Unique Times February 2022

Vol 11 Issue No.124 Feb - Mar 2022 USD 0.70`50AED 5BD 0.500

The Outlook for Gold in 2022 Shri V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

Smriti Irani:

The Rightwinged Rebel and Self-Made Woman

Chief Mentor Mr. V.P. Nandakumar Director & CEO Jebitha Ajit Editor Jebitha Ajit Legal Advisor Latha Anand

B.S.Krishnan Associates bskrishnanassociates@gmail.com Sub-Editor Anusha Varghese Consulting Editor Sujit Chandra Kumar Associate Editor Ravi Saini

Athulya Pradip Correspondents Dr. Thomas Nechupadam

Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile

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Editorial B

arbadian singer Rihanna once said: “There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.”

The same goes for Smriti Irani who has achieved success after negotiating numerous obstacles. Her name has become synonymous with women's empowerment, which has become a major topic of debate in modern India. She symbolises the ability of women to make significant life decisions that were previously unavailable to them. From participating in beauty pageants to making her mark in the television industry, Smriti Irani achieved tremendous success at a very young age and Tulsi became a household name. Smriti continued to rise through the ranks in politics too. In 2010, she was elected as the party's national secretary and the president of the party's women's wing. However, Smriti Irani's journey of overcoming hindrances was not a smooth ride. Our cover story unravels the little-known facts about Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani.

This month, Manappuram Finance Limited MD and CEO, V P Nandakumar pens down his viewpoint about ‘The Outlook for Gold in 2022’. Other than this, our staple articles on fields such as auto, beauty, movie and travel are included.

'The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go' - Dr Seuss So let’s read, learn and go places.

Happy Reading!

Thank You Sd/Jebitha Ajit

Cover Photograph Smriti Irani Minister of Women and Child Development

Printer & publisher Pegasus Global Pvt. Ltd. Cochin (682033) on behalf of Ajit Ravi. Printed at S.T.Reddiar & Sons, P.B. No: 3627, Veekshanam Road, Cochin-18.

CONTENTS

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14

Smriti Irani: The Rightwinged Rebel and Self-Made Woman

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COVERSTORY 18

BUSINESS BUSINESS

The Outlook for Gold in 2022

24

Looking for that Elusive Human Connection

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The Science of Love-Making

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CONTENTS 50

AUTO REVIEW

58

GADGETS

32

Budget 2022 Do We have a Stable Policy in Letter and Spirit?

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Gadgets

52

Tone Your Beauty With Apples

TRAVELOGUE

BEAUTY

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52

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The Wonderland of Jagged Mountains and Beautiful Fjordsy

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Maruti Celerio

UNIQUE DIARY

There Will Be No Mixing of COVID-19 Precaution Doses

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he government emphasised on 5th January that the "precautionary" vaccine dose to be given to healthcare and frontline workers, as well as persons 60 years and older with comorbidities, will be the same as the first two doses. In a statement to the media, NITI Aayog member Dr. Vinod K Paul stated, "Those who have received Covaxin will continue to receive Covaxin." Those who have had the first two doses of Covishield will be given Covishield. That's how we're going about it." On January 10, healthcare and frontline employees, as well as older individuals with comorbidities, will be immunised with a preventive dose. This dose will appear on immunisation certificates.

PM Modi: Statue of Subhash Chandra Bose to Be Placed at India Gate

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Steve Jobs

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rime Minister Narendra Modi said that Netaji's statue will be placed at India Gate to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's contribution to the freedom fighters on the 125th anniversary of his birth. The prime minister stated that until the installation is done, a hologram of Netaji will be displayed at the site of the statue. "On the 23rd of January, Netaji's birth anniversary," he tweeted, "I will unveil the hologram statue."

"At a time when the entire nation is commemorating Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary, I am pleased to announce that his grand granite statue will be placed at India Gate," PM Modi tweeted on 21st January. "This would be a reminder of India's gratitude to him." The statue will be placed beneath the great canopy that houses the Amar Jawan Jyothi, which flashes in honour of India's martyrs.

UNIQUE DIARY

Aditya Birla Fashion Collaborates With Designer Masaba Gupta Introducing D2C Brand

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ditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) has collaborated with designer and actor Masaba Gupta to develop a new D2C fashion and lifestyle brand called 'Masaba.' In order to accomplish this, the corporation will purchase a 51% interest in the designer's House of Masaba label. The collaboration attempts to present 'Masaba' as an inexpensive luxury brand aimed at the youthful, aspiring gen-next generation. The brand's product offerings will include clothes, accessories, beauty, and other lifestyle products. The collaboration will also represent ABFRL's introduction into India's beauty and personal care sector, which is quickly expanding due to an increase in female buyers, an increase in disposable income, and an acceleration in digital influence.

PM Modi Meets New German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Discuss Bilateral Relations

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

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rime Minister Narendra Modi called with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 5th January and congratulated him on his election. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement that the two leaders agreed that there was great convergence between the new German government's governance agenda and India's own economic vision. "In particular, they indicated a desire to launch new cooperation efforts in the areas of Climate Action and Green Energy, to help both nations to meet their respective climate pledges," the PMO stated. They also discussed the possibilities of ongoing cooperation projects, such as developing investment and trade links and decided to broaden collaboration and exchanges in new areas, according to the statement.

Bill Gates

Feb - Mar 2022

Vaccines Resulted in Fewer Hospitalizations during the Third Surge: Govt

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he Health Ministry announced on 20th January 2022 that the third spike generated by the highly contagious Omicron variety has spread to practically all parts of the country, citing 515 districts across the country that have recorded more than a 5% positivity rate in the last week. Despite the spike, the government claims that high immunisation rates have resulted in fewer hospitalizations and fatalities. According to the ministry, a substantial increase of Covid-19 instances has been observed in India, with the weekly positive rate reaching around 16 percent in the recent week.

Omicron: India’s Economic Recovery Could Be Disrupted Once More

“The most dangerous poison is the feeling of achievement.

The antidote is to every evening think what can be done better tomorrow.”

Ingvar Kamprad

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etween April and June of last year, a catastrophic surge of Delta variant-driven Covid infection claimed 240,000 lives and stymied the economic recovery. "Similar instances may occur in the near term," the United Nations Economic Forecast for India noted, citing an increase in Omicron infections in the country.

However, India's economic recovery is on track, thanks to quick immunisation progress, less harsh restrictions, and still supportive fiscal and monetary policies, according to the report. According to the report, India's GDP is expected to grow by 6.7 percent in 2022, following a 9 percent increase in 2021, as the base impact (inflation) fades.

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The Tonga Volcano’s Plume Has Reached Half-Way into Space

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he height attained by the plume of 15th January’s volcanic eruption in Tonga is an indication of its immense force. Scientists in the United Kingdom studying weather satellite data estimate it to be about 55 kilometres (35 miles) above the Earth's surface. This is where the stratosphere and mesosphere layers of the atmosphere meet. According to Dr. Simon Proud of RAL Space, these are "unheard-of altitudes" for a volcanic plume. Mount Pinatubo erupted with the greatest force in the second half of the twentieth century in 1991. Its plume is estimated to have reached a height of 40 kilometres. However, Dr. Proud, who is linked with the UK National Centre for Earth Observation, cautioned that 22nd January’s more accurate satellites could have provided a greater altitude for the Philippines occurrence.

The Lisbon City Council Fined for Disclosing Protester Information to Foreign Embassies

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isbon's City Hall has been fined €1.25 million ($1.4 million, £1 million) for handing on demonstrators' contact information to foreign embassies where they were picketing. According to Portugal's data commissioner, the mayor's administration violated demonstrators' personal data 225 times between 2018 and 2021. Former Socialist Mayor Fernando Medina's administration shared their information with numerous embassies, including Russia's. He has apologised for the violations. According to the data commissioner, several of the violations occurred mere months before the incident became public, when several of the demonstrators expressed their concerns with the city council. The mayor's office is claimed to have given information about the organisers of 52 protests to embassies across the world, including Russia's, Cuba's, and Israel's.

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Benjamin Briere, a French Tourist, on Trial in Iran for Espionage

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ccording to his lawyers, a French tourist who has been detained in Iran since 2020 on suspicion of espionage has gone on trial. Benjamin Brière, 36, was arrested after flying a drone near the Iran-Turkmenistan border. If convicted, he faces prison time, however, his Iran-based lawyer has hinted that officials are considering putting him in a prisoner exchange. Mr. Brière has been on hunger strike since December, which has left him quite fragile, according to another of his lawyers. Mr. Brière's lawyer in Paris, Philippe Valent, and Mr. Brière's sister both stated that a verdict might be given on 22nd January. He is being prosecuted behind closed doors in the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad, Iran's easternmost city.

COVID, Italy: Bullet Compels Immunologist to Seek Protection

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ne of Italy's leading coronavirus immunology researchers has been given police protection after receiving a bullet in a letter threatening her and her family. Prof Antonella Viola was presumably targeted because of her prominent support for immunisation of youngsters. This week, public figures have faced increased threats in a number of European countries. Several French MPs were threatened while debating a vaccine pass bill.

On 5th January night, a conspiracy theorist wielding a burning torch and live-streaming the attack on Facebook invaded the home of Dutch political activist Sigrid Kaag. Colleagues have accused the Dutch far-right Forum of Democracy of inciting hostility over vaccinations and other Covid requirements. The suspect was heard yelling far-right chants.

For more info: europetimes.co

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY

Smriti Irani:

The Rightwinged Rebel and Self-Made Woman

‘I can't speak for the rest, but I think the little India all of us carry in our hearts should be good enough for us individually to take a step to help ensure that same freedom and justice that our constitution guarantees is given to all’ – Smriti Irani 14

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ccepting or attempting to seek out women's perspectives, as well as elevating women's status through education, awareness, literacy, and training, are all examples of female empowerment. Women's empowerment enables and equips women to make

life-altering decisions in the face of societal issues. They may be able to reshape gender roles or carry out other adjustments, giving them more freedom to pursue their objectives.

Let us read about the successful risktaker who never gave up, from her highly-

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY

Smriti Irani became the youngest minister in Narendra Modi's cabinet. She was also the first woman to be appointed as the Union Minister for Human Resource Development. After a two-year stint in the HRD Ministry, she was transferred to the Textiles Ministry. Smriti is widely regarded as one of India's most progressive female leaders.

popular television avatar as Tulsi Verani to her role as a mind-blowing politician. Before entering politics, Smruti Zubin Irani was a model, producer, and television actor. Today, she is a minister in India's Union Cabinet. Around 2000, Smriti Irani, an actress who later became a politician, was one of the most wellknown personalities in India and overseas.

Smriti was schooled in New Delhi's Holy Child Auxilium School, where she was born into a BengaliPunjabi family. She then applied

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to the School of Open Learning at Delhi University for a B.Com. She moved to Mumbai at the age of 18 to pursue her aspirations, working as a waitress and part-time model.

She applied for an air hostess position with Jet Airways but was turned down. She made her television debut with Star Plus's Aatish and Hum Hain Kal Aaj Aur Kal. But it was her amazing performance in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, one of the most talked-about soap operas, that catapulted her to fame.

She is the eldest of three sisters.

Her grandfather was an RSS swayamsevak, and her mother was a Jana Sangh member, so she has been a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood.

Smriti joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2003. She ran for the 14th Lok Sabha against Kapil Sibal from the Chandni Chowk constituency in Delhi in the general elections that year. Despite losing the election, she was appointed Vice-President of Maharashtra's youth wing in 2004. She spent the following five years developing her image as a woman's rights

advocate who prioritised empowerment and safety. She conducted a campaign on women's safety in 2009, advocating for death penalty for rapists. She was named the party's national secretary in 2010.

Smriti was elected to Parliament in August 2011. She was sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha representing Gujarat. She is the first woman to serve as both the Union Minister for Human Resource Development and the Union Minister for Textiles. Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi, the President of the Indian National Congress, by 55,120 votes in the Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 general elections. To ensure this victory, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its

leadership put in an all-out effort.

Following the BJP's overwhelming victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Smriti Irani became the youngest minister in Narendra Modi's cabinet. She was also the first woman to be appointed as the Union Minister for Human Resource Development. After a two-year stint in the HRD Ministry, she was transferred to the Textiles Ministry. Smriti is widely regarded as one of India's most progressive female leaders.

Smriti was appointed to the Textiles Ministry in July 2016, succeeding Santosh Kumar Gangwar. She maintained that role for five years, until July 2021, and was re-appointed to that role following the 2019 parliamentary elections. TEXPRO-

CIL, the Textile Council of India, the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India, and the Indian Texpreneurs Federation have all praised her contributions to the industry (ITF).

Her political career has been full of ups and downs. She has been one of the party's most dependable members. Her regular media presence and outspoken demeanour have made her a powerful leader. She's risen to a position of prominence in the BJP where no one questions her political dedication any longer. She has come a long way from her days as an assistant at McDonald's, to her days as a Miss India finalist, her on-screen persona, and her appointment as the National Vice-President of a major political party.

Smriti Irani's debut novel, Lal Salaam, was also a success. The novel is based on the lives of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers who serve the country in dangerous terrain. The novel's plot revolves around the April 2010 massacre in Dantewada, which resulted in the deaths of 76 CRPF personnel.

The book, which tells the story of a young officer named Vikram Pratap Singh and the challenges he faces against a system steeped in backroom politics and corruption, was published recently. The story had been brewing in the Amethi MP's mind for quite some time.

She has made the most of every opportunity that has come her way.

She hasn't always had a life of joy and accomplishment. "My failures have been widely publicised," she once remarked. “When I went to Amethi in 2014, I was mocked.

When I lost Chandni Chowk in 2004, I was mocked. My political obituary was published prominently in a popular national daily in 2016.

My battles and positions have been made public. That does not make you lonely; rather, it makes you more confident."

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BUSINESS

As bond yields go up, which is quite likely in a scenario of tightening monetary policy, the opportunity cost of holding a non-interest-bearing asset like gold goes up, and its price tends to weaken.

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

The outlook for

gold in 2022 G

old ended the year 2021 with its price about 4% lower than its opening price for the year, closing at US$1,806/oz. This was despite a rally towards the year-end against

Source: WGC

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the backdrop of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant which added to uncertainties. However, it was not enough to offset the weakness for much of the first half of the year.

Rising opportunity costs (a boom-

ing equity market and higher bond yields) contributed to gold’s negative performance in the first half of the year, while rising risks, especially higher inflation, pushed gold higher towards the end of the year.

As newly developed vaccines were rolled out early in 2021, there was a renewed sense of optimism among investors and stock markets rallied. This had a negative impact on gold price as it led to outflows from gold ETFs. The rest of the year was essentially a tug of war between competing forces. The emergence of new variants of the Corona virus together with the persistence of inflation gave renewed momentum to the demand for gold, pushing its prices up. On the other hand, the prospect of rising interest rates and a stronger US dollar continued to be headwinds for gold.

Outlook for 2022

These days, the US Federal Reserve is increasingly signalling a more hawkish stance to bring the current high inflation under control.

Market analysts have now veered around to the view that the Fed will hike interest rates four or five times this year beginning from March, which is a much faster pace than expected earlier. Further, there is also serious talk about reducing the size of the Fed’s balance sheet, in other words, a quantitative tightening that

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BUSINESS would cut down liquidity in the market. However, the record with previous tightening cycles suggests that the Fed tends to talk tough while acting with moderation. Therefore, there is a view that the Fed may not tighten monetary policy as aggressively as they are hinting at now.

Importantly, the expectations of the financial market about future monetary policy actions (as indicated by bond yields) have a major influence on gold price. As bond yields go up, which is quite

likely in a scenario of tightening monetary policy, the opportunity cost of holding a non-interestbearing asset like gold goes up, and its price tends to weaken.

However, in the current scenario, where the anticipated tightening of monetary policy takes place against the backdrop of surging inflation, it remains to be seen whether gold will indeed shed value the way the theory predicts. The fact is, with US inflation currently running at 7%, even after the Fed hikes rates four or five times in a row,

the real interest rate (i.e., adjusted for inflation) would continue to be deeply in negative territory.

Further, as per the analysis carried out by the World Gold Council (WGC), gold has historically performed well amid high inflation.

In years when inflation was higher than 3%, gold’s price increased 14% on average. In the long run, gold has outpaced US inflation and moved more in tune with money supply (M2), which has significantly increased in recent years as shown in the below chart.

Source: WGC gold outlook 2022 Despite the prospect of impending rate hikes by the US Fed and some other central banks, nominal rates will remain low from a historical perspective. Further, as mentioned above, high inflation holds down real rates. This is important as gold’s short and medium-term performance is more closely tied to real rates, which combine the two important drivers of gold performance: “opportunity cost” and “risk and uncertainty”.

It is commonly believed that the price of gold is determined by investment demand, especially from financial instruments such as gold

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ETFs, over-the-counter contracts, or exchange-traded derivatives. This is only partly true. An analysis by the World Gold Council (WGC) shows that gold’s performance is also linked to other components of demand, such as jewellery, technology, and central banks. While these do not typically result in the large price movements associated with investment demand, they provide steady support and ensure a minimum level of demand to hold up prices at the bottom of the range.

Accordingly, gold can still receive moderate support in 2022 from key jewellery markets, such as India.

Also, demand for gold from central banks which bounced back in 2021 may remain as a factor supporting gold price. Central banks have good reasons to favour gold as part of their foreign reserves given the current ultra-low interest rate environment.

Even if US interest rates rise, high inflation will keep real interest rates down in the negative territory.

Gold price forecasts by leading market analysts

The predictions about gold prices for 2022 are quite varied as usual.

The broader opinion among analysts is that gold will struggle to maintain its current levels. They believe that

the economic recovery will continue to gain ground, limiting the potential upside gains for gold.

ANZ Bank and Singapore’s OCBC Bank are forecasting that the strength of the economic recovery will see gold fall to $1,500 - $1,600 per ounce as tapering begins and interest rates rise. UBS Global Wealth Management and Reuters predict that gold price in 2022 will average between $1,700 - $1,800 per ounce maintaining the levels of 2021.

In its commodities outlook report, Fitch Solutions also sees gold prices averaging lower in 2022, as the US dollar strengthens, and bond yields continue the climb higher.

Their forecast is of gold prices averaging US$1,700 per ounce in

2022 with considerable volatility.

Earlier, they had forecast a price of US$1,800 per ounce for 2021 which was quite on the mark. But now, their position is that while gold will get support in the near term from the current inflation running at a multi-decade high, this will be countered by the risk of the US Fed raising interest rates at a faster pace than expected by the market.

J.P. Morgan Global Research has a more pessimistic outlook as they expect gold prices to fall to prepandemic levels by the end of 2022.

This is based on their view that the unwinding of the ultra-accommodative central bank policy will be outright bearish for gold in 2022. From an average of $1,765/oz in the first

quarter, i.e., quarter ending March 2022, they predict that gold prices will steadily desclines over the year to a fourth (December) quarter average of $1,520/oz.

ABN Amro’s outlook for gold in 2022 is even more bearish as they expect the yellow metal to average $1,500 and fall further to an average of $1,300 in 2023. Scotiabank’s gold forecast sees a move back above the $1,800 level to average $1,850 in 2022 but decline to $1,700 in 2023.

Here in India, Motilal Oswal Financial Services has a more optimistic take as it believes gold could touch $2,000 over the next 12–15 months. Their recommendation is that any price correction should be used as an opportunity to buy gold.

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In the short-term, they expect gold to reach about $1,915 this quarter going up thereafter to $1,965, with strong support seen in the $1,800 to $1,745 zone.

A final thought

As we enter 2022, there are two powerful forces acting in opposite directions that will determine the gold price trend for the year. On the one hand, it is all but certain that the US Fed will start increasing interest rates from March onwards. What remains to be seen is how aggressively they proceed with the rate hikes and the normalisation of monetary policy. There is a view gaining ground that the process should be kicked off with a 50 bps hike rather than the conventional 25 bps move. Should the Fed opt for faster and more aggressive tightening, gold price will come under pressure. On the other hand, the US economy has been facing high inflation at levels last seen four decades ago. The experience with inflation around the world is that once the genie gets out of

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the bottle, the process of putting it back in is invariably drawn out and painful.

With current US inflation running at 7%, it may be a little too optimistic to expect that the Fed Funds rate going up from zero to 1.5% or even 2% will do the trick, unless it tips the economy over into a recession by destroying demand.

Indeed, at the first signs of trouble, such as rising unemployment and a sharp slowdown in GDP growth rates, we may reasonably expect the US Fed to ease off its tightening process. Should something like this happen, gold prices will bounce back. The key factor to watch out for is how far and how fast the US Fed goes with its rate hikes. While the intention at the start of the process would be to bring down inflation to the 2% level that’s been the Fed’s target for long, the question remains whether the Fed would stay committed to this goal if the costs turn out to be too heavy.

Finally, adding to all the uncertainty is the future of crypto cur-

rencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

There’s no doubt that crypto currencies have attracted a fair share of investments from players who are fundamentally sceptical about fiat currency and all the money printing taking place globally. Had it not been for the rise of crypto currency, this money would have flown into gold which is otherwise the natural hedge against inflation.

The question now is, how long will the crypto boom last? If the bubble were to burst any time soon, it will lead to more money coming into gold and that would become a powerful tailwind for gold price. So, how soon can we expect the crypto bubble to burst? For now, there’s little that can be said with certainty.

It’s been well said before that the market can stay irrational longer than you and I can stay solvent

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

BUSINESS

Rajesh Nair Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

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One of our primary needs is the intent to connect. We are wired to belong in groups, nuclear or large families, or relatives or friends and colleagues. All social media is designed to help us ‘belong’ to some place, even if that place is not a physical one but in the confines of our mind, where we find love, togetherness and alignment with others.

Looking for that Elusive Human Connection

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he quantum changes brought about by the pandemic has necessitated and accelerated the modalities of remote working like never before. We are witness to the mass exodus and migration from physical workplaces to virtual offices, creating difficulties and challenges managers grapple with daily. Institutions in all walks of life needed to adopt a more aggressive and agile digital transformation journey and suddenly, going digital became a business and survival imperative and not a plan far away in the horizon. Adoption of a wider digital

footprint, emerging technologies, cloud transitions and cybersecurity has been the order of the day.

While we scramble the puzzle individually and collectively and reorient our working styles, the changed work norms questioned our fundamental assumptions about tasks, teamwork, travel and the very essence of human connection.

The microscopic virus that we saw as a spiky tennis ball converted physical workforce into remote labour, overnight.

Supplementary digital tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet became the primary plat-

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BUSINESS

forms for meetings and interactions.

For the average working employee, very unsurprisingly, it posed some initial pleasant surprises. Suddenly the travails of traffic, congested roads, office distractions diffused and there was the promise of a higher productivity in their personal output. More time suddenly surfaced in calendars with the removal of quotidian activities of a normal day. Some companies who relied on a lot of travel smiled to see the sudden dip in travel expenses and bottom line paced better than normal even with top line developing a dent.

Real Estate holdings did not seem like a necessity and a lot of capital investment got deferred or cancelled much to the dismay of the commercial space market and to the silent glee of the companies.

But as days rolled on, we had problems so endemic to the human mind. With lesser human interactions, employees started feeling lost, lacking in belongingness, getting isolated and out of sync and developing a scary feeling of having been forgotten. The comfort of physical teaming, workspaces, water cooler, the coffee chats became absent and we felt the lack of connection. New questions propped in our minds.

How do I build trust without meeting someone physically, how can visual images or a sound on the telephone line be the new ‘face’ of connection?

Managers grappled with managing

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people, helping teams stay productive, conveying the spirit of work and collaboration and felt the ability to drive to a common vision touching a new low. With the ‘video off ’ option in meetings, we were losing that important ‘non-verbal’ part of our communication which was often embellishing our ability to judge the mood, build true consensus and remove ambiguity.

Slowly we had to create norms.

While the intensity of the pandemic fluctuates and we hope to see the end of restrictions and life slowly returning to normal – remote working will stay on. We have explored and seen the benefits of a hybrid workstyle where we mixed the online and offline presence and interactions.

But the fundamental question to all of this change, return and mixing the workstyles is singular – How do we make better human connection?

Work at every level is about connections. How are we interacting with others? How can we leverage technology to make these connections more meaningful and inclusive? Some of the fundamentals remain the same – deep listening, thinking and processing and empathising but what one needs to adjust to is the lack of that physical presence. The data points are no more the body language and the nonverbal cues but the voice, the words on a mail or an apparition on a video call.

While these may not be what we de-

ciphered in the past, our minds will learn to work with these mediums and understand and make decisions.

One of our primary needs is the intent to connect. We are wired to belong in groups, nuclear or large families, or relatives or friends and colleagues. All social media is designed to help us ‘belong’ to some place, even if that place is not a physical one but in the confines of our mind, where we find love, togetherness and alignment with others.

The next is our keenness to give.

It is when we give that we get. Out transactions with others are not always about gaining something. Trust builds when we help someone and not because there is a distant reward at the end of an interaction. Giving is also infectious, because when you selflessly give, the person is motivated to try the same herself.

Then we have to act on that the intent and the quest to give. We are not designed to be solitary and autonomous. We are a social species and our mind and biology have been shaped to become someone whom others can depend on. We need to act on that premise.

At the end of all this, it is not the physical presence of the touch and feel, it is intent to give and act on our best thoughts for others that builds human connections – whether we work remotely or are in the same room as someone else

HEALTH

Dr Arun Oommen MBBS, MS (Gen Surg), MCh (Neurosurgery), MRCSEd,MBA Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon VPS Lakeshore Hospital NH-47, Bypass, Maradu, Nettoor PO, Kochi 682040, India.

The attachment phase brings a feeling of calmness, security, a desire to protect one another, emotional union, and comfort. This attachment phase doesn’t just exist in romantic relationships, but can also be present with other types of bonds such as in families, friends, and even in colleagues.

The Science of Love-Making O

n February 14th each year, lovers express their love and affection with greetings and gifts of flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and experiences.

From songs and poems to novels and movies, romantic love is one of the most enduring subjects for artworks through the ages.

The complexity of love has much to do with how people experience it differently and how it can change over time. Falling in love causes our body to release a flood of feel-good chemicals that trigger specific physical reactions. Though we relate our heart to love, it's actually centers in the brain that initiates and nurture love and controls other organs like the heart to fall in line to prepare the body for love-making. This internal elixir of love is responsible for making our cheeks flush, our palms sweat, and our hearts race. Levels of these substances, which include dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine, increase when two people fall in love. Dopamine creates feel-

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ings of euphoria while adrenaline and norepinephrine are responsible for the pitter-patter or palpitations of the heart, restlessness, and overall preoccupation that go along with experiencing love. The phrase 'love is blind' is a valid notion because we tend to idealize our partner and see only things that we want to see in the early stages of the relationship, "There are three phases of love, which include lust, attraction and attachment. Lust is a hormonedriven phase where we experience desire. Blood flow to the pleasure center of the brain happens during the attraction phase when we feel an overwhelming fixation with our partner. This behavior fades during the attachment phase when the body develops a tolerance to pleasure stimulants. Endorphins and hormones vasopressin and oxytocin also flood the body at this point creating an overall sense of well-being and security that is conducive to a lasting relationship.

The feeling of being in love can

not only have an effect on our brain, but it can also lead to changes in human physiology and behavior. According to scientists from around the world, each stage of love for another human may be driven by the release of different hormones. This cocktail of hormones released during each phase ( Three phases includes lust, attraction and attachment) can influence the way that we think and behave and can have a positive effect on our well-being.

Lust

The first phase of falling in love is the lust or the desire phase. Lust is the craving for sexual satisfaction which is a feeling that evolves in humans to motivate union with a single partner. During this phase, men and women both release healthy amounts of testosterone and estrogen.

In females, estrogen plays a role in vaginal health, longing for physical closeness with a mate, and the desire for sex. In both males and females (but more so in men), tes-

tosterone drives sexual desire, openness, and seductiveness.

Regardless of gender when these hormones are present at healthy levels, the reproductive system is regulated, energy levels increase, and sex drive is heightened. Pheromones, which are odourless chemicals produced by humans and detected by the nose of other humans, also play a role in the lust phase because they help to initiate the initial desire. During this phase, the primary objective is to have sex rather than form an emotional connection.

Attraction

Scientists have found evidence that adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin are involved in the attraction phase.

Adrenaline is a hormone that is released during the human stress response and also plays a role in enhancing the attraction and arousal of humans. This hormone causes the heart to beat faster and stronger, resulting in a surge of energy and focusing attention solely on your

potential mate. It can also heighten feelings of anxiety or nervousness and butterflies in the stomach.

Dopamine is a hormone that plays a role in motivation, addiction, attention, and desire. Once released, this chemical messenger produces a feeling of happiness and bliss. Dopamine is also released in response to cocaine and sugar which are both incredibly addictive. During the attractive phase, dopamine levels increase which may essentially lead to an addiction to the person that is desired.

High levels of dopamine are also associated with norepinephrine which is another chemical messenger that increases excitement and focuses on another individual.

Serotonin is a hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter and plays a role in maintaining mood balance, appetite, sleep, memory, sexual desire, and sexual function. During the attraction phase, serotonin levels decrease which can result in sleeplessness. Low levels of serotonin have also been linked to individuals with

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and may also be the reason why individuals in the attraction phase of love obsessively think about their potential partner. Even though this hormone decreases during the attraction phase, sex later can actually cause serotonin levels to increase again.

During this attraction phase, one may experience a feeling of euphoria or exhilaration and a craving for a union with the other human that they desire. Since hormones associated with the stress response are released during the attraction phase, individuals also may experience physiological changes such as sleeplessness, increased energy, loss of appetite, rapid heart rate, and accelerated breathing. Often considered the “honeymoon phase” between two partners, this phase usually only lasts a few months or less before the attraction fades and the attachment phase takes over.

Attachment

Once the attraction phase has settled down dopamine, serotonin,

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HEALTH

and adrenaline levels return to normal and another phase begins. The two major hormones involved in the attachment (or long-term bonding) phases are oxytocin and vasopressin which both play a role in social and reproductive behaviors in humans.

They determine the longevity of any relationship.

Oxytocin, also referred to as the “love hormone” is released during the attachment phase in correlation with physical touch and results in an increase in dopamine (the reward hormone).

This is perhaps why the area of the brain which is associated with the feeling of reward and pleasure is activated when oxytocin is released during contact with another human. Gestures such as hugging, kissing, cuddling, and sex can boost oxytocin levels which enhances the monogamous bond between both partners. Oxytocin is also released in mothers while breastfeeding their infant which facilitates a deep mother-infant bond.

Vasopressin is another hormone

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released after physical touch that initiates the desire to stay with that particular individual and develops a strong emotional attachment.

The attachment phase brings a feeling of calmness, security, a desire to protect one another, emotional union, and comfort.

This attachment phase doesn’t just exist in romantic relationships, but can also be present with other types of bonds such as in families, friends, and even in colleagues.

Both lust and attraction have been known to blur the functioning of the prefrontal cortex of our brains due to the increase of hormones that drive sexual desire and reward, this leads to irrational behaviour, which in this case, is not necessarily a total eclipse of the heart, but rather, a total eclipse of the brain.

Decreased frontal cortex activity

Romantic love slows down activity in the frontal cortex, relaxing the discerning judgmental part of the brain. You are less in-

clined to see your partners' shortcomings or don’t recognise their misbehaving. The brain becomes fixated on affection when in love.

The limbic part of the brain rules the cortex. The cortex controls logical thinking whereas emotions are processed by the limbic system. When too many positive chemicals like dopamine flood your brain, they head straight for the limbic system.

Now, will love make you happy always? To have a beloved possession, as well as all the thoughts, feelings, and actions that come along with love? The evidence is pretty clear that although love can make you feel great, it also brings quite a bit of misery, too, and not just when you break up. Being in love is associated with emotions of joy and happiness, but it is also associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, too. Because happiness is not just about good feelings, it’s also about the absence of bad ones. The research is clear that love does not equal happiness

FINANCE

Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen This article is authored by Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen. Adv Oommen, who specializes 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.

To add to the woes of a registered person, the Government in the Finance Bill 2022 has proposed to amend section 16 of the Central Goods & Services Tax Act, 2017, whereby it has “reserved” its “right” to restrict the input tax credit that can be availed by a registered person.

BUDGET 2022 - DO WE HAVE A STABLE POLICY IN LETTER AND SPIRIT?

I

was recently added to the national list prepared by the Government for those suffering from Covid, which coincidentally happened to be around the time of the Union Budget 2022. I was left with no option but to stay indoors and reflect, among others, on the Dickensian nightmare of the impact of Covid on life. In the world of viruses, it is not a matter of happenstance that colour, power, religion, creed, or for that matter status in society, has no impact on its virulence.

In this moment of a personal

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struggle, I did hope that there would be some joy in the Union Budget 2022, and that it would assuage the concern of ever-growing inflation and provide relief to the middle class, of which I am a part. While the opening was indeed thrilling, this movie has failed to connect with the masses.

The Hon’ble Finance Minister in her speech stated as follows, which was indeed welcome: "The proposals in this budget, while continuing with our declared policy of stable and predictable tax regime, intend to bring more

reforms that will take ahead our vision to establish a trustworthy tax regime. This will further simplify the tax system, promote voluntary compliance by taxpayers, and reduce litigation."

After having perused the Finance Bill, 2022, it appears that the speech of the Hon’ble Finance Minister was akin to the doctor informing the family of a seriously ill patient that they should be prepared for likely bad news, while also comforting the family that they should be thankful that the patient would meet his saviour without much suf-

fering. I would sadly say that the so called “stable and predictable” policy appears to be so only in paper, unless arguendo, one would contend that being unstable and unpredictable at all times is of course an indication of stability and predictability. Sarcasm aside, the changes proposed in the Union Budget 2020 do not conform with the policy of a “stable and predictable” tax regime.

It is disheartening to note that the Finance Bill, 2022 has sought to unsettle various settled provisions of law. In this article, I intend to delve into some of the key direct tax positions that the Government is seeking to unsettle through the Finance Bill, 2022.

Amendment in the Faceless Assessment provisions

On the positive side, the Faceless Assessment scheme now provides that if a request for a personal hearing has been requested by a tax payer, the concerned income-tax authority shall allow such a hearing.

On the negative side, the Government has sought to omit the provisions of section 144(9) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’). The said sub-section provided that if an assessment was made contrary to the procedure laid down under the Act, the assessment proceedings would be considered void. Various courts, for instance, the Delhi High Court in the case of DJ Surfactants Vs National E-Assessment Centre, Income-tax Department, New Delhi [2021] 281 Taxman 256, have stayed assessment orders,

where the concerned assessment order has been passed in violation of the procedure prescribed under section 144B of the Act. In my view, the purpose of the said sub-section, ie, Section 144B(9) was to ensure that the Department strictly comports with the provisions of section 144B, failing which, they run the risk of the assessment order being regarded as void. With this deletion, it appears that the Government itself does not have faith in its officers in ensuring strict compliance with the law. Not surprisingly, these amendments are proposed retrospectively with effect from April 1, 2021.

Would this be an indication of a “stable” policy? I leave it to the reader to decide. As a scholar once remarked, “If you can’t win your

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FINANCE

In the Finance Bill, 2022, the Government has proposed to include an Explanation in the Act to clarify that the term ‘tax’ includes and shall be deemed to have always included any surcharge or cess, by whatever name called, on such tax.

cases in Court, then simply amend the law.”

Clarification regarding the deductibility of cess The Bombay High Court in a recent judgment in the case of Sesa Goa Limited Vs Joint CIT [2020] 423 ITR 426, has held that “education cess” could be claimed as a deduction whilst computing the income under the head “Profits and Gains from Business & Profession”. The Hon’ble High Court whilst arriving at its judgment placed reliance on a circular issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes dated 18.05.1967. The said circular was observed as follows: “When the matter came up before the Select Committee, it was decided to omit the word ‘cess' from the clause. The effect of the omission of the word ‘cess' is that only taxes paid are to be disallowed in the assessments for the years 1962-63 and onwards.”

In the Finance Bill, 2022, the Government has proposed to include an Explanation in the Act to clarify that the term ‘tax’ includes and shall be deemed to have always included any surcharge or cess, by whatever name called, on such tax.

Not surprisingly again, this amend-

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ment is proposed to take effect retrospectively from 01.04.2005 and would accordingly now apply in relation to the Assessment Year 2005-06 and subsequent assessment years.

There have been various other amendments in the provisions governing reassessment and the validity of assessment undertaken on non-existent entities pursuant to a scheme of re-organisation, presumably to overcome the ratio of the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Maruti Suzuki Limited [2019] 265 Taxman 515. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Maruti held that initiation of assessment proceedings against a predecessor corporate entity which had ceased to exist pursuant to a scheme of amalgamation, was void-ab-initio. To overcome this judgment, the Government has now proposed to introduce a sub-section in section 170 of the Act to provide that the assessment or other proceedings pending or completed on the predecessor in the event of a business reorganisation, shall be deemed to have been made on the successor.

The same overarching feature of ‘stability’ is also evident on a perusal

of the changes proposed on the indirect tax front. For instance, to add to the woes of a registered person, the Government in the Finance Bill 2022 has proposed to amend section 16 of the Central Goods & Services Tax Act, 2017, whereby it has “reserved” its “right” to restrict the input tax credit that can be availed by a registered person. A shocking aspect is the fact that a recipient could after having paid his supplier, be denied input tax credit, if the latter has failed to his output tax in entirety. Consequently, if the supplier fails to discharge his tax liability in entirety, the recipient of his goods would be denied credit. To me, this provision is absurd or irrational, to state the least, as the very concept of input tax credit does not require a one-to-one correlation. I would urge the opposition to strongly consider debating these proposed amendments in Parliament.

I hope the Government would at least reconsider the amendments proposed in section 16 of the Act, as it would indeed now be prone to challenges before various courts. I will in the subsequent article delve into some of the key indirect tax changes proposed in the Finance Bill, 2022

HEALTH & FITNESS

Fight depression and anxiety with exercise Here we do have some realistic tips to help you to start exercising and stay motivated.

P

COS is an endocrine disorder that results in symptoms such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain, irregular menstrual cycles, acne, and infertility in women. Depression is a condition in which a person feels discouraged, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in life.

Leading an active lifestyle, in general, may help improve mental health. People with PCOS who reported exercising regularly had fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression and those who are doing at least moderate exercise each week were less likely to be depressed.

The Androgen Excess and PCOS Society recommends getting at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day and increasing your activity effort when you can.

Do your best to stick to that schedule. Some women wake up earlier in the morning to work out or try to fit it in during a lunch hour or after work. There is no perfect time to exercise, only when you can make it work consistently.

You may also notice that your self-esteem and body image take a hit, or you experience depression and anxiety from all these physical changes that arise after diagnosis.

But there’s good news! A lot of these signs and symptoms can be improved with a few tweaks to your lifestyle, particularly with cardiovascular exercise and strength training.

Feeling restless, overthinking, being easily fatigued, having difficulty in concentrating, having muscle tension, sleep problems like restlessness or unsatisfying sleep are

the symptoms of ANXIETY. All these will affect our mental well-being and will lead to psychological problems.

Remedies to Overcome Depression and Anxiety With Exercises: Exercise Regularly:

Regular exercise may ease depression and anxiety. Exercise has many psychological and emotional benefits too. It can help you to release feel-good endorphins, natural brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of well-being. Taking off your mind from worries can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that leads to Depression and Anxiety.

Feel Better:

With the help of a fitness coach or a well-trained fitness trainer it is possible to meet the exercise goals or challenges and of course, you can boost your self-confidence, even by doing lite exercises. Getting in shape can also make you feel better about your appearance.

Socialize with Others:

Get more socially interactive. Going to a gym for physical activity may give you chances to meet or socialize with others in a friendly atmosphere which can help to improve your mood.

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Stay away from Alcohol:

Drinking alcohol will only make depression worse and harm your brain. Talk to a health professional if you think that you will find it hard to stop drinking. They can give supportive counselling and services, sometimes a short course of medication can be helpful. Taking this step will boost your mental health and help you to feel better.

Consult a Doctor Before Starting a Workout:

Talk to your doctor to find out which activity, how much exercise, and what intensity level is okay for you. He or she may also have helpful advice if you are under medication, it will help you to get started and stay motivated. Exercise and physical activity are always great to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety, but they aren't a substitute for talk therapy or medications.

Be Dedicated:

Prepare for setbacks and obstacles. Give yourself credit for every step in the right direction, no matter how small. If you skip exercise one day, that doesn't mean you can't maintain an exercise routine and might as well quit. Just try, try, and try again the next day and stick with it.

Activities that will help you to lift your mood Running is a natural mood booster Yoga and Pilates Walking Outdoor games Group activities like aerobics, dance, etc Swimming Gardening Laughing therapy Lifting weights will also lift your mood 

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WORLDVIEW

Ravi Saini

One Nation One Legislation. Men & Women are both born with unique characteristics and are equipped with shouldering the responsibility to complement each other to build a developed and empowered society.

Towards Ethical and Gender-Neutral Empowerment

W

hen we look around, there are clear signs of politics and policies that are heavily loaded with influences. The result: Inequalities in wealth creation and distribution and avoidable expenditures. The rich are becoming richer and the poor are getting poorer.

The top of the pyramid or the food chain is getting squeezed and the bottom of it is ever-widening under the vote-bank politics. Why have things come to such a pass?

It is because of the lack of vision towards real development agenda that can be much easier, way less expensive, and could bring a significantly greater perceived value. You must always remember that real vision can create wealth but not the other way around. On the contrary, excessive use of money power and muscle power is on the rise with the emergence of fearful modernday leaders for whom the sole motive is to grab power at any cost; such leaders with control-freak mindsets will always create a faulty

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narrative with a team of followers with vested interests. This definitely is not a good sign for a healthy democracy. There are contrasting roles designed for the ruling class and those in opposition and they can't ever be termed as enemies to each other. We belong to the land of karma and opportunities with a rich heritage of its great saints and leaders that have left behind for us the sanatan dharma & Sikhism to spread love, peace and harmony among all as a principal objective.

What is the Way Ahead?

The primary approach should be to bring in simple participation of every elected Member of Parliament because each and every member represents the collective voice of the masses of their constituencies. What the MP talks, debates, or highlights can be judged by the public because it is the public that empowers these MPs to become lawmakers. We must know that these law makers are supposed to be making life easier for the public by playing the balanc-

ing act and allowing the functioning of the House and its conduct to set an example for the younger generations to carry on with its traditions as well as allow the world to witness why we are a rich and strong nation that offers them a ready market with unprecedented investment opportunities.

These law makers must also ensure that gender-neutral policies are put in place and nothing be ever heavily loaded in favour of a particular class, gender or religion. Men and women are both born with unique characteristics and are equipped with qualities to complement each other to build a developed and empowered society.

Every policy especially the Economic Development Model should be framed in such a way that the education for the child shouldn't come out as a choice because of the poor economic condition of a particular family but as a matter of pride. Therefore, a value-based educational framework will create a society where empowered men

will be able to handle an empowered woman with ease. Remember -- more and more stringent laws can't change the very human character but right education policies can.

Employment generation is way more critical than rhetoric and working on GDP numbers but the million-dollar question that always crosses the minds of the government is -- how to manage these expected number of jobs? The simplest answer to that is -- private sector. Remember, private doesn't simply mean big corporate houses but more importantly, all segments have a role to play, including big, mid-sized, small, micro and cottage industries. Again, there is a need for playing the balancing act and there are plenty and abundantly available opportunities and resources available at the disposal of the government that can do the trick. The government, when it becomes fearful of losing power, also becomes highly questionable in its decision making but this must change now. With all the right resources, public mandate and administrative skills in place,

the government should focus on providing handholding support to the private sector Investors/promoters so that they could get easier access to the right, timely and affordable capital instead of directing almost all the wealth/resources/ opportunities to select corporate houses, in the form of a reciprocal relationship or solicitation service of convenience.

The idea of positive hand-holding support could be by way of offering performance-linked incentives to the private sector such as: 1. 25% credit guarantee or capital subsidy 2. Upto 2% interest subsidy 3. Upto 10 years income tax holiday subject to main promoter keeping minimum 51% stake with 10 years lock-in period

The key sectors that require investment:

A) Multimodal public transportation system to be run on non-fossil fuel cells B) Wate & sanitation C) Integrated industrial townships D) Green energy

E) Real Estate with warehousing/cold storage F) Semiconductor device manufacturing G) 16-lane economic corridor connecting North India from Uttrakhand to Rameshwaram in the South with High-Speed Bullet Train alongside, this corridor could create tremendous growth prospects for wellness realty space to attract inbound foreign tourism that can benefit from ancient wisdom known as Panchakarma/Panchakosha (Ayurveda, Yoga, Kalari, Marma, and Diet & Nutrition) because health is the biggest wealth as the whole world has come to realise.

To conclude, highly educated, unemployed, or unemployable youngsters are the ticking time bomb of the nation and it's the most ideal time to create a new ministry of employment that works towards identifying private investment avenues of non-tax revenues that simultaneously pushes the jobs and enterprises to accommodate hundreds or thousands of visionaries who will be transformed into unicorns. Let's make a New India!

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MOTIVATION

Dolly Neena

Your purpose might not remain the same all your life, it can change over some years – So be open for change and a productive detour.

Dolly Neena 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.

WHY IN THE WORLD…?!

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HY?!! - This is a question we all ask ourselves from time to time. Why do we do what we do? Why should we do what we do? Do we really need to do what we do? How long should we continue doing this? What is really the purpose of what you do, in business and life?! What constantly fills the most of the waking minds of our adult lives and what causes this intense persistence of dreams?

Ask yourself- ‘What really makes you come alive?’

To sustain and succeed in life, we know that a sense of “Purpose” is inevitable. The most pertinent definition of ‘purpose’ is the “Why” question.

The most successful organizations you see across the globe have a common factor – their leaders are passionately at the forefront of the team to bring out the best from his/

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her organization, and of the entire process. They sacrifice a lot of their time, effort, energy, materials, and life to innovate and develop their team, products, and company. They walk the talk and lead from the front. They teach their team what the meaning of entrepreneurial passion is. There is a prevailing sense of purpose to all of them.

So, What brings about this passion into our lives – and most importantly what makes it stay?

I’d say it’s how you define ‘purpose’ that answers how long you hold your feeling of ‘passion’ in whatever you do. An entrepreneur should be fueled by passion, and also should encourage its employees to have a purpose from what they experience out of their everyday work. If the employees have purpose and find passion, then it is easier for them to create value in what they offer their customers. It magically becomes a

personal hope for their future goals, as they handle their future plans.

We all step into every next stage of our lives with ridiculous baggage, which mostly determines or at least influences how we perceive the world we live in. Most of the time, it’s this prejudistic baggage that does not let us fly free to follow our dreams and passions. It is when you are able to lighten up your mind, you’ll be able to discover what really feels important to you. It is always different for each individual. Every person has his/her soul purpose to follow, a different destiny to pursue.

At times, it gets so obscure that we miss to see or find what that is. It is indeed when you discover your true purpose, then only you are able to feel the fueled intense passion within you to pursue your genuine dreams. Isn’t it true that everything involves sacrifice and everything that we do in this world can succeed only

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MOTIVATION

if we pursue it with much grit and determination? When you embark on something, there will always be unpleasant experiences, social pressures, and what not. Your purpose should make your life lighter, not a chore or a burden that you have struggled waking up to every day; but something that you do just because you simply love doing it. If you do not appreciate your job, this will cause you to fall into complacency and later cultivate a self-destructive work culture; which will negatively affect your reputation and morale.

Find meaning in what you do – it is extremely important.

You might have heard the adage, “Do what you love and you won’t have to work a day in your life.” It is mostly true in a lot of ways. Use your passion to fuel the success at work, to fuel happiness around you, to fuel the cheerfulness of people around you. Being genuine to yourself will add on more milestones to your success. It is that ‘fire inside you’ that made you start this after all. It was your belief in something that made you initiate this new venture. There can be roadblocks and challenges like the pandemic; But the same ‘fire in your belly’ will

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and should sustain and help you survive the storm. Be flexible to bend and make necessary changes in the plan, so that it may help you overcome the levels of uncertainty and ambiguity if any that may arise ahead. Always keep a core team of people with you whom you can trust, always ask for feedback, and keep developing and innovating.

Change and adapt through the smooth and tough times. Your passion will keep you steadfast in your path.

There are times when we start something new, when we get a new job, or when we partner with a new team, there are high chances that your morale and passion will be on a higher note. But after working for some months or years, you find that you don’t feel the same zeal or vigor as like in the early days. This is because somewhere down the lane you lost interest; and you forgot to remind yourself of your purpose in what you do if at all you have had a purpose at all. In a situation where you find yourself lost after a couple of years, remember to stop and look around, declutter your mind, remind yourself why you started this, after all, ask yourself whether you

still can relate yourself to this environment and the cause, ask others’ help if needed, go for an unwinding vacation, look around the company if you can add up anything else to what you’re currently doing, be willing to change and adapt – there would be scores of options available if you still want to continue where you are. If you cannot find yourself happy anymore in this work, make sure you make a decision to move on before it gets worse. Forcing yourself to stay on somewhere just because you think you’re obliged to, would be one of the greatest mistakes you’d be doing – it would definitely won’t do any good to you nor others. Understand that human beings find themselves at crossroads at different timelines of their lives – It is not wrong to take another turn that takes you to a happier destination. Your purpose might not remain the same all your life, it can change over some years – So be open for change and a productive detour.

Keep your mind prepared for the unexpected U-turns of life and career. And when the time comes, move on to your next destination as gracefully as you can. Find the power within and march ahead!

FEATURE

Akhila Midhun-

Stubborn About the Goals but Flexible About the Methods

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eddings are made in heaven and effectuated on earth without losing even a bit of the allure. Though the people are ready to spend their lifetime earnings on these events, it is difficult and timeconsuming for them to work on it and nowadays, the entire responsibility is entrusted to the event management groups who execute it for them gorgeously.

Akhila Midhun is an Indian entrepreneur, who started her career as the Founder CEO of POSH MAGICAE Event Management Venture in 2017, which was the first event management team to introduce budgetfriendly weddings. Born as the elder daughter of Mr. P D Lucky, who has put a success story from zero to hero with real hard work, stern business ethics, and an untiring attitude, Akhila Midhun always treats him as her role model and keeps her feet on his footprints. He is very upright believing that business is not just profit-making; it is a long-term relationship with the clients built on love, trust, and reliability. The name and goodwill earned by her father made her think differently and she wanted

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to start something on her own which should make a positive difference in society and that marked the birth of Posh Magicae which brought smiles on thousands of faces.

Posh Magicae is different from similar others in that they undertake events of any dimension. Budgetfriendly weddings are the highlights of the team. There is a story behind the theme. In her hometown, Akhila got a contract for a grand wedding ceremony around 4 years back and it got canceled as the bride’s family had to face some financial loss which forced them to cut down the extravaganza. As this family was personally known to Akhila, a new style of beauty in simplicity was adopted on her own and it was a grand success.

According to her, the tears of gratitude echoed in the eyes of the parents and the bride are overwhelming even now and this event drew more publicity to the team. Akhila envoys the credit to the dedicated team of 18 coordinators who always work beyond their comfort zones to create histories. So far, they have hosted hundreds of budget-friendly weddings all over Kerala and are ready to step out to conquer the south In-

Akhila Midhun is a strong woman who is determined and compassionate. She treats obstacles as stepping stones on her way to success, learns from setbacks, and never stops until she achieves her goal.

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FEATURE

With Her Father P. D. Lucky dian wedding world. Akhila aims to host the weddings of 10 financially backward girls free of cost this year and the team has already initiated the work.

Akhila Midhun is a strong woman who is determined and compassionate. She treats obstacles as stepping stones on her way to success, learns from setbacks, and never stops until she achieves her goal. When the business was progressing smoothly, the upshots of the COVID pandemic affected the team too. All signed events were cancelled due to the restrictions imposed by the Government and they were stand still for some time. Akhila was positive, inspiring and during the hard time, she came up with the creative idea of producing a movie with the support of the team. Akhila was very much passionate about visual media and she effectively utilized this passion to produce the short film “Freedom @ Midnight” in 2021, which has bagged in several awards. Outstanding awards for best short film and best actress in Calcutta International CULT film festival, best director and best actress awards

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in Kunal Bane International short film festival, best short film award in Motion Frames virtual short film festival, Winner of CICFF, and prestigious nominations to Indian panorama international film festival and IFH national level short film contest 2021 are few among them. It marked the story of a young entrepreneur who had a will to find the way to success. She always celebrates the win and sets a new big goal which keeps her and the team more productive.

World of opportunities opens its doors to those who uphold constant growth and development.

Akhila was entrusted with the responsibility as the Managing Director of VINCHIM FINANCIERS in 2021 which is a registered bank in Kerala. As per the banking records, in this one year, the turnover and the profit of the bank have almost doubled from its initial investment.

Akhila loves to do good, feel good and do things differently. As a successful entrepreneur, she acts in the key role of a managing partner of AKHILANJALI Convention Centre, an eco-friendly, multi-functional auditorium at Cherthala,

Kerala. The functions happening here can avail the services of Posh Magicae on a negotiable budget.

Akhila Midhun is progressing steadily with similar ongoing projects and captivating ideas for the future and this makes her really interesting. She did her graduation and post-graduation in English Literature with B.Ed.in English.

She never wanted to put a full stop over there, pursued her passion of being an entrepreneur, being the light in the roads of hundreds of people around her, and being so impressive that the little girls want to be like her when they grow up.

Akhila is lucky to have a supporting family without whom she would never have achieved this goal. Her mother, Chitralekha, and sister, Anjali provide a constant source of energy to her. Akhila is married to Mr. Midhun, a young emerging businessman and perfect partner who motivates her to pursue her dreams and passion. Akhila Midhun sets an example of a hardworking, inspiring, and promising woman entrepreneur who has large potential to conquer the business world in the years to come

WELLNESS

REJUVENATE YOUR BODY AND MIND

Carnoustie Resorts

Chitvvan Waraich, Head of Marketing & Communications

W

e've gotten lost somewhere down our busy life street. The architecture of our mind, body, and soul requires realignment.

Everyone requires a place where they can rejuvenate, relax, and find inner peace. Carnoustie Ayurveda & Wellness Resort, located in a unique natural setting, is one of the best wellness retreats in Kerala, holding the key to your soul retreat.

The luxurious Carnoustie Ayruveda and Wellness Resort, located on the shores of the spellbinding Arabian Sea and just 12 kilometers from the world-famous backwaters of Alappuzha, is the ideal place for

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you designed to be a perfectly restful and rejuvenating escape.

It includes mesmerising villas, wherein each of them is a luxurious blend of modern and traditional Keralan design, with private pools, lavish bathrooms, and walk-in dressing rooms. Well-appointed rooms, luxurious bathrooms, and artistically designed walk-in dressers provide the comfort you seek in your wellness retreat.

The stunning Ayurveda spa is a major draw here, offering a wide range of treatments and tailored wellness programs based on age-old practices, with a focus on rejuvenation, stress management, and de-

toxing combined with personalised Ayurveda diets.

For those looking to explore, take bicycle rides around local villages to get a glimpse of rural life in this beautiful corner of India, go on historical excursions to learn about the region's Jewish and colonial history, visit sacred temples, or visit the nearby Kumarakom bird sanctuary.

There are also daily yoga sessions, Marari beach, and Carnoustie's own wonderful houseboat for private lunch and evening cruises along the backwaters.

This wellness haven consists of some of the best programs like weight loss, diabetic management,

anti-aging, Panchakarma, Yoga, and lots more. Kundalini yoga and pranic healing are used specifically to heal the mind. The treatments are designed to strengthen and revitalise the body, soul, and mind. Anxiety, diabetes, psoriasis, spinal injuries, gastroenteritis, slip disc, asthma, and other ailments are just a few of the treatments available.

Negative emotions or stress are now a major cause of concern for many diseases. Stress is known to lower the body's immunity, impair normal functioning, and have a negative impact on an individual's mental and physical well-being.

Their experts combine the benefits of panchakarma therapies, yoga, and meditation to heal and de-stress the mind and expel toxins from the body, thereby healing both the physical and mental states.

The Chimaera restaurant, which takes advantage of the surrounding water and its bounty, serves up the freshest seafood, while Ida has something for everyone. There is no alcohol available at this resort because it is devoted to the body and mind.

Each meal's menu is prepared specifically for each guest in consultation with Ayurvedic doctors

and nutritional experts to supplement treatments and improve results. The majority of the fresh vegetables and herbs are grown in their organic garden, and the water served is infused with herbs to boost its nutritional value.

Therapeutic nutrition at Carnoustie resorts is a one-of-a-kind experience, thanks to the restaurant's signature combination of panoramic views, exceptional service, and innovation. Savour nature's goodness by thriving on the mindfully crafted Ayurveda and wellness cuisine at Carnoustie resorts, one of Kerala's Best Ayurveda and Wellness Resorts

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GADGETS

Xiaomi Mi 11i

Rs. 24,999 Approximately

Android v11

6.67 inches (16.94 cm) Display

108 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP

Primary Camera

16 MP Front Camera

6 GB RAM

128 GB Internal Memory

5160 mAh Battery Capacity

Realme 9i

Rs 13,999 (Approximately) Android v11 6.6 inches (16.76 cm) Display 50 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP Primary Camera 16 MP Front Camera 4 GB RAM 64 GB Internal Memory 5000 mAh Battery Capacity

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Rs 49,999 (Approximately) Android v12 6.4 inches (16.26 cm) Display 12 MP + 12 MP + 8 MP Primary Camera 32 MP Front Camera 8 GB RAM 128 GB Internal Memory 4500 mAh Battery Capacity

OPPO A16K

Rs 10,398 (Approximately) Android v11 6.52 inches (16.56 cm) Display 13 MP Primary Camera 5 MP Front Camera 3 GB RAM 32 GB Internal Memory 4230 mAh Battery Capacity

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BEAUTY

Tone Your Beauty With Apples

F

ruits are always an essential element in our day-to-day life. They are an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, and they are high in fiber. Fruits also provide a wide range of health-boosting antioxidants, including flavonoids. Eating fruit provides many health benefits. Those who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Fruits provide nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of your body. Antioxidants specifically help your skin maintain that natural glow you love so much. In addition, they can help you maintain an even skin tone and supple skin.

Everyone might have heard the phrase ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ and thus apple is a fruit that is pivotal to include in our daily life. Apples are rich in Vitamin A, B complex, and vitamin C and minerals. They are known to boost immunity, neutralise irritable bowel syndrome, detoxify your liver, avert haemorrhoids, help with weight loss, increase the endurance of your body,

lead to whiter teeth, aid digestion, help with detoxification of the body, and lead to better blood circulation.

For apples, there are some beauty benefits too so let’s go through it.

Natural Toner

Toners are beneficial for a skincare routine, as it helps in removing leftover oils and residue after cleansing. They also help to rebalance your skin’s pH, leaving skin smooth and refreshed. And in the case of apples, the nutrients present in them benefit the skin greatly by acting as a natural and wonderful toner. It helps tighten the skin overall improving the circulation of blood and getting it to the surface to make the skin better.

Treats Acne, Blemishes, and Dark Spots

Acnes, blemishes, and dark spots are common skin problems faced by all aged people which cause extreme dullness. But the use of apples can refresh the facial texture due to its rich vitamin contents such as vitamin A, C, and as well as zinc which promotes clear and healthy skin.

Smash one slice of apple and mix it with one spoon of milk. Apply it

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International

Mob: 9388618112

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to the affected area and repeat the process thrice a week for better results. While using refrigerated apples will give better results.

Hydrates Skin

Drinking water is very necessary for our body and skin equally. The water content in apples is very high, so even eating an apple will help with hydration. Apples not only hydrate but also cleanse the skin.

The vitamin E in the apple will keep the skin soft and hydrated.

Cover your face with apple slices (the apple needs to be cut fresh, just before you want to use it) and leave them on until slices are dry, for at least about 15 to 20 minutes.

Perfect Moisturizer

Apples have some moisturizing properties as the high water content in this fruit maintains the right amount of

moisture in the upper layer of the skin. It will also protect the skin from minor infections and dryness.

Peel and seed an apple and make a puree. Add a spoon of honey and mix it together. Use this paste on the skin on a regular basis to keep your skin soft and smooth.

Stay Beautiful!

Stay Healthy!

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TRAVELOGUE

The Lofoten Islands are located off Norway's northwest coast. This mountain range is one of the area's main attractions. In fact, if you include all of Scandinavia, this is one of the best destinations to visit. It is a one-of-a-kind section of wildness that should not be rushed. To truly explore the area, you must remain for more than a few days in order to experience the unique taste of the area.

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The Wonderland of Jagged Mountains and Beautiful Fjords

M

any people consider Norway to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and the Lofoten Islands are its crown jewels. The rocky mountains, narrow fjords, and picturesque communities are just a few of the things that draw millions of travelers to Arctic Norway each year.

The Lofoten Islands are located off Norway's northwest coast. This mountain range is one of the area's main attractions. In fact, if you include all of Scandinavia, this is one of the best destinations to visit.

It is a one-of-a-kind section

of wildness that should not be rushed. To truly explore the area, you must remain for more than a few days in order to experience the unique taste of the area. Lofoten Islands, located in the Arctic Circle, is also one of the greatest spots to watch and photograph the northern lights. The region is tourist-friendly, with little settlements nestled at the base of steep mountains. You will also have the opportunity to visit many beaches and spend time whale watching.

Communication with the Lofoten Islands has greatly increased as a result of the current tourism boom. On

the map of the Lofoten islands in Norway, there are two airports. One is located at Leknes, and the other in Scolvaer. Bod is the nearest train station. It is also connected to the rest of the continent through highways.

Know the Seasons

When planning a trip to Lofoten and Arctic Norway, the first thing to think about is the season. Conditions and landscapes will change dramatically throughout the year, and entry may be restricted on the coldest days of winter. While summer is by far the most popular time to visit Lofoten, more and more

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TRAVELOGUE

visitors are opting to visit outside of these months. However, it is critical to consider how you pack and dress for the various seasons.

During the winter, carry thick winter clothing as well as extra pairs of socks and long johns in case you get wet. Bringing warm clothing is also a good idea in both spring and autumn because the weather can change quickly. It's fairly uncommon for a bright morning to turn into a rainy evening. During the summer, most summits on the islands may be reached without fear of snow or avalanches. If you're a more experienced hiker, winter can provide some spectacular views; just make sure you carry (or rent) a pair of snowshoes.

Lofotodden National Park

Due to the general sceneries and natural habitats not seen in other protected areas, a more than 100km stretch of land in the western section of the archipelago has been designated as Norway's newest National Park.

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"We have secured that future generations will enjoy the distinctive and unique landscape with narrow, tall peaks, surrounded by broad sea areas and deep fjords," stated Norway's Minister for Climate and the Environment, Ola Elvestuen. As with Norway's other National Parks, the area will be open to outdoor activities that do not impair the ecosystem, such as hiking, fishing, and hunting.

uniforms and relics. This fascinating site also has a number of exhibits about Norwegian resistance and the German occupation.

It is also home to Magic Ice, a one-of-a-kind location where Lofoten life is depicted in ice sculptures, as well as the North Norwegian Artist's Centre, which features a constantly changing range of artwork in various mediums.

Svolvær

A tiny, rocky passage from the Raftsund straits leads to the Trollfjord, one of Lofoten's most popular tour boat excursions. The snowcapped Higravtinder (1,191 metres) and the craggy Trolltinder (1,045 metres) mountains rise high above the Trollfjord, towering above the fjord. This 3.2kilometer-long mountain lake is frequently frozen over.

Another popular day trip is to take the bus from Svolvær to Stokmarknes and then the express ferry back via the Trollfjord. Despite being only 800 metres wide at its widest point, it is quite a sight to see cruise

Svolvær (population 4720) is the largest town in Lofoten and is located on the south coast of Austvågøy. This town, which is well supplied by ferries and cruise ships from the mainland and internationally, is a key fishing port and where most visitors begin their Lofoten trip.

Svolvær is a lively spot to explore, especially in the port area, which has a plethora of wonderful cafés, bars, and restaurants. The Lofoten War Memorial Museum, in addition to its stores and galleries, is worth a visit for its collection of WWII-era

Trollfjord

Kabelvåg, a little fishing village on Austvågøy, is an excellent place to learn about the significance of fishing in Lofoten.

Begin at the Lofoten Museum (Lofotmuseet), which features displays of life in the 1800s, including the history of fishing on the islands, as well as a collection of Nordland-type boats and old fisherman's houses.

ships squeeze through the small gap during the summer months.

Kabelvåg

Kabelvåg, a little fishing village on Austvågøy, is an excellent place to learn about the significance of fishing in Lofoten. Begin at the Lofoten Museum (Lofotmuseet), which features displays of life in the 1800s, including the history of fishing on the islands, as well as a collection of Nordland-type boats and old fisherman's houses.

The Lofoten Aquarium (Lofotakvariet) is also a must-see. This popular site allows visitors to learn more about the area's marine life, which includes Lofoten's fish and sea creatures. Finally, don't miss out on Vgan Church, the largest wooden church north of Trondheim.

Å

You may say that all roads lead to, Lofoten's westernmost point.

This town on the island of Moskenesy is home to the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum (Norsk Fiskevrsmuseum), as well as beau-

tiful vistas.

Exhibits include a working forge and stone oven bakery, a typical fisherman's home, and traditional boats, as well as a gift shop selling locally created products such as cod liver oil produced right at the museum.

After that, pay a visit to the Lofoten Stockfish Museum (Lofoten Tørrfiskmuseum), which is dedicated to the island's most famous, thousand-year-old export. Stockfish is everywhere on the islands, made from the copious cod that spawn in Lofoten's shallow waters and allowed to cure throughout the winter months on countless drying racks, and forms the basis for many of Lofoten's superb fish dishes.

Reine

Reine, which translates as "Queen," is a scenic fishing village on Moskenesy that is sometimes recognised as Norway's most beautiful village. Because of its outstanding fjord and mountain views, this renowned tourist site

has long been a favourite haunt of painters and climbers.

The high elevation above the settlement provides spectacular views of the Moskenstraumen, a maelstrom described by Jules Verne and Edgar Allan Poe and regarded as one of the world's strongest such whirlpools. Take one of the many exhilarating boat cruises through Moskenstraumen to get a close-up glimpse of the maelstrom.

Enjoy the Gorgeous Views

The Lofoten Islands are a photographer's dream. The temperature on the Lofoten islands is pleasant all year. It is ideal for people looking for a calm vacation in Norway to simply unwind, as well as those eager for an adventure.

Norway's Lofoten islands are unlike anywhere else on the planet, with stunning, overwhelming grandeur everywhere you turn.

“Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets”

Happy and Safe Travelling!!

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AUTO REVIEW

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

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

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The rear is more conventional and the sides are already a bit dated. But on this top-spec car, it looks okay with bigger 15inch wheels and 175/60R15 tyres nicely filling up the arches.

T

he first-gen Celerio, launched in 2014 has been one of the best success stories from Maruti Suzuki with over 5.97 lakh units sold. The practical Celerio slotted in nicely between the Alto and the more premium Swift in terms of size, performance, and price. It was the car that introduced Indians to the now common AMT technology and Maruti even tried their hands at a small twocylinder diesel engine with this.

While the first-gen Celerio never made any effort towards its styling, things are a bit different with

this second generation.

The looks are a bit polarizing at first, but the more you look at it, you see a quirky Kei car styling influence. The rear is more conventional and the sides are already a bit dated. But on this top-spec car, it looks okay with bigger 15-inch wheels and 175/60R15 tyres nicely filling up the arches. The car is the same length as before but is 55mm wider. With doors and boot lid having more heft, it feels better built than before.

The insides are okay for the segment but there is a lot of visible cost-cutting. The flap-type

Maruti Celerio

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AUTO REVIEW

The extra fuel injector allows for more precise control of the AF ratio for maximum efficiency. The engine pulls decently from low revs and has decent power all across the rev range.

Because this car uses the newer Heartect platform, it also feels more refined than before.

door handles with separate request sensors, the central power window switches, the built-in head-restraints, etc. look cheap.

The front seats are comfortable but the built-in headrests on the rear seats intrude into the neck region.

Legroom front and rear have gone up by 95mm and 37mm respectively. The extra 55mm width also increases the boot capacity by 78 litres to 313 litres. You also get a 60:40 split rear seat for added practicality.

The Celerio gets the updated dual-jet 1L, 3 cyl naturally aspirated K10C engine with dual VVT. It produces 67bhp and 89Nm, which

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are one down on the earlier car, but the focus this time is on fuel efficiency. The extra fuel injector allows for more precise control of the AF ratio for maximum efficiency. The engine pulls decently from low revs and has decent power all across the rev range. Because this car uses the newer Heartect platform, it also feels more refined than before.

The biggest difference comes from the better chassis and bigger wheels, which mean the new Celerio feels closer to the Swift in terms of the way it drives. The suspension is a bit on the stiffer side, but it feels well damped and has a mature

feel about it. The steering is light, but it feels more sure-footed in the corners than before. The brakes are up to the job too.

In many ways, the new Celerio is an improvement over the old car.

It drives better, has more space, the engine is better, but the pricing seems on the higher side. With the base model costing Rs.4.99 ex. showroom, the top-end AMT variant costs over Rs.8.3 lakhs on road.

That is a lot of money for this class of car, especially when you consider that Maruti’s own Wagon R which is taller, a lot more practical and has a 1.2 litre 4 cylinder engine, costs ten thousand rupees less

MOVIE REVIEW

Scream

S

cream is the fifth sequel in the Scream horror franchise. Scream is an American slasher film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. The plot is, after 25 years a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, Calif, a new killer dons the Ghost face mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town's deadly past.

Earlier sequels had a good dose of self-awareness that has ultimately made it so unique. The new Scream movie follows that path and doesn’t disappoint, and the chemistry between the new and old cast is one of the strongest elements of the movie. This is a fantastic film in general since it is suspenseful, gruesome, horrifying, and jumpy.

In the franchise, this is a very strong sequel. This film has fantastic cinematography, a great score, and some standout performances (Jenna Ortega raises this film to new heights, while Neve returns as a Sidney incarnation that makes sense).

Hridayam

H

ridayam is an Indian Malayalam-language coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan. The plot tracks the life journey of Arun Neelakandan from age 17 to 30. The film draws some moments from the lives of director Vineeth, his wife Divya, and their friends from college and beyond. Arun and Darshana are first-year engineering students and they fall in love soon after their college begins.

And just as how things work generally in teenagers, the road ahead isn't too easy for them.

Life offers many twists and turns that they least expect. It portrays a man's life from his College days till he becomes a family man. Love, Anger, Confusion, family connection all are well portrayed in this movie. The film stars Pranav Mohanlal, Kalyani Priyadarshan, and Darshana Rajendran in pivotal roles. There are many specialties for the film and one among them is the film was shot in the same college where Vineeth and his wife Divya studied, KCG College of Technology in Chennai.

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The 355

T

he 355 is a 2022 American spy film directed by Simon Kinberg. The story is about a CIA agent Mason "Mace" Brown joins forces with a rival German agent, a cutting-edge computer specialist, and a Colombian psychologist when a top-secret weapon falls into the hands of a group of mercenaries. Together, the four women embark on a breakneck mission to save the world while staying one step ahead of a mysterious figure who's tracking their every move. The film stars Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger, and Lupita Nyong'o in pivotal roles. The plot is admittedly very familiar already, even cliched. However, the chemistry among the women was very good and realistic, which made this globetrotting action film quite engaging and even fun to watch.

The Fallout

T

he Fallout is an American high school drama film written and directed by Megan Park in her feature directorial debut. The story is about a high school student who navigates significant emotional trauma following a school shooting. “The Fallout,” is a high school drama that explores a teenager’s emotional turmoil following a school shooting. A high school student Vada begins to reinvent herself while revaluating her relationships and her view of the world. Moving away from her comfortable family routine, she starts taking chances with a series of decisions that test her own boundaries and push her in new directions. As she spends more time with Mia, they grow closer and Vada slowly redefines herself through their shared experiences. The film stars Jenna Ortega as Vada Cavell in pivotal roles. The movie stretched across the main characters and really portrayed what they went through and how they were dealing with the trauma. This masterpiece of a film depicts the consequences of tragedy on people and how they cope with it in their own unique way.

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BOOK REVIEW

The Good Son Author Price

: Jacquelyn Mitchard : ` 1,424 (Hardcover))

T

he Good Son is an emotional novel written by Jacquelyn Mitchard.

This touching novel follows Thea’s journey as a mother of a convicted felon who was just released from prison. A night of tragedy sends Stephan to prison for murdering Belinda, the love of his life, in a drug-fueled haze. He’s released after only a few years, though, and his parents, Jep and Thea are ready for life to begin moving forward again. Jacquelyn Mitchard wrote an unforgettable thriller about the integration into society for a young man after serving time in prison. The story of love and loss, retribution and forgiveness, and of taking a second chance at life and making the most of it. The Good Son had some well-drawn characters.

A poignant look at life after release from prison, and the paths that lead away from the prison gates. The Good Son puts the reader in the shoes of the family of a convict and shows them how their reintegration into the world can be extremely difficult.

The Magnolia Palace Author Price

T

: Fiona Davis : ` 2,181 (Paperback)

he Magnolia Palace is a historical fiction story penned by Fiona Davis.

The plot is about two very different women from two eras who enter the Gilded Age realm of famous industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick and his imperious daughter Helen and become part of a thrilling mystery centered on the Frick mansion that stretches through the decades. The story of Lillian, Helen, and the Frick family is revealed as the mystery of the lost Magnolia Diamond is uncovered. The story is told in two timelines from the perspective of two young women several decades apart and it is interesting to see events unfold in the same house in different periods with some of the same characters. Davis masterfully combines history, fiction, and mystery to bring alive the Frick family and their amazing art collection. Overall, a powerful combination of historical fiction and mystery with a strong focus on family rivalry and women’s rights.

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Reckless Girls Author Price

: Rachel Hawkins : ` 2,103 (Hardcover)

R

eckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins is a gothic-suspense novel. It is about the lives of Lux and Nico, a young couple eager to charter two friends to a secluded island in the Pacific Ocean, Meroe Island for a two-week vacation. But this island is shrouded in dangerous mystery and lore. The island stokes the tension between characters and adds an additional layer of suspense to the events. Reckless Girls is a cinematic thriller that cleverly blends a Gothic atmosphere with an idyllic setting that hides dark and dangerous secrets. The story was full of secrets and lies, deceit and betrayal, with complicated relationships between each of the characters.

The build-up to the plot twists is extremely interesting and captivating.

Overall, it's a very well-written, fast-paced, and intriguingly imagined tale. This is an essential must-read for anyone searching for a pleasant winter read.

Fiona and Jane Author Price

: Jean Chen Ho : ` 1,649 (Hardcover)

F

iona and Jane is a contemporary fictional novel by Jean Chen Ho. This book follows the story of two Taiwanese American girls Fiona and Jane as they attempt to navigate girlhood and later on adulthood. While the earlier chapters give us a glimpse into their family history, the later ones are more concerned with their dating lives. Jean Chen Ho explores the special bond between friends who meet in primary school and experience the ups and downs of adolescence along with the typical milestones of adulthood. The book consists of self-contained chapters that can be read like short stories. Ho's writing is so vivid, witty, and warm that after finishing "Fiona and Jane," readers will miss these characters like their own best friends. Fiona and Jane is an intimate depiction of a friendship, a deep dive into the universal perplexities of being young and alive, and a bracingly honest story of two Asian women who dare to claim joy in a changing, modern America.

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EASY & BREEZY

Ever heard about herd mentality?

‘F

ast bowlers hunt in pairs.’

Most cricket lovers would have come across this cliché, uttered as though it were some phenomenal revelation or discovery, from the so-called analysts of the game. It is the ex-cricketers who abound in cliches of this kind but just think about it. Fast bowlers bowl at the beginning of the innings and since they take turns, isn’t but natural that they hunt as a pair?

Besides, can’t we also say the same about a pair of opening batsmen?

Outside of the cricket field too, we see people – entrepreneurs to be more precise – hunting as a pack.

They co-exist though they not necessarily cooperate. Once, I heard about an eatery that specialises in chicken thoran near Balaramapuram and took a detour from the national highway during a trip. After driving many kilometres along a narrow road, I reached that restaurant. Or, so I thought. Even as I was parking, a nattukaran (local resident) enlightened me that the ‘original one’ was farther away and this was a recent imitation with the same menu.

Perhaps it is easier to copy a successful model than create or think of a new one. In my semi-urban neighbourhood, there was no bakery for a long time. Then one emerged and this started doing brisk busi-

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ness. Soon, the owner of this bakery himself started a branch, hold your breath, barely 200 metres away.

Now, there are six of them and all are doing fairly well.

Similarly, I used to carry my clothes to a faraway place to get them ironed before an ironing centre cropped up. Almost overnight, another one showed up, even closer home!

Recently, I heard about Nellikuzhi, a furniture hub in Kothamangalam and drove down to pick up a few pieces, only to get a firsthand experience of what ‘problem of plenty’ meant. There were hundreds of furniture shops, leaving one perplexed why competition was not killing them instead of helping them proliferate. “The market expands,” a friend offered and I have no option but to agree, though not sure about the underlying logic.

A few months ago, I went in search of Rahmath, the biryani place in Kozhikode, that offers a fine counter point to Paragon, the most famous. There are any number of biryani outlets in this town and each of them has no dearth of customers. But what surprised me even more was this automobile spare parts hub in the vicinity of Rahmath that simply takes one’s breath away. I am not talking about branded goods

Sujit Chandra Kumar is an independent journalist who has earlier worked with leading publications for three decades

but shops that stock anything and everything related to automobiles. At least a hundred, next to each other.

How do they thrive? Does this town have so much demand for old spares at a time when people are discarding old vehicles and opting for brand new ones? It doesn’t take a Sherlock Homes to deduce that many of the vehicles that regularly get stolen from different corners of the state must be ending up there in bits and pieces but still, how do they all manage to sell, service and survive?

Well, well, I know what some of you must be thinking. It is no great business trend that I have unearthed. After all, the Technopark and Infopark houses so many firms that offer similar kind of services.

And there are the Penta Menakas and Broadways and Lulus that bring together shopping centres that peddle essentially the same goods. I know, but will someone throw light on the secret behind why people fall for those hunting in packs?

Printed On 09/ 02/ 2022

RNI Reg No. KERENG/2011/42633