country can no longer run away from the question of unemployment. It has several wants at this moment – like the want of the boosted Foreign Direct Investment.

The country has already missed some opportunities, including the BRI, for the sake of its friendship with the United States. Though in the case of the BRI there is a valid reason considering the China’s provocation using the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which passes through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir provocatively, in the cases of others there is none.

At present, the US is guided by its America First policy. It is what that has helped the Republican star to emerge omnipotent. It is what that has prompted the country to re-

March - April 2020

35

visit the North American Free Trade Agreement and many other similar agreements.

Mr. Trump, whose survival totally depends on his adherence to his protectionist attitude, cannot even think of reversing his attitude for the sake of Asia – or for India. Here, it does not matter whether he likes India or not. Like every populist leader, he has an obligation to work for the interest of his people – or those who love him for his protectionism or his ‘America First’ policy.

The protectionist US cannot even think of a White House sponsored alternative to China’s BRI. What the White House attempts at this moment is a cunning strategy, which demands no serious investment.

It is up to India to decide whether it wants to remain entrapped in the US’s cunning strategy or to explore every possibility on the basis of the level of benefit it offers.

History is a good teacher. How the US used the International Monetary Fund’s Structural Adjustment Programs to chock several developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and even Europe in the early 1980s is a good lesson.

The Indo-US bilateral relation is progressing in the right direction.

Its goal of $500 billion in two-way trade is not unachievable, and is not far away.

India requires the US help to improve its defence production sector.

In Delhi’s plan to allow Foreign Direct Investment in the sector, there is an opportunity for Washington too.

The White House’s Asian true friend deserves a preferential trade benefit as well as a preferential visa policy. Sadly, Washington remembers this friend only when there is a China crisis

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March - April 2020

TM

BUY ONLINE

Available at: CHUNGATH JEWELLERY, K PCC Junction, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Ernakulam, Kerala 682011

SAJ EARTH RESORT, Kochi MANAPPURAM RITI JEWELLERY, All over South India

HEALTH

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

There is no specific medicines available for coronavirus infection. Symptomatic treatment, maintain cleanliness, improve immunity, maintain hydration etc are what is being done now. Effective isolation of the infected patient should be done. All treatment should be done in a well equipped tertiary care centre and all responsible authorities should be informed.

I

t is heard that corona infected patients should wear the mask with white side outside and other should wear with green side outside, is it true?

No. it is wrong information.

There are three layers for a surgical mask. Outer green layer is the water repellent layer. Inner white layer is the absorbent layer; the humidity in the expired air is absorbed by this layer. In between these two, there is the filter layer.

All people (patient or not) should wear mask with green layer outside and white layer inside.

There is a talk saying Coronavirus induces fibrosis.

So if a person can inhale and hold breath for more than 10 seconds there is no coronavirus infection.

Is it true?

No. it is wrong information.

There is no simple technique to confirm this virus infection.

Is it dangerous to accept parcels or letters coming from China?

Coronavirus does not survive for long in such medium. Hence with the available knowledge there

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March - April 2020

is no harm in receiving parcels from China.

Can thermal scanners installed in airports detect Coronavirus infection?

This equipment helps to detect people having fever. It should be noted that only a minute percentage of fevers are due to Corona infection. Also, during the initial part of Corona infection, patient may not present with fever.

Does spraying alcohol or chlorine help to destroy these viruses?

No. The virus that has entered the body cannot be killed by these.

More over these when coming in contact with eyes or oral mucosa can be harmful. But, they are useful disinfectants if used properly as per medical advice.

Does drinking lot of water help prevent Coronavirus infection?

Drinking water (boiled and cooled) is always good for health.

But, it is not a preventive measure for corona infection.

There are lots of claims by alternative medicine therapists that there is prevention for Coronavirus infection? Is it true?

TRUTH ABOUT COVID 19 CORONA VIRUS No. They are all unscientific preventive methods. Many at times supplements given to improve immunity is given as preventive medicines for this infection.

Is Acupuncture a recommended treatment for Coronavirus infection?

No. Acupuncture has never been proved to treat Coronavirus infection.

Does vaccination against pneumonia help prevent Coronavirus infection?.

No. Pneumococcal and HIB vaccinations do not provide immunity against Coronavirus infection.

Since it’s a new type of virus extensive research is going on to develop an effective vaccine for Corona.

Is hand dryers an effective method to destroy Coronavirus No. Hand dryers won’t help.

Does Coronavirus affect people of all age groups?

Yes. It can affect people of all age groups. However, people with low immunity like old age, high

March - April 2020

39

diabetics, debilitated people etc have got higher chance of infection. So, it is advisable that all people should practice effective preventive measures.

Does ultraviolet light help destroy Coronavirus infection?

Other than causing skin irritation ultraviolet rays may not destroy Coronavirus infection.

Does garlic or ginger help prevent Coronavirus infection?

Ginger and garlic in moderation are good for health, but has not been proved to prevent Coronavirus infection.

Does the common food drink Rasam prevent Coronavirus infection?

No, it does not help prevent Corona infection.

Is there any effective treatment method for Coronavirus infection? Are the claims made by alternative medicine therapists true?

No. there is no treatment for Coronavirus infection as of now. The claims made by alternative medicine

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March - April 2020

therapists are false. Coronavirus is a new infection. Its characteristics, mutation style and other information are still being studied extensively and methods of treatment are under extensive research. Till they are published officially all big claims may please be ignored.

Is there any effective medicine available for treating Coronavirus infection?

No. there is no specific medicines available for Coronavirus infection. Symptomatic treatment, maintain cleanliness, improve immunity, maintain hydration etc are what is being done now. Effective isolation of the infected patient should be done. All treatment should be done in a well equipped tertiary care centre and all responsible authorities should be informed.

Is there a chance that the house old pets can be infected by Coronavirus?

As of now man to man spread is what being documented. As long as transfer from animals has not been proved or disproved, it is advisable to take adequate precautions on them too. Maintain proper hand hygiene

after touching pets is strongly adviced.

Is antibiotic effective for Coronavirus infection?

No. It is not effective since it’s a viral infection. Antibiotics can be given only when there is secondary bacterial infection

Are lime juice and hot rice soup an effective preventive measure against Coronavirus infection?

No. Maintaining personal hygiene and practicing effective non exposure techniques is what is recommended at present.

Does regular use of saline drops in the nose help prevent Coronavirus infection?

No, it does not help.

Does consuming cow urine or applying cow dung over body prevent Coronavirus infection?

Absolutely not! Such crazy practices can cause so many other diseases too and should be strongly condemnedď Ź Source of information- Medical journals, WHO official website

MOTIVATION

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

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

The first and foremost thing in understanding and challenging your fear is to ACCEPT them. Stepping out of your comfort zone is to step into the unchartered territory. Acceptance is about making room actively in your cognitive level. Avoiding, ignoring or resisting a fear or change can only increase the agitation. Acceptance is practice that you need to be habitual with and is far deeper than we analyse in this article.

THE DARING ADVENTURE OF

TAKING RISKS

“It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture.

It’s because we dare not venture that they are difficult.” - Seneca

T

he economy this year 2020 is setting a lot of uncertainity and fear across the country. These tough times are when we tend to retrospect and introspect more on our business and products. Let’s have a look at ourselves on how we play safe in lives, what is the extent to which we are secure to take risks and what is the comfort zone we have set for ourselves. Most of the times we get our emotions come in our way or we get wavered by cognitive biases, when it comes to taking productive risks in life. It is indeed a very crucial human trait which accounts for exponential development, experiential learning and success.

What is a comfort zone? The comfort zone is a behavioural state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviours to deliver a steady level of performance, usu-

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ally without a sense of risk. Before we understand more about comfort zone and the art of taking risks, let’s first have a sneak-peek at our fears. It is inevitable to recognize our weaknesses before we identify our strengths. How do we deal with our fears? Have you ever noticed - one paradox in life seems to be that the more you try to make your fears and anxieties go away, the harder it is to rid yourself of them. Are we willing to face your fear? Are you prepared to move through them? We might be sceptical about it, uncertain, cowardly, negative or nervous. We all feel stuck at times. Please let yourself know that it is all normal.

As they say, go out on the limb, that’s where the fruit is.

It is researched and found out that happier people take more risks. It is a part of developing and protecting a valued identity. At the early stages of life, we tend to take ‘unknown risks’ which sometimes are unprecedented or unplanned.

Hence, you status of mind plays a momentous role in deciding your future success too. The first and

foremost thing in understanding and challenging your fear is to ACCEPT them. Stepping out of your comfort zone is to step into the unchartered territory. Acceptance is about making room actively in your cognitive level. Avoiding, ignoring or resisting a fear or change can only increase the agitation. Acceptance is practice that you need to be habitual with and is far deeper than we analyse in this article. The rewards are great, so can be the cost!

Personal growth is multi-dimensional. Once we accept our fears, embrace the idea of change we are to travel through, the next step is to take action - to get out of your comfort zone. Like they aptly say, “your life starts at the end of your comfort zone”. There are times we feel that we might look foolish or mocked or will have to bear embarrassment if we take a step to get out of our comfort zone. We all feel fragile at times - times when we doubt our strengths. But, taking that first step will commence a new exciting journey of your life – one that you will cherish and be thankful for the com-

ing years in life.

Understand that all change process is always ‘difficult in the beginning, messy at the middle and beautiful at the end’. Stop putting things off and procrastinating. Making a wee bit of progress every single day will help immensely when we look back after a year. Change starts from within! It starts with that decision that you commit today, helps you make that big leap in your and others lives. Whether it be Mahatma Gandhi or Bill Gates, all of them who made their mark in history, had struggled to take that first leap.

They were all petrified in the beginning. Then, they accepted their vision, determined by their conviction to change lives around them. Today, we revere them to be heroes. Having someone to look up to, someone who has defied the odds, also would help know that what you’re going to do is not impossible. Those role models were just ordinary human beings who just had an extra-ordinary will in them and a persistent spirit they never let down on.

Perhaps, you want to change careers, move to a different place, quit your job and start a business,

begin a new relationship, break-up with a nagging friend, have a child.

Risk, by nature is scary. It gives you weak knees. However, it opens up a new world to you, lets you discover your inner strength, allows us to conquer our fears, makes you come alive, and helps you to help others. When you start getting out of your comfort zone, make sure you do not stretch extremes. That might make you vulnerable and scare you to back out eventually. Be slow and steady. Get to your next milestone, and evaluate your action at frequent intervals. Applaud yourself on the perks that you find on the way.

“Don’t be afraid to take a big step. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.”

Let’s discuss together how we can prepare for taking an inevitable risk in life. Ask yourself what’s the worst thing that’d happen if you take this risk? First of all, analyse the pros and cons. Believe that you CAN do it. Make sure you are ready and prepared to take this hurdle.

If not, gain knowledge of what you need to learn. Don’t assume or overlook things. Refrain from hurrying things - Be steady and cautious.

Rather, be ready to develop some new muscles on the way, improve on some less-mastered skills and evolve through it. Study your opportunities, competitors, predators and threats. See the end in mind.

Don’t let a bitter experience or past mistakes stop you. Study the consequences that can follow this. Take calculated risks. Be ready with alternate plans. Be geared up not to regret. After all, playing it safe can be one of the biggest detrimental risks you take in life. Take that plunge!

Experience that priceless gift that’s been kept in store for you from ages!

"First you jump off the cliff and you build wings on the way down."

Great, unforeseen, success always comes from taking risks. It helps you stand out from the rest. Most of all, it will stretch your boundaries, and give you a new perspective of looking at things and an extraordinary way of combating life experiences. It will slowly make your mind muscles strengthen to carry more load. We are all equipped and designed to have an extra-ordinary life – only if we also resolve to have it! Risk it out – leap and the net will appear!

March - April 2020

43

GADGETS

Vivo Apex 2020

` 64,990 (approximately)

Android v10 (Q) OS

6.45 inches Display

48 MP + 16 MP Dual Primary

Cameras

16 MP Secondary Camera

12 GB RAM

256 GB Internal Memory

Oppo A31

` 11,490 (approximately) Android v9.0 (Pie) OS 6.5 inches Display 12 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP

Triple Primary Cameras 8 MP Secondary Camera 4 GB RAM 64 GB Internal Memory 256 GB Expandable Memory 4230 mAh Battery Capacity

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March - April 2020

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

` 51,190 (approximately) Android v10 (Q) OS 6.67 inches Display 108 MP + 8 MP + 12 MP + 20

MP Quad Primary Cameras 20 MP Secondary Camera 8 GB RAM 256 GB Internal Memory 4500 mAh Battery Capacity

Samsung Galaxy s20 Ultra 5G

` 99,890 (approximately) Android v10 (Q) OS 6.9 inches Display 108 MP + 48 MP + 12 MP

Triple Primary Cameras 40 MP Secondary Camera 12 GB RAM 128 GB Internal Memory 1 TB Expandable Memory 5000 mAh Battery Capacity

March - April 2020

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BEAUTY

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March - April 2020

Natural ways to Fight

Dry skin D

ry skin is a common skin problem. Generally speaking, it is not a skin disease, but is just an unwelcoming skin condition.

Normally, people find this condition irritating. Actually, this issue can be addressed in many ways.

Several chemicals are available in the market at present to address the issue. Nonetheless, it is better to fight dry skin with the help of natural solutions.

In this edition, like we usually do, some useful natural solutions are suggested. Notably, each one is better than the other.

Coconut oil

This oil is rich source of several vitamins and minerals. It possesses emollient properties; it is this quality which makes the oil prefect for the purpose.

Take a spoon of coconut oil.

Apply it gently on your face. Let it rest there for few minutes. Dry it up with a clean cotton smoothly.

Repeat the process daily for better result.

Oatmeal

It is a widely used method.

It has many fans. Oatmeal is a rich source of several minerals.

It holds antioxidants and antiinflammatory properties.

Take a spoon of oatmeal.

Powder the substance. Add a few drops of warm water into the powdered substance. Apply the paste on your face. Let it rest there for few minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water. Repeat the procedure at least once a week for better result.

Antioxidants and omega-3

The food we eat has a huge role or inseparable role in the health of our skin. To make your skin healthy and not affected with the issue of dry skin, your daily diet should include those food items rich in the elements of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acid.

Blueberries, carrots, tomatoes, beans, lentils and peas are some of those food items which are rich in antioxidants. Meanwhile, salmon is the best source of omega-3 fatty acid.

The inclusion of the aforesaid items in the daily diet can bring a serious improvement on your skin health.

Several studies prove that the food we eat has an inevitable relation with how healthy our skin looks.

Those with dry skin are advised to use moisturising sunscreen.

If necessary, they can utilise the support of moisturisers.

It is important to understand those elements which can irritate your skin. Each and every skin is different. Likewise, each and every element reacts differently on different persons.

Glycerin is said to be one of the most effective solution to dry skin. The regular usage of glycerine has many benefits.

Not all dry skin conditions can be treated with home remedies.

There are skin conditions which can only be treated with the support of effective medical intervention.

It is advised to consult a skin care specialist before you start a treatment.

As it is told, dry skin is not a disease, but it is just a simple skin condition. Most cases of dry skin can be treated easily with the aforesaid natural methods.

Your recovery largely relies on your confidence. If you are certain that you will recover, nothing can stop you from approaching your recovery.

Stay Healthy! Stay Beautiful!

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International

Mob: 9388618112

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TRAVELOGUE

Mexico:

The Land of Mayans T Guadalajara is known as the land of tequila and mariachi, for the presence of tequila distilleries and mariachi bands.

Like Mexico City, this city is also rich in its art and culture. What pulls travellers to this city is its vibrant night life. The Mexican Silicon Valley, which is famous for its jaw dropping architecture, is also the party city of the country.

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he Maya civilization, developed by the Mayan people, is a Mesoamerican civilization. It is known for its art, culture, architecture, mathematics, astrology and calendar. Many Latin American countries have deep connection with this civilization. In this edition, one such country is explored.

It is none other than Mexico.

The country is unique in many ways. Like Canada, it shares a border with the United States. Unlike Ottawa, Mexico City is not that close to Washington.

The modern Mexico does not have any resemblance to its rich and peaceful past. It is more violent and less peace loving than the past.

Unfortunately, the country is struggling with its drug trafficking issue badly. The influence of the criminal gangs, which control the drug trafficking in the country, is enormous. The country is at war with these gangs. So far, tens of thousands of people have fallen victims to this war.

The country, which has witnessed a regime change recently, hopes to win back its peace loving nature in the near future itself. Fortunately, the

country has a strong resolve.

It deserves a special appreciation for that.

Nonetheless, the country’s tourism sector is growing. It is one of the most pop-

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ular tourist destinations in that part of the world.

Yearly, it attracts tens of thousands of travellers.

As a tourist destination, it is blessed. It has everything needed to emerge as a tourist heaven - from historic ruins to party life.

The thirteenth largest independent state in the world is the tenth most populous state. It is a federation of 31 states in addition to Mexican City, which is the capital city of the country.

The country is not too far from the developed status. It is the fifteenth largest economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product and the eleventh largest in terms of Pur-

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chasing Power Parity. As per the World Bank, it is an upper middle income country.

Mexico is a member of United Nations as well as several International organisations such as G8+5 and G20. It is a member of World Trade Organisations also.

The country is heavily dependent on the United States. The North American Free Trade Agreement, in which the country shares a platform with the US and Canada, is the backbone of the Mexican economy.

The country also benefits from its membership in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Cancun, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Tijuana are the popular tourist destinations in the Latin American country of Mexico.

This Latin American country possesses a turbulent past. It has undergone several ups and downs such as the destruction of Mesoamercian civilisation, the rise of Mexico as a Spanish colony, the infiltration of Roman Catholic Church, the Mexican War of Independence, the rise of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the War of the Reform, the invasion of France, the Mexican Revolution, the emergence of Institutional Revolutionary Party and the true democratisation of Mexico.

The potential of Mexico to emerge as a superpower is not limited. Only thing that stops the country from its success is its crime issue.

Cancun, Mexico City, Guadalajara,

Puerto Vallarta and Tijuana are the popular tourist destinations in the Latin American country of Mexico.

Cancun is known for its beaches. It offers several exciting adventure sports opportunities. Jet skiing and parasailing are some of them. What that makes this region exciting is its adventure, food and entertainment. The region is close to a large Mayan archaeological site, Chichen Itza.

Mexico City, which is one of the most popular cities as well as the largest cities in the world and which is the capital city of the Latin American superpower, is special in many ways. It is the most populous region in the country. What that pulls travellers to this city is its vibe. The

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Puerto Vallarta is a luxury destination. It offers worldclass resorts, shopping experience, cuisines. The city is also known for its beaches. Here also, the opportunity to explore adventure sea sports is offered. A walkway along the ocean that stretches from the south end of Old Town to the central region of Down Town, Malecon, is a popular tourist spot in the region. city is the direct inheritor of a rich culture. Its art forms and music are the genuine reflection of that richness. Its museums and architecture speak volumes about that prosperity.

Zocalo and Bosque de Chapultepec are the popular travel destinations in this city.

Guadalajara is known as the land of tequila and mariachi, for the presence of tequila distilleries and mariachi bands. Like Mexico City, this city is also rich in its art and culture.

What pulls travellers to this city is its vibrant night life. The Mexican Silicon Valley, which is famous for its jaw dropping architecture, is also the party city of the country.

Puerto Vallarta is a luxury destination. It offers world-class resorts, shopping experience, cuisines. The city is also known for its beaches.

Here also, the opportunity to explore adventure sea sports is offered. A walkway along the ocean that stretches from the south end

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of Old Town to the central region of Down Town, Malecon, is a popular tourist spot in the region. With the presence of numerous shops, restaurants, artists, dancers, singers and many more, this destination is the most liveliest destination in the country.

Tijuana is not any more the most dangerous region in the country. In the recent history, it has undergone a rapid transformation. Now, the city has much more than tequila. Tijuana Cultural Centre, Estadio Caliente Stadium and El Popo Market are the main attractions in this part of the country.

This country has happiness to offer. It exists for only that. Let’s taste that happiness a little bit. Plan your trip soon.

“So much of who we are is where we have been.” A Mexican trip is a great opportunity to plunge into the deepest happiness of the world. Let’s Explore!!!

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The premium facilities and attractions of the hotel, make way for a comfortable and elegant stay in Kochi.

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Bad Habits

C

hildren, one of the most dangerous things that can happen to us is to fall into the clutches of bad habits.

Once that happens, it is very difficult to get free. So, we must always remain vigilant.

It is when we repeatedly engage in negative thinking and actions that they become habits. Without our knowledge, these habits then devour our very life.

Once, a man went to the eye doctor because of discomfort in his eyes. After examining him, the doctor said, “There’s nothing to worry about. Just flush your eyes with brandy twice a day. Within one week, the discomfort will go away.” Next week, the patient returned to the doctor. After examining him, the doctor said, “There’s no improvement!

What happened? Didn’t you follow my instructions?” The patient said, “I tried but it was impossible to get my hands passed my mouth.”

When habits become our nature, we become slave to those habits. The influence of habits on us is that powerful.

Today we are in a kind of sleep state.

Because of this, we have no awareness with regard to our words and actions. It’s not enough to have knowledge; our awareness must be awakened. Only then will we get the full benefit from our knowledge. Everyone who smokes knows that smoking is injurious to their health, but they still smoke. Only when they get diagnosed with cancer will the awareness of just how bad the habit is awaken in them. Then, even if they desire to smoke, they will not touch a cigarette again.

Many people with bad habits tell me, “This habit has formed over years. It’s very hard to stop it just like that. So, I will try to stop it little by little.” This is because they fail to realise just how dangerous their bad habit is to their physical and mental health. Imagine a house that has caught fire while the owner is sleeping. He awakes to see the fire has completely surrounded him. His only thought will be to es-

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cape as quickly as possible. He will not take his sweet time to escape.

Similarly, the moment that we realise that bad habits are injurious to us, we will drop them instantly.

The first thing we need to free ourselves from our bad habits is determination. The second is to stay away from tempting situations. It is important to stay away from friendships that will lead to wrongdoing.

Don’t hesitate to get help from a physician or a counsellor when it is needed. If you have vigilance and make constant effort, you can overcome any bad habit 

Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

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.

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his may very well be India’s first affordable EV – and a proper one at that.

Yes, there has been the E2O along with many other Mahindras, and the cheaper Tiago, but those had minuscule range and old battery technology. For it to be called a proper EV in our books, it has to have a high voltage setup and energy dense Lithium ion batteries. The Hyundai Kona was the first attempt at a proper EV we got, followed by the MG eZS and now we have a Tata that looks very promising.

On the face of it, it looks like any other face-lifted Nexon. Tata has gone for blue highlights to differentiate the EV from the regular internal combustion engined Nexons.

The refreshed styling looks better with less rounded elements and a flatter bonnet. The 16 inch wheels are also new and

Tata says that they are one kilogram lighter at each corner.

It’s odd that Tata hasn’t offered LED headlamps or tail lamps in the EV, and it is an eyesore to see inefficient, incandescent bulbs on what is otherwise a very high tech modern day EV. The interiors of the Nexon EV are very similar to that of the standard car, with good amount of space, decent quality cabin and comfortable seats. The gear selector is now a Land Rover style rotary dial.

What gets you every time is that it’s a bit slow to engage drive or reverse, which is annoying considering it’s an EV and that there are no mechanical parts to engage. The instrument console has the same 7 inch display as the Altroz but has EV specific graphics and look nice. The seats are comfortable and supportive, with good visibility, all around.

There is a top of the line Lux

Tata

Nexon EV

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Nexon EV is quite a promising SUV for the price. While building a totally new skate board chassis with hub motors is the best way to build an EV, Tata’s approach is much simpler and very cost effective.

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variant which gets an off-white interior in faux leather, a sun roof, automatic headlamps, automatic wipers etc. The car also gets most of the connectivity features for location based services, vehicle security, remote commands etc.

The 30.2kWh T shaped battery pack sits towards the centre of the car and under the rear seat, taking up the space of the fuel tank. As a result, the boot space remains unchanged at 350 litres. The battery pack adds quite a lot of weight to the Nexon and the EV weighs 150kgs more than the diesel Nexon. The battery pack has an IP67 rating and can go underwater for up to one metre not exceeding 30 minutes.

It has also conformed to rigorous other tests such as crushing, fire,

nail penetration etc to have an AIS 48 rating. Tata offers a warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km on the battery and the motor. Because of the positioning of the battery, the Nexon EV has a 50:50 weight distribution and a much lower centre of gravity than the standard IC engined car, although the ground clearance is just 4mm lower.

Under the hood, you will find an electric motor that is good for 129bhp and 245Nm. Press the throttle and the Nexon EV responds quite well. The power delivery is quite linear and you can drive around without using too much throttle. You can keep up with other cars easily and the smooth, silent nature of the EV is quite relaxing. If you are in a bit of a hurry and want to close the

gaps in traffic quickly, select Sport on the gear lever. Now the throttle feels very enthusiastic and you get a lot of power for even a little bit of pedal travel. The car feels extremely lively and with no traction control or ESP, you tend to spin the wheels when all that torque comes in one bit. It takes some getting used to the electric motor’s instant power delivery and quick throttle response when coming off a petrol/diesel car.

Acceleration is very strong and the Nexon EV manages 0-100kmph in 9.6 seconds. Like most EVs, it feels much faster than it is because of the way it delivers its output. Top speed is limited to 120kmph though.

The Nexon has retuned suspension with stiffer springs and dampers to suit the EV’s extra weight. It feels

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firmer on broken roads, but overall it isn’t far removed from the standard Nexon’s. Where it gets a lot better is in the dynamics front. The car feels much tauter and goes into corners better. The lower centre of gravity and the near 50:50 weight distribution help here, but it is also down to the fact that the strong battery casing acts as a load bearing member, which also makes the overall chassis much stiffer. Select ‘S’ on the drive, and you can surely have some fun with this EV. So, what did we not like about the Nexon EV? It does consume a lot of energy in ‘S’ and you will not get anywhere close to the 312kms ARAI certified range. And once the charge drops below 25 percent, it will not allow you to be in Sport

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anymore and there is a drastic reduction in available power to get you home. This is an oversight, because even if you know there is a charging station only two kilometres away, you still have to drive slowly to get there, which is bad if you are in an emergency.

Another gripe is that, although the car has hill start assist, there is a momentary delay before that gets activated, and the Nexon EV rolls back a fair bit before it can move forwards. Pressing the brakes to stop it rolling backwards, will only delay things further and make matters worse and this can get confusing. You would also wish the amount of regeneration was variable to suit driver preferences, because out on the highway, you may want less re-

gen to be able to coast more with a light throttle.

These things aside, the Nexon EV is quite a promising SUV for the price. While building a totally new skate board chassis with hub motors is the best way to build an EV, Tata’s approach is much simpler and very cost effective. Taking an existing production car platform and turning it into an EV, by fitting the electric motor and controllers under the hood where the engine used to be, is much simpler from a manufacturing perspective. That Tata chose to go with the Nexon – a well-received compact SUV, is pure genius. Prices start from around Rs.14 lakhs, and if you want to be one of those early EV adopters, be sure to give this one a look

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MOVIE REVIEW

The Call of the Wild

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t is an adventure film directed by highly creative American filmmaker Chris Sanders, who is known for his exceptional talent as an animation director. The film is the adaption of the Jack London 1903 novel of the same name. The film is about a stolen dog and his new master, who is an old man. The film has attracted mixed reviews. It has miserably failed to emerge as a successful film in terms of finance. Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Colin Woodell and Bradley Whitford appear in the lead roles. The film can attract all kinds of people.

The Rhythm Section

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t is an action film directed by renowned American filmmaker Reed Morano, who is also a successful cinematographer. It is the adaptation of the Mark Brunell novel of the same name. Its screenplay is written by Mr. Brunell himself.

The film tells the story of an emotionally shattered woman, who ventures into a journey to take vengeance over those who have shattered her family. Blake Lively, Sterling K Brown and Jude Law appear in the lead roles. The film, which is released by Paramount Pictures, has attained mixed reviews. It has failed miserably to emerge as a box office success. There are some interesting action sequences in the film.

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Guns of Banaras

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t is an action film directed by popular Indian filmmaker Sekhar Suri, who predominantly works in the Telugu film industry. Karan Nath appears in the film as the central character. Apart from Mr. Nath, Nathalia Kaur, Ganesh Venkatraman, Abhimanyu Singh, Shilpa Shirodkar, Zarina Wahab, Vinod Khanna, Mohan Agashe, Tej Sapru and Salim Baig act in the lead roles. The film is the adaptation of popular Tamil film Polladhavan. There are several mind blowing action sequences in the film. The film is produced by Shaina Nath and Ashok Munshi. It is written by renowned writer Vetrimaaran. The film can excite youngsters.

Baaghi 3

I

t is an action film directed by renowned Indian filmmaker Ahmed Khan, who is also a talented choreographer, actor and writer. It is a sequel to Baagi and Baaghi 2. Tiger Shroff appear as the central character in the film. Apart from Mr. Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh act in the film. The film is produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Fox Star Studios. There are several exceptional action sequences in this film.

Mr. Shroff deserves special appreciation for his extra ordinary performance in the action sequences. The film tells to story of an unusual brotherhood. It can attract youngsters.

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BOOK REVIEW

Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Rivalry That Unravelled the Middle East Author Price

: Kim Ghattas : Rs. 854 (approximately)

S

audi Arabia and Iran are the two most powerful countries in the region of Middle East. At present, they are not in a good relation with each other. It was not so before the year 1979. Once they were good friends and even partners. What that changed everything is the three important historic events happened around the said year: the siege of the Holy Mosque in Mecca, the Iranian revolution, and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. The book explains the unfriendly relation between these two aggressive countries in the most volatile region in the world. The writer is a renowned journalist, who has received several honours for his excellence in the field of journalism.

Facebook: The Inside Story Author Price

T

: Steven Levy : Rs. 646 (approximately)

he story of Facebook is fascinating. It is interesting, as well as inspiring, to learn how a campus website has transformed into the most powerful social media platform powerful enough even to influence the politics of the world. At present, the social media giant is not at a comfortable position. At this juncture, it stands amidst several uncomfortable controversies. Certainly, this is the right time to explore the inside story of this giant. This book serves the said purpose. The writer uses several interviews and reports to dive into the heart of this exceptional social media organisation, which is at present the real sensation of the world.

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BOOK REVIEW

The Perfect Pill: 10 Steps to Build a Strong Healthcare Brand Author Price

: Gauri Chaudhari : Rs. 455 (approximately)

T

he Indian healthcare industry is a very competitive industry. The big question that emerges at this juncture is how a successful healthcare brand can be created. That question needs to be addressed correctly. What this book attempts is to confront this question in a logical manner. The book offers as many as ten applicable healthcare brand building models. The book is highly useful to those marketing professionals who operate in this challenging sector of healthcare. Actually, it is not just a book about marketing. It possesses many more valuables. The book is suitable for all those who are interesting to earn a deep insight about the sector.

The Art of Statistics: Learning from Data Author Price

I

: David Spiegelhalter : Rs. 401 (approximately)

f data is the new fuel, then statistics is the new tool. Actually, statistics can be applied to anything and everything. It makes an analysis, which otherwise requires hours and too much effort, less time consuming and simple or effortless. What this implies is that this area requires to be explored deeply. This is exactly what this book does. It gives a deep insight about the topic of statistics. It covers all one requires to know about this new tool of immense possibility – from the basics to the advanced. It is suitable for anyone who is interested to explore the topic.

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Printed On 09/ 03/ 2020

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