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“Astrong woman is a wom an determined to do something others are deter mined not be done.” - Marge Piercy
Leadership frequently entails the exercise of formal authority that comes with holding a high post in a politi cal institution or one in a large corporation. These types of power positions clearly present leadership potential. The rise of women in leadership roles has been one of the most significant trends in recent decades. In a greater number of nations than ever before, women are taking on leadership roles in politics, business, higher education, charitable organi sations, and other spheres of life. In this month our cover story is about one such woman who overcame the bounded barriers and became the first tribal and second woman President of India, Mrs Draupadi Murmu.
This time, Manappuram Finance Limited MD and CEO V P Nandakumar shares with our readers, for the first time, his valuable ‘tips for budding entrepre neurs’.
Apart from the above-said articles, the edition has all our usuals, from travel, beauty, movie reviews and book reviews to motivation tips and business articles.
‘Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home’ - Anna Quindlen Enjoy Reading!
Draupadi
President of
In response to SpiceJet’s increasing number of air safe ty problems, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on 5th July issued a show cause notice. The avi ation safety authority noted in its notice that after review ing the numerous incidents that have occurred since April 1 of this year, it was determined that “poor internal safety oversight” and “inadequate maintenance activi ties” have caused a reduction in safety margins. CMD of SpiceJet Ajay Singh promised that the airline will be “double cautious” and improve the examination of the aircraft before to takeoff. Singh stated in a news release that many of the reported accidents were rather small in nature and occurred on every airline. We will close any holes in SpiceJet’s system if the aviation authority finds any. At least three mishaps involving SpiceJet planes were recorded on 5th July alone.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs released FAQs late on 17th July night to allay various concerns. They stated that only pre-packaged items weighing up to 25 kg will be subject to 5% GST, but that sales to consumers made by retail shopkeepers of items purchased in 25 kg packs from manufacturers or distributors will not be subject to this tax. The government said last week that beginning from July 18, unbranded, pre-packaged, and labeled food items would be subject to a 5% Goods and Services Tax. Only branded prod ucts have so far been subject to the charge. According to the FAQs, if pre-packaged and labeled food goods (such as pulses, cereals like rice, wheat, and flour, etc.) include a quantity of up to 25 kilograms, they would be considered “pre-packaged commodities” under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
“What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.”
India-born Gita Gopinath became the second Indi an and the first woman to appear on the Interna tional Monetary Fund (IMF) “wall of former chief economists”. Raghuram Rajan, who served as the IMF’s Chief Economist and Director of Research from 2003 to 2006, was the first Indian to receive the honour. Gopinath joined the IMF in October 2018 as Chief Economist before being elevated to First Deputy Managing Director in December. In a tweet that also featured the wall of past chief economists with her picture, she declared, “Breaking the trend, I joined the wall of former Chief Economists of the IMF.” For three years, Gopinath led the worldwide lender with headquarters in Washington as its first female chief economist. Before being appointed IMF Chief, she was an economist and the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at the Harvard University Department of Economics.
Nitin Gadkari, the union minister of transport, stated on 12th July that the government would raise money for road projects through the financial markets. The minister added that despite concerns about a worldwide recession, financ ing infrastructure projects is not a problem. “I’m heading to the capital market right now. Financial difficulties are not a concern for me. But I don’t want to borrow money from the wealthy.” Gadkari stated in a speech in Delhi, “I am going to the stock market, and there I am going to collect investments from little people — 1 lakh, 2 lakh — where I am guaranteeing them a guaranteed return of 8%.” “As a result,” he continued, “I will profit greatly from the market. The size of the construc tion equipment business, according to the minister, is 50,000 crore, but there are issues with the sector as a result of the increase in crude oil prices.”The minister emphasised that it is government policy to support alternative fuels including meth anol, ethanol, and green hydrogen.
“When you find an idea that you just can’t stop thinking about, that’s probably a good one to pursue.”
Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL), the largest PSU re finer in India, claimed on 4th July that a bogus web site bearing its name had been established to solicit mon ey from job applicants in exchange for false promises of employment. According to a statement from NRL Gener al Manager (Corporate Communication) Madhuchanda Adhikari, the company has already reported a crime to the National Cyber Crime Reporting portal and filed an FIR with the local police station. “Untrustworthy individ uals have imitated NRL’s legitimate Corporate Website www.nrl.co.in to establish a fake website with the domain www.nrlindia.in of Numaligarh Refinery Limited in order to steal money from unwary applicants for false positions posted under the Career section,” she continued. Ac cording to Ms. Adhikari, the company urged everyone to exercise caution and refrain from sending money to the phoney website in exchange for unfilled employment.
India, the second-largest consumer of precious metals world wide, opened its first global bullion exchange on 29th july in an effort to increase market transparency. The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or GIFT City, home of the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX), may help standardise gold prices in In dia and facilitate trading for small bullion dealers and jewellers. With the opening of this bullion market, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman remarked, “We will have better pricing nego tiation strength.” In 2021, India imported 1,069 tonnes of gold, up from 430 tonnes the previous year. The estimated 25,000 tonnes of gold owned by Indian households are passed down from one generation to the next. In an effort to cut back on imports, New Delhi has been trying to monetize these holdings.
“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.”
Oprah Winfrey
Brittney Griner, a US basketball player, admitted guilt to drug charges in a Russian court but said she didn’t do it on purpose. The gold medalist from the Olympics was held in February at a nearby airport after it was claimed that cannabis oil vape cartridges were discovered in her luggage. She explained to the court in Khimki, “I was in a rush packing and the cartridges accidentally land ed up in my luggage. Her trial started last week on allegations that may land her in jail for ten years. Cherelle Gri ner, Griner’s wife, had earlier urged Joe Biden to take “whatever steps are required” to achieve her release. Cherelle Griner was informed by Mr. Biden that he was working to obtain a release as quickly as feasible. The basketball player had already written to the president expressing her fear that “she might remain here forever.”
In an argument about a piece of art that was deemed to be anti-Semitic, the director of a well-known German art ex hibition resigned. In Kassel, the Documenta 15 exhibition momentarily included a mural portraying a soldier holding a Star of David and a pig’s head. A character with fangs, sidelocks in the Jewish Orthodox fashion, and a “SS” hat was also shown on the painting. A group of Indonesian art ists created it. Soon after the episode debuted last month, there was a commotion. Sabine Schormann, the director, has since resigned. She has apologised for failing to recog nise the anti-Semitism in the painting. Since the art fair won’t end until September 25th, a temporary replacement will need to be chosen. The scandal is particularly pain ful in Germany because of the Holocaust, a 20th-century atrocity committed by Nazi Germany against the Jewish people. Every five years in Kassel, Documenta is regarded as a premier exhibition of contemporary art, comparable to the Venice Biennale.
pram covered in blood is lay ing on its side in a patch of grass in front of the torched, burned rem nants of the Jubilee department store. It belonged to Liza, a young Liza. The centre of Vinnytsia was struck by Russian missiles on 14th July, killing three young children, including the four-year-old. Iryna Dmytriyeva, her mother, was severely hurt during the assault. Eight more persons are still missing, bringing the total number of fatalities to 23. Hospitals are housing dozens more. Iryna had uploaded a video online just before the mis siles hit. Little Liza was beaming and pushing her pink chair in front of her as they talked about going to meet her speech therapist on this lovely sunny day. She oversees the LogoClub facil ity for people with disabilities, where Liza had gone to a session that morn ing as she typically did.
Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade passed away at the age of 23, according to a heartfelt farewell video made on his behalf by his family. His father referred to him in the “so long nerds” video as “the most amazing kid anyone could possibly ask for.” The video was shared to his 10 million followers. The US internet celebrity became well-known by live streaming and uploading videos of himself playing the sandbox game. Technoblade informed his followers of his cancer diagnosis last year. His father read the final letter, which was penned just hours before he passed away: “Hello everyone, Technoblade here. If you’re watching this. I am dead.” Then, after recalling the time he had tricked viewers into thinking his name was Dave, he admitted that his real name was Alex. He stat ed, “Thank you all for supporting my stuff throughout the years. If I had an additional 100 lives, I believe I would choose to once more live as Technoblade since those were the best years of my life”.
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has been ample evi dence of women being viewed as less valuable than men ever since the dawn of civilisation. Almost all na tions, regardless of how progressive, have a history of mistreating women. As a result, women ultimately began to reflect on their place in society, and some even became rebellious to achieve the position they do now.
A woman has the right to live with dignity and independence. Addition ally essential to furthering develop ment and eradicating poverty is the empowerment of women. Women who are empowered increase the prospects for the future generation as well as the health and productiv ity of their entire families and com munities.
With a colourful victory, Drau padi Murmu emerged from the confines of patriarchal society. The former Governor of Jharkhand, Draupadi Murmu is the second fe male and first tribal woman to be come the President of India. The
Bhartiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance coalition gov ernment is currently on cloud nine as Draupadi Murmu proved the met tle of her hard work. After Pratibha Patil, who was the first female Presi dent of India, Draupadi Murmu cre ated history and inspired the entire tribal community with her political success. However, although every one is talking about the 15th Presi dent of India, not everyone seems to be aware of her journey till now.
Draupadi Murmu was born on June 20, 1958, into a Santali tribal family in the hamlet of Uparbeda in the Odisha district of Mayurbhanj. Due to the fact that her father and grandparents served as sarpanches under the Panchayat Raj, Drau padi came from a prominent family. Draupadi Murmu's journey from a small hamlet in Odisha to becoming India's second female president is simply remarkable, despite the fact that she was born into a tribal house hold and without adequate means.
Draupadi Murmu was a stu
"A woman is like a tea bag—you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt
dent of Ramadevi Women's Uni versity. She finished her degree, started teaching right away, and then went into politics. Draupadi Murmu was always a diligent and capable pupil. That is one of the reasons she chose to pursue a ca reer in teaching after earning her degree.
Additionally, Murmu has had a position as an assistant profes sor at Rairangpur's renowned Shri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Institute. Draupadi Murmu joined the Odisha govern ment's irrigation department after serving as an assistant professor for a while. She learned about the government sector's operations for the first time at that point in her life.
After the NDA announced its presidential candidate, the entire nation was in disbelief. The coali tion led by the Bharatiya Janata
Party chose Draupadi Murmu as their candidate for president.
The opposition had chosen Yashwant Sinha as their candidate for the 2022 presidential election, while the NDA made a very as tute political choice by nominat ing Draupadi Murmu.
Draupadi Murmu served as the governor of Jharkhand and as the Odisha cabinet minister.
In 1997, Mrs. Murmu began her political career with the BJP and served as a councillor in Rairang pur. She has also served as the BJP's Odisha unit's Scheduled Tribe Morcha president. Prior to being twice elected on a BJP ticket to the Odisha state legislative as sembly, she served as a cabinet minister in the BJD-BJP coalition government led by Naveen Pat naik from 2002 to 2004, during which time she was honoured with the Best Legislative Member
Draupadi Murmu served as the governor of Jharkhand and Odisha cabinet minister. In 1997, Mrs. Murmu began her political career with the BJP and served as a councillor in Rairangpur. She has also served as the BJP's Odisha unit's Scheduled Tribe Morcha president.
Award.
Although she continued to expe rience struggle and disaster in her personal life, she rose to the top of public life and set illustrious records in both politics and social services. She lost her husband and two sons, yet she never wavered in her re solve. Draupadi Murmu is joined in her family by her son-in-law, Ganesh Hembram, a rugby player, and her only daughter, Itishree Murmu, who works for a bank. The likelihood of Murmu winning the 2022 presi dential elections was unquestion ably higher. She had a good case against Yashwant Sinha, a former Union Minister who was chosen by the opposition. Her preference in the polls were also increased by her tribal heritage.
Ram Nath Kovind was earlier chosen by the NDA in 2017 for their nomination, and the nomination fits their narrative. He was a farmer's son and belonged to a similar little town. He was elected as India's sec ond Dalit president.
The famous Nilkantha Award for the finest MLA (Member of
Legislative Assembly) was given to Draupadi Murmu in 2007 by the Odisha Legislative Assembly. It was a source of great pride for the tribal politician; in fact, her grassroots efforts were sufficient to persuade everyone that she was the legitimate contender for the position of Presi dent of India.
She is the first member of a tribe to hold the nation's top posi tion. She has a strong track record as a politician and has won numer ous honours for her efforts as a legislator, minister, and governor in the past.
As the first female governor of Jharkhand, the first tribal governor of a tribal state, the first governor born in Odisha, and finally the second woman president of India, Mrs. Murmu made history. An in teresting case study of democratic empowerment in India is President Murmu's meteoric ascension from a tranquil village in the largely tribal Mayurbhanj district of Odisha to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The pro tracted and eventful political jour ney of Draupadi Murmu is a tale of
genuine amazement, tenacity, and inspiration.
Odisha has good reason to cel ebrate the occasion. The fact that a member of the tribal commu nity, which makes up 22.5% of the state's population, has been given the honour of becoming President of the Republic, makes the populace even happier. The state's common people believe that the daughter of Odisha will quicken the rate of development in tribal areas, notably in the fields of rail connectivity, air and road connectivity, and infra structure for health and education.
Political analysts believe that the event would benefit the party in charge in the centre and win it the support of the nation's tribal popula tion. The party is projected to gain ground in numerous Biju Janata Dal strongholds in Odisha, in particular.
Based on the regional distribu tion of her support, it is expected that the new Rasthrapati Bhawan occupant will prove to be a true People's President and speed up the nation's process of empowering
the wind in its sails, India is forg ing ahead towards its lofty goal of be coming a 5-trillion dollar economy in the near future. But in its tri umphant journey, the underprivi leged folks, especially the tribal community, are not given the at tention it merits. Seven decades after Independence, the plight of the tribal community still remains the same even as the nation takes giant strides to rub shoulders with developed countries. Side-lined, mistreated, and ill-cared for, the tribals stare at a bleak future.
However, there is a glimmer of hope as a Kerala-based NGO is do ing yeoman service to alleviate the
plight of the indigenous people. Since 1995, HRDS INDIA has been at the vanguard of the efforts to empower tribal communities in a sustainable manner. With its farsighted and innovative pro grammes and initiatives, the NGO remains true to its sanguine motto of Help-Heal-Host. The organiza tion strives to create a new India where each member of indigenous communities enjoys the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. Although tribes across India are under the orbit of HRDS, communities in Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu en joy a special focus. Unlike other NGOs, HRDS’ activities are aimed at total human development and
fostering social change through awareness campaigns.
A committed social worker to the core, Aji Krishnan is the founder-secretary of HRDS IN DIA. He leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that the organization maintains its pace and orbit in terms of reaching out to the de prived communities deep in the forests of Kerala. He believes that the nation’s progress can be complete only with the empower ment of the downtrodden. The extraordinary and noble mission of this NGO enjoys the blessings of its spiritual leader and president Sri Atma Nambi. This mystic has dedicated his life to uplifting the
With its farsighted and innovative programmes and initiatives, the NGO remains true to its sanguine motto of Help-Heal-Host.
marginalized and he channelises his charitable activities with the help of HRDS INDIA. This guru rightly believes that the impover ished folks should first be given food and then a means to make ends meet.
Going full throttle with its myriad initiatives to ensure sus tainable and all-round develop ment of tribal hamlets, HRDS has a plethora of initiatives. Among them, some are worth mentioning and they include
Sadhgraha Tribal Housing Pro ject, Karshaka, Jwalamukhi, Nir maya, Ekagar, and Aagneya. Each project is tailor-made keeping in mind the needs of the tribals and their unique habitats and life styles. In no way do these projects disrupt their ancient lifestyles or harm nature.
In most of the tribal ham lets in Kerala, a common sight are sad excuses for huts. It is in these fragile, unhygienic hovels with palmyra walls and thatched
or straw roofs that the sons and daughters of the forest and hills are forced to live. When it pours, they have to huddle together un der the leaking roof. Often, the vagaries of nature and the on slaught of marauding beasts de stroy their hovels and whatever little they own.
Moved by this sorry spectacle, Aji decided to launch an ambi tious project named Sadhgraha with the blessings of his spiritual guru. Sadhgraha housing scheme aims to provide at least one mil
lion homes to members of tribal commu nities within nine years across India. Once completed, it will transform the lives of 40 lakh tribals. Cement fibre panels are used to build houses, which are nature-friend ly and reduce global warming. By giving them a proper roof over their head, HRDS ensures that they can sleep in peace with out fear of being attacked by wild beasts or battling rogue weather.
The houses are built on plots owned by individual tribes. The first phase of 1,000 houses is being constructed in Attappady in the district of Palakkad in Kerala. As many as 193 houses have already been completed and 107 are in their final stage.
Another epoch-making project of HRDS INDIA is Karshaka. It involves the mass cultivation of medicinal herbs to ensure a sustainable livelihood for mem bers of the Indigenous communities and a hassle-free supply of such plants for the ayurvedic pharma industry. It is a known fact that deforestation and overindulgence in cultivating cash crops have led to the
severe depletion of medicinal plants in the Western Ghats and its foothills. This project is ex pected to remedy the situation.
The first phase of Karshaka is taking place on 5,000 acres of tribal land. Cultivation of healing herbs also replenishes the fertil ity of the topsoil. Apart from pro viding a stable job and a steady income to tribals, this project also boosts skill development practices. Expenses with regard to farming infrastructure will be met by the NGO. Under this initiative, the NGO has already received 877 acres from 291 tribal families. Agreements have also been inked with ayurvedic pharma firms to purchase the herbs after they are harvested. The seeds will be provided by the pharma companies themselves. Sixty per cent of the proceeds from the sale of medicinal plants will go to the families who have given their land and the rest will
be utilized for the sustainability of the project.
In this digital age when eve rything is available at the click of a mouse, there are certain treasure troves of ancient wis dom which are facing the risk of running into oblivion. It is the need of the hour to preserve the tribals’ millennia-old herbal remedies and therapies to cure a plethora of ailments. Nirmaya is a project that will ensure that posterity enjoys the benefits of traditional healing methods. As part of this project, a convention al drug therapy treatment and research center will be set up.
One can reap several benefits from Nirmaya project once it is completely implemented. Afford ability and cost-effectiveness will go a long way in making this a popular mode of treatment. The
Believing in the adage that empowering a woman leads to empowerment of the whole family, HRDS INDIA has launched Jwalamukhi.
fact that side effects are minimal to nil will attract patients from far and wide. Thus, it will ensure that conventional healing remedies do not face the risk of vanishing from the face of the Earth.
At the vanguard of women’s empowerment
Believing in the adage that em powering a woman leads to empow erment of the whole family, HRDS INDIA has launched Jwalamukhi. It aims to pulverize the conven tional image of a woman being shown as being oppressed and not given her due share in society. The fact that she is considered inferior to men throttles her dignity. This initiative aims to create Self Help Groups or SHGs.
Such groups join hands and operate small-scale businesses thereby giving a chance to under privileged women to earn a regular income and be independent. For in stance, preparing and selling home
made pickles and condiments, a tailoring unit and a canteen serv ing nutritious food at affordable rates are some of the small busi ness ventures that self-help groups can operate.
Steeped in superstition and il literacy, it is hard to convince tribals of health and hygiene, especially in times of a pandemic. To bring an end to this bane, HRDS has under taken the task of creating aware ness campaigns. Through Project Aagneya, HRDS staff made visits to the hinterlands of Attappady and distributed hand sanitizers and masks. The success of this project has inspired the NGO to implement it in four districts of Gujarat.
For kids and youth
HRDS INDIA also has two sig nificant initiatives for children and youth-Parasparam and Sangamith ra. The former is a psycho-social learning movement to help adoles cents who are addicted to substance
abuse, children in conflict with law, and kids from broken families. On the other hand, Sangamithra con ducts various programmes to em power the youth.
The Silk Road to sustainability
Yet another innovative initiative of HRDS is the Silk Village project in Attappady. Tapping the immense income-generating and job-creating potential of sericulture, the NGO is developing a Silk Village. It will en sure a stable job and a reasonably good income for the tribals. The project involves rearing silk worms and cultivating hybrid mulberry trees.
The NGO has the honour of be ing a part of the Deen Dayal Upad haya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana of the Union Government. This imparts job skills to rural youth spanning the age group of 15 to
35 through NSDC-affiliated courses. Apart from provid ing job skills, the NGO goes a long way in helping them find a suitable placement. HRDS has been mandated to implement this scheme in Thodupuzha in Kerala and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. For a better tomorrow
HRDS is sailing full steam ahead towards the ho rizon for turning a new page in the lives of the hapless in digenous communities. What began in Kerala as a sapling will very soon strike roots and spread its branches far and wide across India like the banyan tree bringing good tidings of change and a brighter future to the un derprivileged tribals. To bor row the words of the founder
himself, “Whatever HRDS INDIA has been doing is just a foundation laid for a bigger picture. But I am happy that these little steps of ours are bringing a difference in lives. The world’s a stage and we are all actors, playing our roles as scripted by the al mighty. I am grateful to God who chose me for rooting a change in the lives of the des titute.”
As they say, God never comes down to terra firma to bring solace to those in plight. Instead, he sends his ministering angels. HRDS INDIA is one such angel sans the proverbial wings and halo. One can only wish that this NGO inspires countless others to usher in winds of change in India
HRDS is sailing full steam ahead towards the horizon for turning a new page in the lives of the hapless indigenous communities.
Says leading businessman V.P. Nandakumar, as he shares some tips for budding entrepreneurs
Ithas been estimated that one fifth of the world’s youth are in India. Their aspirations are vastly different from that of their parents and they are not wor ried about basic needs unlike their forbears. This gives them the cour age to take risks and it is not just a government or corporate job that many of them are after nowadays but they want to be entrepreneurs and job givers.
Most successful businessmen do not have an IIT or IIM background. Their entrepreneurial mindset was shaped by the challenges they had faced in their early life. In fact, many of the big names are college drop outs.
What then goes into the making of a successful businessman? Which
are the qualities that lift them to the dizzy heights of success?
If you ask me, there is only one prerequisite: a deep desire to build a business and the passion to do what ever it takes to execute the plan.
If we look at a few successful businessmen from our part of the world, we can see that they did not learn their strategies from biz schools or management institutes. I remember Mr K M Mammen of MRF telling us during a management as sociation meet how his granddad, Mr K M Mammen Mappillai, was against pumping in money earned from their plantation business in Kerala into their tyre business in Chennai. At best, there can be a seed fund to be leveraged on, was his advice. Similarly, leading businessman You
suf Ali once recalled how he learned the intricacies of logistics during his initial days in the Gulf when he per sonally delivered goods in a career vehicle to his clients. Indra Nooyi has talked about her mother teach ing her and her sister to dream big and write those dreams down. All these are home-grown strategies and not picked up from institutes or books.
In my childhood, we had soda manufacturers in our state. But they did not think beyond making a living. But Pepsi and Coke made a fortune out of it. Fried chicken is what our neighbourhood thattukada (makeshift restaurant) also sells but see how KFC has turned it into an exotic product. What makes the dif ference is the vision.
Shri V.P.Nandakumar MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.The gold loan wave that we triggered is what is still sweep ing the credit ecosystem. The schemes that we gave shape to have gone on to become the industry’s schemes.
Of course, there is risk when you do something new but the passion to reach the goal overshadows the doubts.
We should value money but at the same time, we should have a grand vision. When I started out in 1986, my capital was Rs 5 lakh. I had two employees, both ex-servicemen. When I used to tell them that we will go on to open 100 branches or 200 branches or 1,000 branches, they didn’t understand what I meant. So, how did the journey towards our current net worth of Rs 10,000 crore and a business of over Rs 30,000 crore happen?
I am not a finance graduate. Nei ther have I studied accounts. When I thought of listing the company in the stock market, way back in the early nineties, no one had any clue about it. But we needed capital and therefore, we eventually got there to become the first gold loan NBFC to do so.
It doesn’t matter what business you do but what is important is how you execute the plan. The gold loan wave that we triggered is what is still sweeping the credit ecosystem. The schemes that we gave shape to have gone on to become the industry’s schemes. Of course, there is risk when you do something new but the passion to reach the goal overshad ows the doubts.
Sometimes, I think about what would have happened if I didn’t ven ture into gold loans. Suppose I had opted for agri-business, I would have probably come up with half a dozen drinks from coconut water. You don’t need great knowledge or high IQ to make a mark. The desire to realise your objective will make one try dif ferent paths till the right one sug gests itself.
It is, however, crucial to be pas sionate about the idea that one pur sues. There will be failures but you analyse the reasons and proceed further. During the Covid-19 phase and the resultant lull in the market, there was a dip in the revenue of our microfinance venture Asirvad. But I am confident that we will recoup and list the company at an impres sive valuation in the near future. The confidence is not based on any calculation on a piece of paper but a broad vision.
The story of Manappuram Fi nance began in Valapad village, which has now developed into a bustling town. The location doesn’t matter. We have offices elsewhere but Valapad remains our nerve cen tre. I don’t agree with the view that businesses have to function from big
You don’t need great knowledge or high IQ to make a mark. The desire to realise your objective will make one try different paths till the right one suggests itself.
cities to survive and succeed.
The first year is crucial for any start-up and many will taste failure during that phase. If a venture fails, your family and people around you will ask questions and point fingers. Why can’t you look for a job, they will ask and give unsolicited advice not to waste the rest of your money. On the other hand, if someone be comes successful, they will say that the person has become greedy!
In management, they talk of three kinds of ‘sights’. Hindsight about what went right or wrong, in sight into the various processes and the third and more hard-to-comeby quality called foresight on where one is headed.
Research is a crucial factor in business but it is the entrepreneur’s mind that becomes its laboratory. The research will make the person
try 10 things before zeroing in on the right way to the destination. This is where perseverance plays a big part.
Setbacks are a part of business. In the early days, I was looking for funding but banks were not forth coming. Then the ICICI agreed to disburse a Rs 100 crore assignment and they encouraged me to open more branches. But later they said they were not getting the go-ahead from the RBI. So, there was a crisis.
Around that time, the hire pur chase association had their meeting in Singapore. Most of them were vehicle financiers and as a person who did what was then an alterna tive business model, I got an oppor tunity to speak there about the gold loan business. After the session, someone tapped on my shoulder and invited me for coffee. He was a
representative of Fullerton, the in vestment arm of the Singapore gov ernment. They had plans to invest in India and he became interested in my business model. They stud ied it for six months and even came down to Valapad before extending us a facility of Rs 500 crore.
In business, there is a need to reinvent yourself all the time. For instance, we now have an ambi tious growth plan for our jewellery chain, which faced some challenges earlier on. We already have nine showrooms and a manufacturing unit in Bangalore. Another manu facturing unit is in the pipeline in Kolkata while more branches are in the works. We will plug the loop holes but we will not let go of the core idea. Because, the real analysis is not in the board room or excel sheets but in one’s mind
Research is a crucial factor in business but it is the entrepreneur’s mind that becomes its laboratory. The research will make the person try 10 things before zeroing in on the right way to the destination. This is where perseverance plays a big part.
Rajesh Nair Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
The best way to adapt to change and some of the more permanent disruptions is to have a new set of lenses to view world situations and pick up new competencies. ‘Super forecasting’ highlights a similar challenge.
Aslife returns to normal with the pandemic fading away slowly and perhaps because of us learning to live with it, life turns to new and interesting corners. The best way to adapt to change and some of the more permanent disruptions is to have a new set of lenses to view world situations and pick up new competencies. ‘Super forecast ing’ highlights a similar challenge. How do we gaze at the crystal ball better or what do the ink tests of the future tell us? Another book that fascinated me was ‘Range’ – a thorough discussion on the eternal debate of generalists Vs. special ists. The difference in this book is the wide array of examples from sports which lends an interesting angle. ‘ Narrative Economics’ is a rare commentary on the role played by narratives in the changes in the economy and the tangible changes information and stories create in our lives. ‘Chaos Monkeys is a pageturner talking about software devel opment, new startups, the power of ideas, and the kilometers of codes
that embellish and elucidate them. Superforecasting – The Art and Science of Prediction
Philip E.Tetlock is a renowned behavioral scientist and author and he teams up with journalist Dan Gardner to provide an interesting glance at the methods and pitfalls of trying to predict what is coming in the future in not just social con texts but also in business. The book outlines the ‘how of’ analyzing your own thought processes and apply ing your perceptions to consider the future more productively. Tetlock’s brilliant insights and methods can be helpful tools for anyone willing to use the right blend of skeptical thinking and open-mindedness to consider scenarios and solve prob lems.
Tetlock builds on the System 1 and System 2 thinking from ‘Think ing Fast and Slow’ and develops this into a framework useful for manag ers and students alike. Using these principles, Tetlock’s basic theme is that nobody can see the far-off future, but with a little insight, you can predict what might happen
next week if you pay sufficient at tention to what’s happening right now. He uses the analogies of the fox and hedgehog – Fox implying a wider spectrum of knowledge with limited depth to a hedgehog – a thinner band but with in-depth study. The writers encourage read ers to work with probability esti mates and look for information in all sorts of data available even if it is preliminary and crude. The stress is on looking at data both from the inside and also independently from the outside as a third party. The il lustrative examples make it very interesting and high instructional.
Epstein is a sports writer and the author of the very popular book ‘The Sports Gene ‘, where he talks of the benefits of having a biological edge in some of the athletes and sportsmen. His current book tries to debate the age-old conversation around what is better – Specialists or Generalists. He profiles both Ti ger Woods and Roger Federer and
looks at their contrasting styles – Ti ger moved into tennis as an infant while Roger picked up the game later in life.
While the common theme is that ‘deliberate practice’ makes everyone better, he argues that some of the world’s greatest innovators became specialists only later in life, and al most all had parallelly more interests in multiple fields. While early spe cialists might have an advantage at
the start of their careers, the author notes that late specialists typically find employment that is a better match for their skills and abilities.
“Hyperspecialists” are more likely to breed overconfidence in their abili ties, which can lead to dangerous mistakes.
His interesting perspective is that while specialists deep dive in various areas, generalists are more learning-oriented and are more in
clined to pick up new things and embrace change.
Narrative Economics - How Stories Go Viral and Drive Major Economic EventsRobert J. Shiller
Prominent economist Robert J. Shiller is a Nobel laureate and is often credited with making some very insightful predictions on the direction of the world economy. In this exciting book, he argues that, to really make sense of any economy, one needs to look beyond the tradi tional metrics and economic data points. Stories are what really drive not just the stock markets but also the economic activity. He says that economists pay too much attention to hard facts while giving too little heed to the stories that the man on the street, consumers and inves tors tell themselves and each other. Shiller breaks down how narratives work through examples spanning the Great Depression to the bitcoin craze.
The book is very contemporary and fascinating to decipher some of the actions of the current govern ments around the world, and how the dominant narratives among the public help explain economic cy cles. When human beings dream, they don’t conjure images of charts, graphs or data; they dream in sto ries. Storytelling is deeply connected in the human brain.
Narratives that focus on fear and
suffering can deepen economic de pressions, while expansions feed on the infectious optimism that often underlies greed. Economic narra tives spread from one person to an other through conversations, wheth er they’re in person, by phone or via social media. The press also spreads these stories.
‘Chaos Monkeys’ – Antonio Garcia Martinez
One might pass off this book at a store in spite of the New York Times best-seller list tag, fearing that it is tech speak novella or a book on fi nance, startups, technology et.al. It is all of these and much more. Start ing with the financial den of Wall Street, Antonio has worked in the tech – startups to Facebook to Twit ter and more. While he covers many a topic with a sort of blasphemous disdain and casualness, he also uses the most inappropriate of language which comprises of more than its share of the ‘f…’ - Abuse words. But for once, it seems to stick to the script. To put it mildly, he comes out with clubs swinging shattering most of the holy cows in Silicon Valley in cluding all the popular tech geeks and icons of the day.
Chaos Monkeys refers to soft ware programs created to enter and test the robustness of key solu tions much like a monkey carrying a weapon in a China shop and assess ing the weak links and addressing the chinks in the armour.
The book is a sort of indispen sable ‘Lonely Planet’ guide about Silicon Valley and talks about every hash-tagged word for tech start-ups and the new tech establishments. He talks in detail about Facebook, the work culture, the ethos, Face book language. More importantly, the book also gives you answers to how tech companies make money, the holy grail of monetising all these clicks and connections on social me dia. His irreverence is also perhaps akin to the current generation of twenty-somethings, who are charged and follow work routines that are bi zarre, defying the biological clocks.
The book also talks about those unknown names in the tech valley who are really behind the success of the successes in the Silicon Valley. It deals with the basics of finance, ven ture capital, private equity, dos and don’ts of funding, the most amaz ing bizarre set of similes which will make you smile, laugh out loud and also pass the occasional smirk when you see some hilarious comments being passed.
In the end, it is also about preco cious young men and women, who have made such fortunes in their early 30s that the previous gen eration did not make even till and beyond retirement. This is the new world of the avant-garde where ag gression and long hours of work and unbridled fun-loving is the order of the day
Indiantraditional medicine, or Ayurveda, has been practised for more than 5,000 years. The foundation of the system is the idea that mental, physical, and spir itual harmony are necessary for opti mal health. Advice on diet, exercise, and lifestyle decisions are provided by ayurveda, which stems from the Sanskrit words ayur, which means “life,” and veda, which means “sci ence or knowledge.”
This article here is on one such person close to Ayurveda – Dr A V Anoop. He is the managing director of the AVA Group of Companies, an organisation that produces culinary, herbal, and ayurvedic remedies.
With a new feather in the cap, Dr A V Anoop on August 1st on a col ourful evening was honoured with the 12th Multimillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) award. The award ceremony was held at the Le Merid ian Hotel in Kochi. Gokulam Gopa lan, the Chairman of the Sree Goku lam Group of Companies, served as the event’s chief guest. The winner is given the chance to join the Fed eral International Chamber Forum (FICF), the richest club in the world.
Dr A V Anoop, the managing director of the AVA group of en terprises, is a consummate busi nessperson with a variety of interests in providing high-quality goods and services to people all over the world. Being a part of the 39-year success of the world’s best-selling ayurvedic bath soap, Medimix, has given him a wealth of knowledge and experi ence in the soap, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food industries.
The late Shri A G Vasavan and Smt. Lilly Bai were the parents of A V Anoop. He attended St. Jo
seph’s Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram for his edu cation and received his Commerce degree from Mahatma Gandhi Col lege in the same city. A V Anoop is a fervent promoter of Ayurveda and holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the Medicina Alternativa Institute, a subsidiary of The Open Interna tional University for Complementary Medicines in Sri Lanka.
Medimix is a venture started in 1969 by Dr Siddhan and his wife Saubhagya Siddhan in their kitch en in Railway Quarters, Perampur. Back then, soap was made using the handmade process. Coming from a family with little savings and no prior experience in business, it is only be cause of his hard work and dedica tion that Medimix has completed 53 successful years today.
There is no place in the world today that Medimix has not reached. Even the name Ayurveda reached every corner of the world through Medimix. Looking back fifty years later, it is a great joy. Above all, they are happy that they have been able to provide employment to many peo ple and bring many families to a bet ter position through this initiative.
The popularity of the “Medimix” brand, which began with soap before expanding to include handwash and facewash, has allowed it to enter the health industry through “Sanjee vanam” ayurveda. A unique centre for full healthcare services, Sanjee vanam combines the principles of yoga, naturopathy, and ayurveda. In addition to the Sanjeevanam centres that are already present, the goal of the organisation is to spread aware ness of the most traditional and ef fective form of medicine among all
members of the human species. Kay tra, Melam, and a few more are the other brands under his name.
Along with being in business A V Anoop is an ardent lover of arts. Anoop’s passion for the arts has led him to roles in films in the Indian regional languages of Tamil and Malayalam along with Hollywood films. AVA Productions, a movie production company founded by A V Anoop, has produced a number of movies, including “Christian Broth ers”, “Ishq”, “Godha” and “Where the Trees Sing.” In addition, they worked on films like Paleri Maniky am: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, which won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film in 2009, Appuvin Nayagan, which won the 56th National Film Awards for Best Film on Family Values, and Vishwag uru, which established a new Guin ness World Record by being pro duced and released in 51 hours and 2 minutes while following the “script to screen” rule. Many of their movies were screened at various film festi vals which includes ‘Yugapurashan’ the movie based on the life of Sree Narayana Guru was screened at 15th International Film Festival of Kerala and Chaaya was screened at the 42nd IFFI Goa.
Like every industrialist, Anoop’s family is his strongest support sys tem and his backbone. AVA Cholayil Health Care Pvt. Ltd.’s Director, Mrs. V. S. Priya is his wife. They have two daughters: Mrs. A.A. Lanchana Vivek, Director of AVA Cholayil Health Care Pvt. Ltd., and A.A. Pratheeksha Prasanth, Director in the same firm. And son in laws Mr. Vivek Venugopal, Director - Business Development, AVA Cholayil Health
“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over.” Richard Branson
Care Pvt. Ltd and Dr G Prasanth, M.S. (Ophthalmology). He is also accompanied at home with his love ly two grand children, Baby Tara Prashanth and Master Yuvaan Vivek.
In addition to being a business man and an artist, Dr A V Anoop is a philanthropist who takes part in numerous social initiatives. His job includes promoting the benefits of Ayurveda, performing different deeds of kindness, and being active ly involved in the World Malayalee Council.
Being able to accurately allo
cate work is the most important les son Managing Director A V Anoop has acquired over the years. He ac knowledges that the company em ploys very hardworking individuals. The key, he says, is to work smarter rather than harder.
As an entrepreneur, Dr A V Anoop is a person who is different from the entrepreneurs in society. He is an artist at heart. A person who likes to work with people and takes time to listen to other people’s problems. Someone who is always approachable to anyone. He is also
someone who lends a helping hand to others. Dr A V Anoop, an entre preneur, is a person who lives as one of the fellows in society.
‘From the actions of those who have worked with me, I have learned that with hard work, purpose, team work, and trust in others, we can achieve great success’ says Anoop. An entrepreneur’s potential to suc ceed is greatly influenced by traits like intelligence, creativity, and the ability to put ideas into reality and these made Anoop succeed in his life
We all wish we could live like movie stars because they have extravagant lives. There is no denying that they had to fight their way to where they are now, though. These actors have ex perienced a good deal of hardship throughout their lives, which makes their success narrative worthwhile.
Shiju Rasheed is a real actor who enthrals the audience by cheerfully attempting all the roles he was given without becoming overwhelmed by the ups and downs of the movie. Shiju Rasheed played the hero of a movie that debuted in theatres at a very young age, went through all the challenges faced by average mov iegoers, entered a foreign language, and appeared in a film that ran for almost a year while simultaneously working in Malayalam, Kannada, Ta mil, Telugu, Odia, language movies. Read on and get to know more about Shiju Rasheed’s successful life and get inspired on what it takes to live the life of your dreams.
Let’s go to the time wherein the casting for the film “Kabooliwala” has begun. The young man was pleased to hear from his friends and fellow moviegoers that he would play the hero in a movie directed by Siddique-Lal. Obtaining such a hero entry in their movie while the Siddique-Lal pairing was at its peak is no small accomplishment. The young man frequently dreamed about the film in which he would play the lead role. However, that young man’s dreams were limited to firefly life. He was replaced with actor Vineeth. Shiju had the same type of anguish that any other nor mal person would have when all of his dreams came shattered. His sadness then turned into a desire to
somehow get into the cinema field. That’s when he went off to Chennai.
He was confident of two things: that was his perfect physique, and that he was 6 feet 2 inches tall. The search got going on the basis of that assumption. Shiju had to endure the same tribulation that everyone in those days would face in order to obtain a chance in the movies. A spark of hope finally materialised be fore him after a flurry of despair. He was given a part in I V Shashi’s film “The City.” With optimism, he an ticipated the time when the camera would turn to face him once more.
He handled the scene with the appropriate assurance. He was in trigued to know what I V Shashi Sir would have thought. But to every one’s surprise, I V Shashi left the set. For a while, he was confused about what was happening, and then, af ter some time had passed, Shajoon Karyal, I V Sasi’s assistant, startled him with the news. His height was the villain this time, which was his confidence. Many supported him, in cluding his brother and friends, as he boldly steered them back toward their hearts’ desires. He was able to perform in a movie directed by I V Sasi as a young artist in the interim. Later, he was introduced by a friend to the office of renowned Tamil pro ducer GK Reddy. Shiju did a fantas tic job of learning the Tamil dialogue he had to know in order to show up at Reddy’s upcoming movie audition. First appeared as a villain in Sarath Kumar’s “Mahaprabhu” film.
He made friends with Rajan P Dev while working in the movie, and thanks to his referral, he was given the chance to perform in Sid dique Shameer’s Malayalam film “Mazhavilkoodaram”. Shiju’s first venture into Malayalam was this
movie. Shiju received another op portunity from Telugu when the Ta mil movie “Mahaprabhu” became a significant hit and went in search of him. The Telugu film industry’s leg endary director Kodi Ramakrishna, who has left a lasting impression on the industry, has been asked to play the lead part in his 125th movie, “Devi.” In Malayalam, he was called Shiju Rasheed and in Telugu, he was called “Devi Shiju”. Shiju received nearly a dozen films from Tamil while appearing in ‘Devi’, filling his call sheet all year. He was now think ing about the thrill of being the next big star.
However, the decision was dif ferent. As Tamil filmmakers ad justed their labour disputes, things changed. Producers who were ea ger to work with fresh performers up until that point started to limit themselves to Rajini, Kamal, Sar ath Kumar, and Murali for their theatrical value. Newcomer Shiju Rasheed’s roles in every one of them were cancelled.
He acted in the Telugu film Devi, and it took almost three years to shoot. But when all the challenges were overcome, the Telugu Devi was released. The movie continued to be screened in Telugu for almost a year as Devi, one of the blockbust ers. Shiju eventually changed into Devi Shiju. That’s when he suf fered a back injury while filming a few Telugu confirmation shots with Ravi Teja. He suffered five-disc dis locations and had to spend a year in bed. The condition has turned to start from scratch.
He wasn’t prepared to give up, though. He had been asked if he regretted not being able to achieve the heights, he desired during many of his interviews let’s communicate
that by vehemently rejecting that question.
Still, many of our famous stars have not seen the heights as seen by Shiju, who attracted the attention of critics in international film festivals like 'Oslo film festival' as a hero in the English movie 'In the name of Buddha' in 2002 due to his own efforts. Stardom is not to be seen in height comparisons. So now talking about the work front, he will be portraying the lead part in the Ajit Ravi Pegasus directed film “August 27” under the banner of Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd.
Remember that the majority of the issues you will encounter as a beginning actor can be resolved with practise. It will enable you to move outside of your comfort zone in addition to assisting you in overcom ing your concerns. And before you know it, you’ll ob tain that important role that will help you advance from the tiny stage to finally getting the opportunity you’ve been working so hard for and clearly richly deserve and Shiju Rasheed is a living example of it!
Shiju Rasheed is a real actor who enthrals the audience by cheerfully attempting all the roles he was given without becoming overwhelmed by the ups and downs of the movie.
MBBS, MS (Gen Surg), MCh (Neurosurgery), MRCSEd,MBA Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon
VPS Lakeshore Hospital
NH-47, Bypass, Maradu, Nettoor PO, Kochi 682040, India.
Organ Donation influences not only the donors and recipients but also positively influence their families, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who love and support those in need of transplantation, and who benefit from their renewed life and improved health after transplant.
Organdonation is the har vesting of an individual’s organs after he or she dies for the purpose of trans planting them into another person. The person who gives the organs is called a donor while a person who receives the organ is called a recipi ent. One brain-dead donor can save up to eight lives of people suffering from end-stage organ failures. In certain cases, a live donation also takes place when a living person donates an organ (or part of an or gan) for transplantation to another
person. 13th August is celebrated every year as Organ Donation Day in India.
Organ Donation is the gift of an organ to a person who needs a transplant to improve his condition and health status. It is a procedure in which a health organ (donor) is taken from an individual who is either living or deceased and is transplanted into a person whose respective organ (recipient) is mal functioning. Donated organs give the recipient the opportunity for a longer
and better quality of life.
Organ donation is a legal proce dure. It is governed by a transplant regulatory body and special acts laid down by authorities. All institutions conducting transplants have to be registered by the government and follow rules and regulations.
• Every year, about 5 lakh people die awaiting organ transplants due to the non-availability of organs.
• There is a wide gap between the number of transplants awaited and
the organs available.
• The depressing statistics convey the urgent need for more people to donate their organs and save the lives of people languishing due to organ failure.
• One brain-dead organ donor can save more than 8 lives in his life by donating his well function organs. The Different Types of Organ Donation:
1. Live Related Donation: Living donation takes place when a living person donates an organ (or part of an organ) for transplantation to another blood-related person. The living donor can be a family mem ber, such as a parent, child, brother or sister, grandparent or grandchild (living-related donation).
1. Live Unrelated Donation: Living donation can also come from some one who is emotionally related to the recipient, such as a wife, a good friend, a relative, a neighbour or an in-law (living unrelated donation).
3. Deceased/Cadaver Organ Dona tion: Cadaver Organ donation is the harvesting of an individual’s organs after he or she dies for the purpose
of transplanting them into another person. Once a person is certified brain death his organs can be re trieved and transplanted into other patients. One brain-dead donor can save up to eight lives of people suf fering from end-stage organ failures.
Brain Death
Brain death results from a se vere, irreversible injury to the brain. All areas of the brain are damaged and no longer function due to which a person cannot sustain his/her own life, but vital body functions may be maintained by an artificial support system. This maintains circulation to vital organs long enough to facilitate organ donation.
Even though millions of people have registered to become organ donors, very few donors pass away in a way that allows organ donation. Details about the organ donation process:
The process of donation most often begins with your consent to be a donor by registering your name
in the national registry and inform ing your family. Any person willing to donate his/her organs can do so by filling out the donor consent form available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India website. This is the first step to help save potential lives.
If the patient is not responding to treatment and stimuli, doctors will perform a series of tests to de termine if brain death has occurred. A patient who is brain dead has no brain activity and cannot breathe on his or her own. Brain death is death and it is irreversible. Only braindead patients can become potential organ donors.
The healthcare authorities check if the deceased is registered as a do nor on their registry. In India, the family’s consent is mandatory for organ donation and has the final say.
Healthcare specialists determine whether the organ is medically suit able for transplant. A series of tests on various parameters is done to
help match an organ to a suitable recipient for transplant.
Organs must be removed as soon as possible after the determination of brain death, while circulation is being maintained artificially.
After removing the organ, sur geons connect it to a machine that keeps them working artificially. Doc tors take utmost care while removing the organs. Most organs have limited life spans as below:
1. Heart: 4-6 hours
2. Liver: 12-24 hours
3. Kidney: 48-72 hours
4. Heart-Lung: 4-6 hours
5. Lung: 4-6 hours
Surgical teams work round the clock to co-ordinate between the re trieved organ and the recipient for a successful transplant. In some cases, a green corridor is created for an or gan transplant. It is a demarcated, cleared-out special road route cre ated for an ambulance to enable the retrieved organ meant for transplant to reach the destined hospital within the stipulated time.
India remains a country with one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world. The organ donation rates in India are very poor around 0.3/ million, as compared to some west ern countries where it is as high as 36/million, in the US it is around 26/ million population.
Organ donation helps in a trans plant that often means a second chance at life. Vital organs such as
the heart, pancreas, liver, kidneys, and lungs can be transplanted to those whose organs are failing. It al lows many recipients to return to a normal lifestyle. Cornea transplants help in regaining vision.
The Government has specified that a panel of doctors will certify brain death and not a single doctor. The panel consists of:
• Doctor in charge of the hospital (medical superintendent)
• Doctor nominated from a panel of Government Doctors appointed by the Appropriate authority
• Neurologist/neurosurgeon/inten sivist nominated from a panel ap pointed by the appropriate authority
• The doctor treating the patient Authorising Organ Dona tion
A recipient list (waiting list) for receiving organs is maintained in a register with the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre which is re sponsible for allotting the organs.
• In many western countries, an adult is asked to make a choice if he/she wants to be a donor.
• In India, this final choice is left to the family. In case of brain death of a person carrying a donor card, the family still needs to approve the donation of organs. Family consent is essential for trans-plantation.
• The Transplantation of Human Organs Act states that it is manda tory that the next of kin (parents, spouse, etc.) should agree to donate
the organs of a brain-dead family member.
All potential donors are screened extensively for ruling out transmit ted diseases. Only medically fit Do nors ( certified by a medical team) are permitted for organ donation. The donors tissue matching and compatibility with the recipient is a vital consideration for transplant surgery.
The Organ Donation Day cam paign, which is celebrated every year on August 13th, provides a great op portunity in everyone’s life to come ahead and pledge to donate their precious organs. Organ Donation in fluences not only the donors and re cipients but also positively influence their families, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who love and support those in need of transplan tation, and who benefit from their renewed life and improved health after transplant.
• To make aware people of the need for organ donation.
• To distribute the messages of or gan donation all over the country.
• To remove the hesitations of the people about donating organs.
• To say a grateful thanks to the do nors of organs.
• To motivate and encourage more people towards organ donation in their life
Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen: This article is authored by Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen. Adv Oommen, who spe cializes in constitution, tax and corporate laws has also cleared the final exams of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He has also completed his Masters Degree in Commerce, apart from obtaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Business and Corporate Laws from Symbiosis Pune. The views expressly are personal and should not be construed as a legal opinion.sherryoommen@nashcp.com.
law in India was introduced as a measure of an alternate dispute resolu tion mechanism. The said law was introduced as it was found that a number of years were lost whilst a matter was under consid eration by the Civil Courts. While the intention was indeed noble, the actual reality has been quite differ ent. The process of appointing an Arbitrator by the concerned High Court under Section 11 of the Ar bitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“the Act”) has also contributed its share in protracting arbitration pro ceedings. In a recent judgment, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Shree Vishnu Constructions Vs The Engineer in Chief, Mili tary Engineering Service & Oth ers (MANU/SCOR/34881/2022), with a view to ensure that a litigant does not lose faith in the justice de livery system of the country, issued the following directions which are indeed welcome:
“In that view of the matter, we request all the Chief Justices of the respective High Courts to ensure that all pending applications under Sections 11(5) and 11(6) of the Ar bitration Act and/or any other ap plications either for substitution of
the arbitrator and/or change of ar bitrator, which are pending for more than one year from the date of filing, must be decided within six months from today. The Registrar General(s) of the respective High Courts are directed to submit the compliance report on completion of six months from today. All endeavours shall be made by the respective High Courts to decide and dispose of the applica tions under Sections 11(5) and 11(6) of the Arbitration Act and/or any other like application at the earliest and preferably within a period of six months from the date of filing of the applications.”
Post the amendment of the Act, it is now settled law that a unilateral appointment of an Arbitrator by a party which is interested in the outcome of the decision of the dispute is impermissible in law. Such an Arbitrator becomes de jure incapacitated to per form his functions as an Arbitrator.
One would hope that the pro cess of appointment of an Arbitrator would now be quicker. In the en suing paragraphs, a few interesting issues in the context of the Arbitra tion law.
There have been many an in stance where parties choose to approach the Hon’ble High Court directly without adhering to the procedure prescribed in the agree ment. This too has exacerbated the backlog of cases. In a recent judg ment, the Hon’ble Kerala High Court in the case of Silpa Projects and Infrastructure (I) Private Limited (MANU/KE/2171/2022) de clined appointing an Arbitrator as the parties had failed to adhere to the terms of the contract. A similar view was also adopted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in IB Valley Transport, Vijay Laxmi Private Limited Vs Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (2014) 10 SCC 630.
What constitutes an Arbitra tion Agreement?
The said question lies on the is sue as regards whether the parties have clearly disclosed their deter mination and obligation to refer dis putes to arbitration and not merely contemplate the possibility of going for arbitration. In the determina tion of whether there indeed exists an arbitration agreement, it would be profitable to refer to the following passages from the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Jag dish Chander Vs Ramesh Chan der (2007) 5 SCC 719:
“The intention of the parties to enter into an arbitration agreement shall have to be gathered from the terms of the agreement. If the terms of the agreement clearly indicate an intention on the part of the par ties to the agreement to refer their disputes to a private tribunal for adjudication and a willingness to be bound by the decision of such tribunal on such disputes, it is an
arbitration agreement. While there is no specific form of an arbitra tion agreement, the words used should disclose a determination and obligation to go to arbitra tion and not merely contemplate the possibility of going for arbi tration. Where there is merely a possibility of the parties agreeing to arbitration in the future, as contrasted from an obligation to refer disputes to arbitration, there is no valid and binding ar bitration agreement.
(ii) Even if the words "arbitra tion" and "Arbitral Tribunal (or an arbitrator)" are not used with refer ence to the process of settlement or with reference to the private tribu nal which has to adjudicate upon the disputes, in a Clause relating to settlement of disputes, it does not detract from the Clause being an arbitration agreement if it has the attributes or elements of an arbitra tion agreement. They are: (a) The agreement should be in writing. (b)
The parties should have agreed to refer any disputes (present or fu ture) between them to the decision of a private tribunal. (c) The pri vate tribunal should be empowered to adjudicate upon the disputes in an impartial manner, giving due op portunity to the parties to put forth their case before it. (d) The parties should have agreed that the decision of the private tribunal in respect of the disputes will be binding on them.
(iii) Where the Clause provides that in the event of disputes arising between the parties, the disputes shall be referred to arbitration, it is an arbitration agreement. Where there is a specific and direct expres sion of intent to have the disputes settled by arbitration, it is not nec essary to set out the attributes of an arbitration agreement to make it an arbitration agreement. But where the Clause relating to settle ment of disputes, contains words which specifically exclude any of the attributes of an arbitration agreement or contains anything that detracts from an arbitration agreement, it will not be arbitra tion agreement. For example, where an agreement requires or permits an authority to decide a claim or dispute without hear ing, or requires the authority to act in the interests of only one of the parties, or provides that the decision of the authority will not be final and binding on the parties, or that if either party is not satisfied with the decision of the authority, he may file a civil suit seeking relief, it cannot be
termed as an arbitration agree ment.
(iv) But mere use of the word "arbitration" or "arbitrator" in a Clause will not make it an arbitration agreement, if it re quires or contemplates a further or fresh consent of the parties for reference to arbitration. For example, use of words such as "par ties can, if they so desire, refer their disputes to arbitration" or "in the event of any dispute, the parties may also agree to refer the same to arbitration" or "if any disputes arise between the parties, they should consider settlement by arbitration" in a Clause relating to settlement of disputes, indicate that the Clause is not intended to be an arbitra tion agreement. Similarly, a Clause which states that "if the parties so decide, the disputes shall be referred to arbitration" or "any disputes be tween parties, if they so agree, shall be referred to arbitration" is not an arbitration agreement. Such clauses merely indicate a desire or hope to have the disputes settled by arbitra tion, or a tentative arrangement to explore arbitration as a mode of set tlement if and when a dispute arises. Such clauses require the parties to arrive at a further agreement to go to arbitration, as and when the disputes arise. Any agreement or Clause in an agreement requiring or contemplating a further consent or consensus before a reference to arbi tration, is not an arbitration agree ment, but an agreement to enter into an arbitration agreement in future.” [Emphasis Supplied]
Can a party unilaterally appoint an Arbitrator?
Post the amendment of the Act, it is now settled law that a unilat eral appointment of an Arbitrator by a party which is interested in the outcome of the decision of the dis pute is impermissible in law. Such an Arbitrator becomes de jure inca pacitated to perform his functions as an Arbitrator. This has been upheld in a catena of judgments including in Delhi Metro Rail Corpora tion Limited (2017) 4 SCC 665, TRF Limited (2017) 8 SCC 377, Bharat Broadband Network Lim ited (2019) 5 SCC 755, HSCC (India) Limited (2020) 20 SCC 760.
Thus, in the post-2015 amend ment era, there are only two modes of appointment of a sole Arbitrator (i) by express agreement in writing between the parties, post the dis pute, agreeing to waive the applica bility of Section 12 of the Act or (ii) by order of appointment by the High Court under Section 11 of the Act. If the appointment of a sole arbitra tor is made other than by the above two methods, the appointment is ex facie bad and is in contravention of the provisions of the Act, which goes to the roots of the matter. In such an eventuality, the Arbitrator becomes de jure ineligible to act as an arbitrator by operation of law.
The topic of arbitration has been fraught with litigation. With every passing dusk, the complexities have increased in manifold proportion. Questions are now being raised on the efficacy of Arbitration, as an ef fective dispute resolution strategy
Armfat is often a result of ex cess fat in the body. Chanc es are, your body has de cided to store some excess fat under the skin – and it happens to be on your arms. It can also show up on your thighs and the stomach and honestly, it's just a natural oc currence when you gain weight. Flabby arms in females
Armpit fat can occur in people of any gender. It appears to be more common in women than in men.
The hormone testosterone in both men and women is responsible for bones and muscle buildup. High blood glucose from sugary or highcarb diets and menopause contrib
ute to the decrease of testosterone in women. This causes them to lose muscle mass and develop bat wings or flabby arms.
Body fat distribution is largely determined by heredity and genetic factors. If you're overweight, fat may deposit in or under your armpits. If you have excess weight, subcutane ous fat may deposit in your under arm area. Weight gain can also make your breast and armpit area larger. Fat may deposit in or under your armpits. It’s largely up to genetics where excess fat gets stored. How to remove or reduce the appearance of armpit fat
Lose weight to help reduce arm
pit fat as well as fat stored through out your body. Build muscle mass in your chest wall and upper arms. Armpit fat can be resistant to exer cise, including resistance or weight training specifically for that pur pose. Building chest muscle mass and toning your upper arms can help tighten the area, reducing the look of armpit fat. Building muscle also burns calories, so it helps with weight loss.
Losing weight by eating a nutri tious diet and exercising can help reduce armpit fat. I have enquir ies about spot reduction, especially from females, but it’s hard to target or spot-reduce specific areas of the body. Sticking to a fitness routine
atleast thrice a week with a certified or a well-experienced trainer will help you to get stronger and healthy without any bulk. If you're exercising and eating right, your body pumps out the hormone cortisol, which ramps up your appetite and encour ages the storage of fat in places like your hips, thighs, and, of course, up per arms.
Few exercises for reducing fat and to get rid of flabby arms
Arm circles 30 secs × 4
Bicep curls 12× 3
Tricep kickbacks ............ 12×3 45 degree bicep curls ..... 12×3 Tricep extensions ........... 12× 3 Tricep dips 12× 3 (no weights required)
Lateral raises 12×3 push ups 12× 3 Overhead extension is one of the best exercises for arms.
*Stand with feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent, gripping the dumbbell with both of your hands
* Reach your arms overhead, holding the dumbbell vertically. Keep wrists straight.
**Straighten your arms upward; repeat to complete 8 to 12 reps. These exercises will help you shed the extra arm fat and build lean muscle. So, ladies let’s not waste any more time worrying, let’s work it out!
Dolly Maria is founder of THE IGNIST, a training company born out of a noble cause and spirit. She holds a decade long experience being a passionate mentor and entrepreneur.
Happiness is within you and you need to practice to be happy. Whenever life throws a circumstance at you, it always gives you the power to choose how you should react to it.
Ourmind is always strug gling and striving con stantly to become, to achieve something. It is al ways in a pursuit to perfect itself? In this strenuous process, the mind is burdened. It loses its cool and calm and falls prey to the worldly entan glements of life. Thus, you feel like you have lost peace. Is it possible to re-discover self? Is it easy to be selfaware in the right way? Is it possible to acquire freedom from this entan gled monotony and find happiness within?
Attitude is everything. This is something that we know or hear in day-to-day life. Easy said than done. Due to the piled-up experiences and mind conditioning, most of the time
we tend to be resilient to those com fortable cocoons that we have always been in, no matter how much it has not helped us ever. Yes, we all know and understand how successful people have been persistently chas ing their passion, despite of pitfalls, challenges, and failures. We see some amazing people in life, in spite of their hard-hitting days, they tend to smile at the world all the time. Self-cognition is an area in social psychology that examines how peo ple perceive and think about them selves and the social world they live in because the external world tends to crumble our spirits and pull us off from holding onto the right attitude. So often an individual thinks – "my problem is greater than his.
I can't smile at this juncture. How can I be kind to another human be ing when I am going through this tough turmoil?!" So, is that only we have issues, and others don't? And is it really true that our problems are always more humongous than our neighbours? Or have you ever thought that there are chances that the other person who looks a bit more pleasant has been habitually trying to overcome his trouble being more composed? Yes. Can't we also try to inculcate that habit of being under control when we face may hem in life? Evolution for a human being doesn't happen overnight, it takes its own hard-hitting course, to change, evolve and transform.
We often tend to quickly judge
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude". - Maya Angelou.
others based on their actions and be haviours – but the truth is that it is our perception about this world that makes us irritated about another's attitude. Everyone goes through situations and experiences quite differently from the other. Another might have had a crucial financial situation, a grave emotional trauma, or a relationship constraint quite dif ferent from yours. These differences and conditionings shape their per spectives, just like yours moulded the current you. What we think and perceive to be sensible and normal may not be the same from another person's angle. Hence, it is impera tive to have a wider angle to perspec tive acceptance for an individual to be able to understand a fellow social
being.
A positive attitude is pro-active, not reactive. It is often a choice. Most of the time, we look outside for happiness and positivity. Seldom have we realised that we are the creators of our own happiness. Hap piness is within you and you need to practice to be happy. Whenever life throws a circumstance at you, it always gives you the power to choose how you should react to it. Each one of us has a mental framework we have consciously or unconsciously chosen over a period of time. There are people who look at all the facts to assess the most plausible expla nations and reasonable predictions. There is still another set that chal lenge non-facts; they refuse to be
misled by bogus assertions. There are people who make sense of life in the way it brings them joy and com fort. Some people do not let any new facts enter their knowledge based on a fear that it will affect the 'equilib rium' they have now. In fact, we as human beings understand that none of the perceptions is right or wrong. It is simply a state of being.
This world throws at us an un limited opportunity. It gives us the choice to be happy or not. To un derstand another person or not. To make peace with another individual or not. It all depends upon our own decision on what we have stored for ourselves in the future. As they say, the only disability in life is a bad at titude. It helps you to go high or low.
No human being can have absolute control over what occurs in their lives. So, it is even more important to decipher and uphold an attitude even before you face a problem. To indulge in what you do, to have com mitment and dedication – it all re quires a properly built-up attitude. If you are not sincere in what you do, you will end up fooling yourself and eventually fall apart in life.
Here, we need to open up our minds to learning and unlearning attitudes. It is all the more impor tant to recognise what hinders the growth and smoothness of your life. Your conscious mind should be able to feed in the right mental information to your subconscious mind. The nervous system is your body's decision maker and commu nication centre. It is what you feed regularly to your system that you eventually become. What you think is what you are. Your body then is constantly listening to your mind. It
makes necessary changes and gets so habitual over time that if you are not consciously endeavouring, it will become difficult to change a ha bitual action or thought. This is the reason why your fingers are able to mechanically dial a number on your phone even when your conscious mind can't remember it quite right. Everyone has trouble. The only people who do not have trouble are the dead ones. Worrying inces santly is in vain. When we confront an issue, we should find alternative ways of looking at it, the cause that created that issue, how we can rise above it to solve and different so lutions that can end the problem. Everything has an end. An end it self has an end. Life always does not have to be perfect, it is our attitude and viewpoint towards it that makes it wonderful. The smallest change in perspective can transform lives. Napolean Hill in his book "You can work your own miracles" talks about
this real-time story about a boy who was born with no ears, he was deaf. However, his father didn't want to give up and went on to treat his son anyway; he never let his son feel that he is deaf. Miraculously at the age of ten, the boy started hearing. When he was taken for a doctor's visit the doctor said that the nerves have somehow made their way to be in a form that supports hearing. This story shows us the power of positive thinking. We see such miracles hap pening around us daily. This is the explanation behind the Placebo ef fect too. When you believe that this pill will cure you, even if it is not a medicinal drug, you will be healed. Always be ready for good things to happen to you. If you believe it will, it will. If you believe it won't, it won't. It is as simple as that. It is all about how you look at things.
The Power is yours. The CHOICE is also yours. Use it wisely and empathetically!
You must have enjoyed the tart and sweet plum fruit. This juicy, vitaminrich fruit helps to control blood pressure, blood sugar levels, relieves constipation, lowers anxi ety, and supports heart health. It also helps to relieve constipation. However, did you know that plums are also excellent for your skin and hair?
For healthy, radiant skin, you can consume plums or use skin care products containing the plum extract. Plums are a great source of fibre and are filled with benefi cial nutrients. Numerous of these nutrients are good for the skin and also for hair. They aid in eliminating pimples and other forms of acne as well as problems like sunburn and early ageing indicators. Plums are incredibly nutrient-dense and antioxidant-rich, fighting free radicals and shielding our hair cells from oxidative stress.
Plums provide many advan tages for your skin and hair. The most important plum skin and hair advantages are listed below.
It makes sense that eating plums regularly can give your skin fresh vitality because they are so high in vitamins and phytochemi cals. The vitamin C in plums in creases the formation of collagen and evens out the texture of your skin, making it appear firm and radiant. Plums can also aid in pre venting infections and acne.
Plums are a good source of vitamin C, which helps to balance
Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International
out skin tone, lighten freckles and dark spots, and brighten your com plexion. Additionally, plums increase your skin's blood circulation, which aids to lighten scars or age spots.
Finding the perfect treatment for dandruff is challenging because it is a persistent issue. Plums can also aid with dandruff removal. They are high in vitamin C, which is essen tial for efficiently battling dandruff. Plums can also kill the microorgan isms on our scalp and relieve itchy scalp conditions. Plums can increase blood flow to the scalp, resulting in a healthy scalp and nourished hair follicles.
Plums can help you if your under-eye area becomes swollen and lifeless. Plums enhance blood flow, lessen puffiness, and lessen the visibility of dark circles under your eyes. Plums contain vitamin C, which revitalises and illuminates the area around your eyes.
The antioxidants, vitamin E, and beta carotene found in abundance in plums help to reduce inflammation and prevent wrinkles. Plum shields the cell membranes from deterio ration brought by stress, heat, and other reasons. Regularly applying plums to your face can increase the formation of collagen, which main tains the health of your skin.
The antioxidant-rich plum com bats heat, sweat, and dust, which cause hair issues. Additionally, it contains Vitamin A, which protects and maintains the health of hair fol licles. It can help address a number of other hair issues, including dull ness, frizz, and dandruff.
Plums' beneficial elements can help your skin look younger and nourish the hair. You can apply them directly to your skin or internally. Plums can also be eaten raw or in a variety of dishes. However, limit your regular intake of plums to prevent any unfavourable side effects
Marrakesh is a unique place, and now, as throughout much of its past, it serves as the entrance to the vast Sahara Desert.
One of Morocco's most wellknown and renowned cit ies is Marrakesh. Like Morocco, Marrakesh is a city that is well worth seeing. Mar rakesh is a unique place, and now, as throughout much of its past, it serves as the entrance to the vast Sahara Desert.
In the past, trade with tribes in the desert and down at Sub-Sahara, across the Sahara, took place mostly in Marrakesh. Marrakesh is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a lot to offer the adventurous traveler, including camel rides in the desert, the city's gorgeous architec ture, authentic cuisine, breathtaking performances, and incredible bazaar shopping.
Marrakesh has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and is a Berber metropolis. Since roughly 1070 AD, a city has existed there. It has traditionally been a significant Islamic city and a crossing point for caravans. It eventually passed into French territory and was included in the French Protectorate in Morocco.
The Best Time to Visit Marrakech is a well-liked vaca tion spot with sunshine almost all year round. While the winter months can get freezing with nighttime lows in the 30-degree F range, the sum mer months (June-September) can get fairly hot with temperatures near 100 degrees F. With highs in the 70s and 80s, March through May and September through October are of ten comfortable.
The stunning, 70-meter-tall tow er of the Koutoubia Mosque, which is visible for miles in all directions, makes it the most well-known land mark in Marrakesh. According to a local Marrakesh tale, when this mosque was first constructed, the muezzin—the person who calls the faithful to prayer—had to be blind since the tower was so tall that it overlooked the ruler's harem.
The mosque, which was con structed in 1162, is regarded as one of the finest examples of Almohad architecture. The foundations of the first mosque constructed in this
location are visible in the archaeo logical excavation area on the north west side of the minaret. The cur rent mosque was built in its place after the Almohads demolished it. Inside the Koutoubia Mosque, nonMuslims are not permitted.
The artist Jacques Majorelle cre ated these lush, tropical gardens, which are covered in ferns, cacti, and palm trees. Majorelle, who was born in Nancy, France, moved to Marrakesh for health concerns. He later gained fame for his paintings of Moroccan life in the region.
Yves Saint Laurent, a French fashion designer, purchased the es tate after Majorelle passed away in 1962, and after his passing in 2008, his ashes were dispersed among the gardens. The former painting work shop of Majorelle is now a magnifi cent museum devoted to Berber art on the property. A museum honour ing Yves Saint Laurent's life and fashion legacy sits right adjacent to the entrance to the gardens and also offers a schedule of temporary
exhibitions.
Built in the late 19th century as the home of Grand Vizier Bou Ahmed, who served Sultan Moulay al-Hassan I, this exquisite house is shaped like a peacock. The interior decoration is a stunning exhibition of Moroccan craftsmanship that com bines zellige tiles, painted ceilings, and intricate wrought-iron embel lishments to depict the rich lifestyles of those who were influential with the sultan at the time.
The great riad's lush interior courtyard and home to citrus trees and banana-leaf plants offer a calm retreat from the city. The two pri mary attractions are the enormous marble grand courtyard and the magnificent salons of the haram section.
In Marrakesh, several companies provide sunrise hot-air balloon ride trips that offer sweeping panoramas of the city, the neighbouring palm groves, the parched plateau, and, in the distance, the spine of the At las Mountains. The stunning land scapes are definitely worth the early morning start for photographers.
The majority of flights depart shortly after sunrise, last an hour, and include a picnic meal of tradi tional Berber delicacies served after the trip as well as return transports
to the city centre. After the hot-air balloon trip, more expensive tours frequently provide quad bike tours or camel rides, or they offer private baskets rather than shared baskets.
The Marrakesh Museum (Musee de Marrakech) houses a diverse col lection that includes everything from modern art to Qur'anic inscriptions, as well as regional ceramics, car pets, and coins. The building itself, though, is what most people find to be the primary draw of a trip here.
The museum is located in the Mnebhi Palace, which was once the palace of Pasha Thami Glaoui, the ruler of Marrakesh, but was subse quently Mehdi Mnebhi's (a minister in Morocco's government) mansion. The building, which boasts an in credibly spectacular central court yard space replete with a priceless chandelier, is a tasteful fusion of regional North African form with Portuguese components.
66 members of the Saadian dy nasty, which ruled over Marrakesh between 1524 and 1668, are in terred in this graveyard from the 16th century. Al-Mansour the ruler, his successors, and their nearest rel atives are all buried here in tombs. The mausoleums are surrounded by an overgrown garden in this ram bling, eerie location.
One outstanding remaining mihrab can be found in the main mausoleum (where Moulay Yazid is interred). By their Alawite succes sors, the Saadian Tombs were sealed up, and they weren't rediscovered until the early 20th century. The tiny alleyway next to the southern wall of the Kasbah Mosque serves as the entrance to the Saadian Tombs. Food in Marrakesh
To list all of the incredible res taurants in Marrakech, you would need to write a book. Street vendors, budget pubs, and upscale eateries may all be found here. Everyone can find something.
If you visit the Red City, try the tajine, a stew prepared in a unique clay pot. There are also some veg etarian choices. You might also choose couscous with vegetables or meat. Ask for some mint tea to help you digest after every meal; it will also be a soothing way to end your feast.
The best way to discover Mar rakesh's highlights and the local cul ture without having to worry about getting lost is by joining a guided tour. You'll discover all about the history of the region along the trip, in addition to local insider hints and tales
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.
Ina world of crossovers, the Virtus is VW's attempt to rekindle some of the lost interest in sedans much like the Slavia from Skoda. With 150bhp and a quickshifting 7-speed DSG, this GT variant we drove puts the fun back in the driver seat. But is it enough to make us forget our crossovers and embrace the fun to drive sedans, once again?
For one thing, they have given it a high driving posi tion and crossover-like 179mm ground clearance in an attempt to appeal to everyone. The styl ing, as a result, has suffered a bit with a higher beltline, too much visual mass around the body, and lots of gaps in the wheel wells. The proportions are a far cry from what we have seen on VW sedans but
the styling elements are un mistakably Volkswagen. The front end has a Jetta styling and thankfully they didn't opt for the Polo face that's avail able in some markets. It is big ger than the Mk1 Octavia with a best-in-class wheelbase of 2650mm and massive 521 litre boot space. The GT variant gets blacked-out alloys, black roofs, mirrors, etc. to differentiate it from the standard car. This car would look a lot better with big ger 17-inch wheels.
The interiors are very fa miliar too with a similar dash board design but the red colour may not be to everyone's tastes.
The VW steering looks and feels nice while the dashboard feels better than the Slavia's in most places. There is a 10.1inch touch screen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The
The interiors are very familiar too with a similar dashboard design but the red colour may not be to everyone's tastes. The VW steering looks and feels nice while the dashboard feels better than the Slavia's in most places.
front seats are great with lots of adjustments for a comfort able driving position although they aren't ventilated like in the Slavia. The rear seats are a bit low and the back rest is a little upright, but they offer a great amount of legroom and plenty of under-thigh support.
The Virtus gets two engine options - a 115bhp, 175Nm 1.0L 3cyl engine and a 150bhp, 250Nm 1.5L 4cyl engine. The 1.0L is sufficient for most peo ple to drive around town and
has adequate performance with 0-100kmph coming up in 11.2 seconds. The 1.5 is the one to get if you enjoy driving and in a sedan, that makes all the differ ence. It is an eager motor with a punchy midrange and decent top end. It does 0-100kmph in 9.4 seconds which makes it the quickest in its segment. There is plenty of power for highway overtakes and you will enjoy winding it up to its 6600rpm redline a lot. The downsides, it's not very refined and is a
bit dull below 1800rpm. The 1.5 comes only in GT spec with the DSG as standard, so if you want a manual, opt for the Skoda in stead.
The Virtus has great supple ness that absorbs bumps and de livers a consistent ride. The long travel suspension has good body
control too. The Virtus doesn't dart into corners but you can drive it fast with massive con fidence. The 1.0L variant feels relatively lighter in the front than the 1.5 which pitches and rolls a bit more. The brakes are alright with a good pedal feel.
The Virtus is a breath of
fresh air in the mid-size sedan segment. It has everything that sedan lovers like with lots of space, good ride, enjoyable han dling, and two capable engines to choose from. Unlike Skoda, we love how VW has distinguished the 1.5 litre variant with the GT spec
19(1)(a) is an Indian Malayalamlanguage drama film written and directed by debutant Indhu V.S. Nithya Menen, Vijay Sethu pathi, and Indrajith Sukumaran play the main roles. The movie is Vijay Sethupathi’s second Malay alam film after Marconi Mathai and his first in a character part. The plot is when a revolutionary writer leaves the unpublished manuscript of his work with a lady who manages a photocopy shop, throwing her routine existence into disarray. The timing of the film couldn’t be better, given how restricted free speech and expres sion are in India right now. The film, which deals with very serious emotional and political issues, fea tures exceptionally nuanced per formances by Nithya Menen, Vijay Sethupathi, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Indrans.
Ek Villain Returns is an Indian Hindi-language psychological ac tion thriller film written and directed by Mohit Suri. It is a spiritual sequel to his 2014 film Ek Villain. John Abra ham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani, and Tara Sutaria play key roles among a large ensemble cast in the film. Two guys in a one-sided love are the sub ject of the movie Ek Villain Returns. Who is the Hero and who is the Vil lain depends on the pathways they take to complete their love stories. When it comes to suspense thrillers, Mohit Suri once more demonstrates that he is still firmly seated in the di rector’s seat. This one adds a spark— if not a blast—to the collection of nar rators who are the magician himself, following hits like Malang, Ek Villain, and Murder 2.
Shabaash Mithu is an Indian Hindi-language biographical sports drama film directed by Srijit Mukherji. Taapsee Pannu plays the title role in the movie, which is based on the life of Mith ali Raj, a former Test and ODI captain of the Indian women’s national cricket team. It details Mithali’s life’s highs and lows as well as its proudest moments. It informs the viewers of the kinds of logistical challenges and road blocks that our female cricketers face. It highlights their courage to resist and pursue their pas sion in the face of all adversities. The unflinching reality of gender disparities in Indian sports and the quest for equality with the dominant gender. In their quest for empowerment, women should aspire to be like Mithali, a true hero.
HIT: THE FIRST CASE is a suc cessful remake of the same-titled Telugu film. Sailesh Kolanu, who also directed the Telugu movie, has direct ed the remake version. The protago nist of the movie is Vikram Jaisingh, a 32-year-old policeman who serves on Rajasthan’s Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) and is struggling with his own horrific background. When Preethi, an 18-year-old girl, unex pectedly vanishes on the Jaipur ring road, Vikram realises that the case has a personal link, mayhem breaks out, and he is forced to intervene and find the girl. It has a well-writ ten script, gripping screenplay, good suspense and a superb performance from Rajkummar Rao who plays the lead role. The core of the plot is an extreme relationship, which is gradu ally disclosed in the end.
The It Girl is a psychological mystery thriller novel written by Ruth Ware. The story revolves around Hannah, her first acquaintance at Oxford was April, and the two of them immediately grew close to one another until April's death. Hannah discovers that the recently deceased convicted perpetrator may have been innocent ten years after April's mur der. Hannah gets in touch with her old friend group in order to unearth their long-kept secrets because a journalist is poking around for specif ics and the murderer is probably still at large. There are undoubtedly a number of suspects, and Ruth Ware brilliantly builds tension and mood by switching chapters between the past and present. Fortunately, there aren't many characters in the group, making it easy to remember who they are. The backstories of everyone are well developed.
The 6:20 Man is a thriller novel penned by David Baldacci. Travis Devine commutes to Manhattan every day at 6:20 a.m. while gaz ing out the window at all the ultra-rich people's mansions. When Travis' co-worker and ex-girlfriend is discovered dead in a storage room at their investment firm, he is compelled to look into the company covertly. In doing so, he unearths a high-stakes conspiracy that puts him squarely in the sights of a killer. Sadly, the plot is excellent and all too plausible in light of what we have learned over the past year or two. We catch glimpses of a conspiracy that later grows more heated and perilous, and it becomes action-packed. There are several breath-taking encounters as the tension rises. It is a challenging, potent thriller that will have the reader on the edge of their seat.
Katherine Center's 'The Bodyguard' is a contemporary romantic comedy novel. The story revolves around Hannah Brooks who is desperate to escape her chaotic life after her mother passes away and her boyfriend breaks up with her, so she takes a job as an Executive Protection Agent, a bodyguard for wealthy corporate customers. Jack Stapleton, a reclusive Hollywood actor who requires security from a middle-aged stalker while visiting his sick mother, enters the scene as her next mission. Hannah is to pose as Jack's girlfriend so that his family won't find out. Don't expect high-quality writing; instead, enjoy a pleasant, thought-free contemporary romance with the happy-ever-after resolution you want. It's intriguing how Center reverses the narrative, making Hannah the hero's defender. The Bodyguard is the ideal rainy-day read if you're looking for a quick and easy rom-com.
Death by Bubble Tea is a cozy mystery novel written by Jennifer J. Chow. The plot centres on Yale and Celina, two cousins who open a bubble tea stall in a nearby night market. What transpires, though, when Yale discovers a dead body? And their very first client's body is in there? Can they locate the real murderer without raising the police's suspicions?
Both the writing style and the relationship between Yale and Celine were enjoyable. This narrative has a powerful topic about the power of family ties, yet it was handled nicely such that it never felt overpowering. This intriguing first book in a new series deftly weaves together a murder, cuisine, culture, family, and social media. In general, this is a fascinating book with humour, suspense, a lot of detective work, and not much action. If you like detective mysteries, you'll love this one.
