Unique Times July 2021

Vol 9 Issue No.118 July - August 2021 USD 0.70`50AED 5BD 0.500

A suggestion for RBI’s Regulations Review Authority Shri V.P. Nandakumar MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

Connecting with my tribe

Aji Krishnan, the founder & Secretary of HRDS

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

Rajeev Kumar

Director and special editor kollur Correspondents Dr. Thomas Nechupadam

Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile

Amrutha V Kumar Creative Design PEGASUS Cover Photographer Ashique Hassan Marketing USA

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Editorial “T

here is no greater reward than working from your heart and making a difference in the world” - Carlos Santana In this edition, our cover story is Aji Krishnan, the founder and Secretary of the High range Rural Development Society (HRDS)an NGO in India who gave new hope and life to the tribal people around India.

This time, Manappuram Finance Limited MD and CEO V P Nandakumar shares with our readers, for the first time, his valuable opinion on ‘A suggestion for RBI’s Regulations Review Authority’.

This edition’s travel article will give a truly distinctive experience to our readers. This month’s travel destination is Shibuya, a city in Japan.

In this edition, our auto expert introduces us to, Hyundai Alcazar. The expert takes us through the quirky features of this amazing car.

Apart from the aforesaid articles, the edition has all our regular features from beauty, movie reviews, and book reviews to motivation tips and business articles.

“There are many little ways to enlarge your world.

Love of books is the best of all.” - Jacqueline Kennedy

So let’s enlarge the world!

Enjoy Reading!

Thank You Sd/Jebitha Ajit

Cover Photograph Aji Krishnan, The Founder and Secretary of HRDS INDIA

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.

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CONTENTS

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Connecting with my tribe

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A suggestion for RBI’s Regulations Review Authority

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The Loneliness PandemicCan Technology Provide a Solution?

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The Stages of Memory Formation

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A few recent direct tax amendments is it a case of mistrust

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48 50 52 58

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Gadgets Some Remedies to Prevent Hair Breakage Shibuya: The Most Vibrant District in Tokyo Hyundai Alcazar

UNIQUE DIARY

Sterlite Copper CEO Pankaj Kumar Quits

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EO of Sterlite Copper, Pankaj Kumar has quit the organization citing personal reasons. “He took charge at the business when the factory (in Tuticorin) was shut and is leaving just months before the final verdict that is due from the Supreme Court. Last month, he started the oxygen plant for hospital supplies in a very short period of seven days,” an official at Sterlite said. “I have quit Vedanta for personal reasons,” said Kumar in a text message without giving further statements on the reasons behind his quitting. He had joined the company 2 years ago replacing P Ramnath.

Mukhesh Ambani: Companies Need to Go Green to Survive

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

Jonathan Winters

A

sia’s richest man Mukhesh Ambani stated that there is no other option for businesses but to go green and each unit of Reliance Industries will have to pivot. “We have no option as a society, as a business but to really adopt a sustainable business model,” he said while speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum. He had also mentioned his plans to make the oil-to-telecom-to-digital conglomerate net carbon zero by 2035. Their vision will be focused to recycle carbon dioxide, creating value from plastic, and building clean and affordable energy with hydrogen, wind, solar, fuel cells, and battery.

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UNIQUE DIARY

Clubhouse Expands Program Supporting Indian Content Creators

T

he social audio app Clubhouse, in a bid to get more Indian content creators has expanded its Clubhouse Creator First accelerator program to cover India. The program launched earlier this March globally, targets supporting creators with the platform, tools, and resources they need to create content on the platform. The program was first launched in the US in March and India is the second country where it was launched. The application is open on June 16, which will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The first window is closing on July 16, 2021.

Maggi Crisis: Nestle’s Unhealthy Food Controversy

“Business has only two functions – marketing and innovation.”

Peter Drucker

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T

he Maggi noodles crisis in 2015 emerged to be one of the biggest pubic relation hurdles for Nestle India, which came under fire after laboratories tested and found out that the two-minute instant noodles were unsafe and hazardous for human consumptions. The world’s largest consumer food and beverages company Nestle is yet again facing the same criticism after an internal presentation revealed that a majority of its mainstream food and beverages portfolio are unhealthy. The company stated that around 60 percent of its food and drinks portfolio- barring categories such as pet food, baby foods, and coffee- do not meet the recognized definition of health.

Chattisgarh Police File FIR Against Baba Ramdev Over Allopathy Remarks

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hattisgarh’s Raipur police have registered an FIR against yoga guru Baba Ramdev for allegedly spreading false comments about the medicines being used by the medical fraternity for the treatment of Covid-19.

The case has been filed based on a complaint by Chattisgarh’s unit of the Indian Medical Association. As per the complaint, since over the last one year, Ramdev has been allegedly propagating false information and his threatening statements on social media against medicines being used by the medical fraternity, Government of India, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and other frontline organizations in the treatment of coronavirus infection. There are several videos of him on social media in which he had allegedly made such misleading remarks, it said.

Central Government Issues Guidelines on Covid in Children

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

Winston Churchill

T

he government has come out with guidelines for the management of Covid-19 among children below 18-years of age. The guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the health ministry stated that the use of steroids is harmful in asymptomatic and mild cases of infection. DGHS suggests using them only in hospitalized severe and critically ill Covid-19 cases under strict supervision. Remdesivir, an emergency use authorization drug isn’t recommended in children. “There is a lack of sufficient safety and efficacy data concerning Remdesivir in children below 18 years of age,” the guidelines said.

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Hungarians Protest Against Planned Chinese University Campus

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housands of protestors have marched through Budapest to protest against the plans to open a Chinese university campus in the Hungarian capital. The opponents stated that this will undercut the country’s own higher education sector and increase the influence of China’s communist authorities. “I do not agree with our country strengthening its feudal relationship with China,” Patrik, a 22-year-old student who declined to give his full name, said at the protest in the Hungarian capital. He said funds should be used “to improve our own universities instead of building a Chinese one.” The government had signed an agreement with Shanghai-based Fudan University in April, with a plan to build the campus at a site in Budapest where a dormitory village for Hungarian students is supposed to come up.

Yana Sizikova Released from Police Custody: French Open Match-Fixing Case

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ana Sizikova, a Russian tennis player, has been released from police custody a day after she was arrested as part of an investigation into charges of match-fixing at last year’s French Open. She was released without being charged.

The 26-year old, who is also ranked 101 in doubles, seemed to be shocked by the allegations, as stated by her lawyer. The investigation was announced shortly after Sizikova and the American player Madison Brengle lost to the Romanians Andreea Mitu and Patricia Maria Tigin in the tournament’s opening round. Suspicions were reportedly raised after betting companies noticed hundreds of thousands of euros had been wagered on a break of serve in the second set.

Despite Sizikova’s release on Friday, the investigation is continuing.

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Christian Eriksen: Denmark & Belgium Players and Fans Show Support

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layers and fans from Demark and Belgium showed their support for Christian Eriksen during an emotional minute’s applause after pausing their European Championship group game. Referee Bjorn Kuipers stopped the play in the 10th minute after Yussuf Poulsen had given Denmark an early lead. Eriksen is recovering in the hospital after he had suffered a cardiac arrest in the same stadium during Denmark’s opening loss to Finland in Copenhagen. He wears Denmark’s number 10 T-shirt.

Meanwhile, Kevin de Bruyne inspired Belgium to a comeback victory that secured their place in the last 16.

Anti-Virus Software Pioneer John McAfee Found Dead

J

ohn McAfee, the creator of antivirus software, was found dead in a prison outside Barcelona. Aged 75 years old, he was discovered dead in his prison cell hours after Spain’s National Court approved his extradition to the US over multiple tax fraud charges. It seemed that McAfee had taken his own life. He had been in custody since October on a June 2020 US indictment in which he was charged with failing to file four years of tex returns while concealing assets. McAfee VirusScan helped to spark a multi-billion dollar industry in the computer world, and was eventually sold to technology giant Intel for more than $7.6bn (£4.7bn).

For more info: europetimes.co

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY

Connecting with my tribe Aji Krishnan, the founder and secretary of HRDS INDIA, work in tribal settlements has begun to blur the social divide. The rise of HRDS INDIA from a single idea into a massive voluntary initiative is rooted in his traditional townlet beliefs and experiences as a social development specialist and dedicated volunteer. In a conversation with The Unique Times, he shares how the work brings strength and solace to a community in dire need of basic needs.

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en years ago, Shakti and Sandhya, aged 8 and 12, who lived in the tribal hamlet of Vattalaky in Attappady, Palakkad were tilling the field under the scorching sun. It was March, the summer was at its atrocious peak. The two young ones were trying to dig out tubers from the dry land to satiate their hunger.

Even sweat dried before it trickled down their spine from their foreheads, remembers Ranjitha, a field worker for The High range Rural Development Society HRDS INDIA, an NGO that works for tribal welfare, headquartered in New Delhi and with a project office in Palakkad.

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But the fortunes of this family changed after HRDS took them on board. Aji Krishnan, the founder and Secretary of HRDS INDIA remembered the first time he met these children.

"Their mother, Malli was working at a nearby home as a maid to eke out a living. Their father Selvan had died a few years ago due to intestinal cancer. The children who were earlier put in a school, dropped out of it as there was nobody to watch over them. I still remember how famished and worn out these two children looked when I went to meet them after my volunteer group spotted them." It's been 3 years since our NGO adopted

"We had to synthesise and create a completely new set of curriculum and teaching methodology that would preserve their cultural language and knowledge at the same time, equip them with contemporary education that would not take them off their cultural roots,"

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY

Jwalamukhi - A women

empowerment project for the progression of women under pressing circumstances.

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DDUGKY - A Skill development program whereby the objective is to develop a workforce empowered with the necessary and continuously upgraded skills, knowledge, and internationally recognized qualifications to gain access to decent employment and ensure competitiveness in the dynamic global market.

this hapless tribal from the Kurumba community, traditionally known to be bee collectors of the forest," recollected Krishnan.

Krishnan enrolled them in the HRDS Green School soon and today, these two children have been enriched with the armour of education. "It is heartwarming to see the transformation of them in the last 3 years since they have been with us. Shakti wants to be an engineer and Sandhya dreams to get a job in railways," says Krishnan, with a contented smile.

Like Shakti and Sandhya, HRDS has been able to transform the lives of over 350 children through its educational outreach programme.

The Green School at Attapady alone houses 46 students.

But, enrolling tribals on formal education is not a cakewalk for NGOs like HRDS. There are several cultural, social, and logistic hurdles to sustain the education of children in tribal hamlets. At first, is the language barrier. The predominant Irula, Kurumba, and Muduka tribe, for instance, has their dialect but no

script and has no semblance with the Malayalam language the official language of Kerala. This disabled them to mingle and interact with fellow students in government-run schools.

"We had to synthesise and create a completely new set of curriculum and teaching methodology that would preserve their cultural language and knowledge at the same time, equip them with contemporary education that would not take them off their cultural roots," says Krishnan, who is also a professional

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY

Karshaka”

plans large cultivation of cost-effective medicinal plants as these are more affordable than conventional medicines and are easier to obtain than prescription-based medicine. The project brings awareness to the benefits of medicinal plants that have taken a backseat in the present times.

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sculptor who graduated from R L V College of Fine Arts, Trippunithura.

"It is important to sculpt a bright future through education for the tribal children while also preserving the grand cultural connectivity of the civilisation."

Apart from the language barrier, the family conditions of these marginalised groups, the high prevalence of alcohol and drugs related abuse among tribals, the inability to reaching schools wandering through the rough terrains also caused many to quit school at a young age.

"At HRDS INDIA Green School, we focused on bridging the language divide. We devised methodologies to impart education in a manner that coherently fused the native dialect with Malayalam and English," explained Krishnan. As a result of this, he claims that tribal students are competing with general community students from good families and financial backgrounds in all the competitive exams and public exams.

"The Green School language training has improved their language skills and the sense of confidence to compete with other students, " he said. The school also put special focus on enhancing sports and cultural skills. "It is very surprising to see the natural talents children of tribal belts possess in sports and dance. Their agility and speed are in a different league altogether," he says, with excitement and adds that some of their wards receive even personalised coaching.

Nutritious deficiency and anaemia are alarming health problems among the tribal children in Attappady. The change from traditional food culture and not enough intake of nutritious foods have affected the health of the tribal communities.

HRDS INDIA Green School also addresses the health issues of students.

The school provides milk, snacks with traditional tribal food grains, meals, etc. to the students every day to ensure their proper and nutritious supply. The multidimensional approach of the school to provide Yoga, Physical Education, computer training, martial arts, counselling, etc. are also a part of HRDS INDIA Green School Curriculum ensured

Guru Atma Nambi AtmaJi’s life has been dedicated to the deprived where he delivers his charitable works through remunerations of HRDS INDIA, a long-standing Nonprofit Organization that sheds under his transcendent umbrella of love and care. Born in March 1955, Atma Nambi is an enlightened master in the guise of an ordinary mystic. At an incredibly young age, AtmaNambi or Guruji as widely known was introduced to his spiritual safari with the help of his graceful gurus. Several karmic, yogic, and obscure manifestations were propelled at his disposal which transformed him from mundane to a mightier man. Guru Atmaji's life is a guide to people on how to live an astoundingly simple and celebrated life despite inconveniences. He has a wide range of life experiences that led him to gather wisdom and contentment which is essential to a purposeful life.

Since the age of 10, five teach-

ers of various spiritual paths have rendered him with their benediction. In a pragmatic sense, he believes that the best way to mitigate the miserable lives of the impoverished is by first providing them with food and then with a mode to eke income for a sustainable livelihood.

Guruji has also participated in the 1st World Parliament on Spirituality, December 2012, held at Hyderabad, India. He also gave his support in requesting UNO for announcing June 21st as International Yoga Day. He was honoured with Baba Saheb National Award in the year 2016 for his contributions to society.

In recognition of his spiritual guidance and services throughout the world, he has been awarded by Global Achievers Foundation New Delhi in the year 2016. Atma Ji conducts Mass Awakenings across the globe for which he travels and connects to many countries to

inculcate Spiritual harmony among the minds of people. He has devotees all over the world with Spiritual convention centres in Brazil and Chicago (US).

He is presently associated as an Honorary Advisor with Peace Society Worldwide which is a Global Civil Organization for Universal Peace and Harmony. He conducts counselling sessions for the students to nurture their abilities. He creates a sense of service in every individual steering their way to help others for a better society removing the negative aspects of the society.

He believes that spirituality can bring harmony and he propounds to make the world a Temple of Peace.

On his visit to Rishikesh, years ago Guru Ji met Aji Krishnan, Founder Secretary of HRDS INDIA. Since then, Guru Ji has maintained a close association with HRDS INDIA and its noble activities.

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY children are fully empowered to survive and compete with the modern world.

Krishnan credits his penchant for social work to his parents. His father, C K Krishnan was a planter and his mother VK Omana was a teacher.

“My father had started an initiative where he would bring together poor farmers of his village to farm together. It enamoured me in my childhood,” remembers Krishnan.

As the eldest among his siblings, problem-solving and crisis management naturally was his job. During his college days, he was an active member of left politics. He even led many educational strikes on the campus and once was arrested by

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police and was put behind the bars as well.

“I was a staunch left worker. But by 1995, I completely relinquished the party. The working nature of the party and the change of leadership within the party could have been the reason,” he says in a poised manner.

After graduating from RLV college, his work allowed him to explore the most interior areas of the country where he got a first-person account of the life of various tribes of the country.

“I was working as an editor of a publication. It was a riveting experience to travel and be witness to lives of people who are so marginalised,” he says.

"The roots of HRDS emerged

from this experience," he says.

HRDS India: multi-pronged approach to tribal welfare

Aji Krishnan is always on the move, quite literally! The reasons are that HRDS expanse of work is not limited to education alone and the geography is not limited to Attapady alone. HRDS is expanding its scope of tribal welfare to several states in India. The NGO that he co-founded along with many luminaries including their president and Spiritual Guru Atma Nambi has transformed the lives of many tribals. The NGO since 1997, has been consistently working to emancipate the life quality of Tribals who live in the western ghats of India at different levels.

“Ekagrah” -

A Scholarship Program that facilitates financial aid for higher education and consists of both need- and merit-based aid, in forms such as grants, loans, tuition remission, and private or institutional scholarships.

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Sadhgraha Tribal housing project

across India, particularly in the states like Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Odisha, Gujarat, and Kerala wherein they facilitate free boarding and lodging to tribal children for higher education and ensures the promotion of participatory character of the highly backward and deprived children by organizing them into better social collectives. The ongoing execution of the same in Palakkad and Wayanad exhibits the project’s headway in leading it to wider horizons. It would soon cover the regions of Trivandrum and Idukki to drag the tribes of this area into the mainstream.

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Sadhgraha: Rs 530 Billion housing project

The housing project Sadhgraha aims to make affordable homes to one million tribes of India living in 7 states.

"The housing project is the flagship project of HRDS. Sustainable construction was the bedrock of this project. We introduced Cement Fibre Panels technology that helped us build a 370 square feet home in 12 days with a cost of Rupees Four lakh ninety thousand," "By May 2021, HRDS has completed making 300 number of homes. By end of 2021, we will complete 1700 houses and by 2030, we plan to reach our target of 1 million homes.,"

Jwalamukhi: women empowerment

At the heart of Aji Krishnan's work through HRDS INDIA is the cause of empowerment of women by training them with skills and vo-

cational training as well as creating self-help groups that provide microcredits to start farming. When asked about his experience in creating a movement in this direction, he said through their work they have been successfully able to develop more than 3500 Self Help groups, each consisting of five people.

"We could secure aid for this from Nobel prize winner Dr. Mohmmed Younis funds, which helped to create an income source for many families from the state Tamilnadu and Kerala," and adds, "So far we have been able to provide skill training and job placement to 540 women."

Along with vocational training, Aji Krishnan also started a slew of initiatives like PARASPARAM which provided socio-Psychological, learning for upskilling school-going children, an educational programme called Ekagrah and became a recognised skill development centre for the Government of India under the

DDU- GKY scheme.

"Another project close to our heart is Niramaya where we have begun a research unit for traditional medicines as well as the farming of medicinal herbs under the initiative called Karshaka," says Krishnan.

They have also started sericulture and covid management in tribal belts as well as assisted the government in flood-related disasters that struck Kerala in 2018 and 2019.

After the conversation, Krishnan had to quickly leave for the airport.

There was an important meeting scheduled in Gujarat where HRDS plans to start their tribal development work. When asked about the journey so far and experience, he turned back, gently smiled, and said, "What do you mean, the journey and the story have just begun. To know the real transformation, visit our tribal brothers and sisters when the pandemic restrictions end. They will tell you stories. For us, this is mere human duty."

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BUSINESS

It observed that the financial performance of the gold loans NBFCs and their borrowings from the banking system have no immediate systemic implications for domestic financial stability arising from the interconnectedness of gold loans NBFCs and the banking system.

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

A suggestion for RBI’s Regulations Review Authority To promote the next level of financial inclusion, let us remove restrictions on opening new branches that currently apply to gold loan NBFCs

R

ecently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) set up of a Regulations Review Authority (RRA 2.0) to review its regulations internally, and in consultation with other stakeholders. The RRA will focus on streamlining regulatory instructions and reducing the compliance burden of regulated entities by simplifying procedures and reducing reporting requirements.

Accordingly, the RBI invited leading industry bodies such as CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM to offer their suggestions following which these bodies called upon their members to list out such issues.

At Manappuram, we responded by pointing to a long-standing concern, the fact that gold loan fo-

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cused NBFCs with more than 1,000 branches still require prior approval from the RBI before opening a new branch anywhere. The rule came into force sometime in FY 2012-13, a time when there was real concern among policymakers about rising gold imports and the widening current account deficit (CAD). The feeling then was that gold loan NBFCs were somehow contributing to the import surge. That impression was later dispelled by the RBI itself when the working group it had appointed to study all these issues related to gold and gold loans (the K.U.B. Rao committee) submitted its report in 2013. The Rao Committee report categorically stated that “there is also a need to increase monetization

of idle gold stocks in the economy for productive purposes. Encouraging loans against the collateral of gold for productive purposes may be a way to do this.” It observed that the financial performance of the gold loans NBFCs and their borrowings from the banking system have no immediate systemic implications for domestic financial stability arising from the interconnectedness of gold loans NBFCs and the banking system.

However, the requirement to obtain prior approval from RBI before opening new branches continues to be in force to this day. What’s even more surprising is that there are 9,000+ NBFCs in India regulated by RBI, but this restriction applies only

to three gold loan focused NBFCs, viz. Manappuram Finance, Muthoot Finance and Muthoot Fincorp.

That’s because there are only three gold loan focused NBFCs that have more than 1,000 branches.

It is well-known that India’s economic growth is constrained by the capital crunch faced by its financial system which impairs its ability to provide much-needed credit for economic activities. On the other hand, the leading gold loan NBFCs don’t face a capital crunch but they must reckon with artificial restrictions when they step up to address the yawning gap in the supply of credit.

That leaves vulnerable sections of society at the mercy of moneylenders and pawnbrokers. Anyone familiar with the gold loan business would know that gold loan NBFCs cater

mostly to the marginalised sections who lack access to banks, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. More than two-thirds of the gold loans given by NBFCs are microloans by nature, averaging amounts of less than Rs.50,000. And when you have a time-consuming process of prior approval for each new branch we wish to open, it becomes a bottleneck to the flow of credit to the unbanked sections of society. They are left with no alternatives but to continue to depend on the unorganised sector whose loans come with high interest rates and adverse terms.

On the other hand, institutional gold loan providers (banks and NBFCs) are regulated by the RBI and provide a fairer and more transparent loan against gold jewellery, thereby drawing customers away

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BUSINESS

from non-institutional lenders operating without regulatory oversight.

But then, banks face the challenge of limited reach. Also, with multiple products vying for attention, small ticket gold loans of short tenures hold little attraction for them. Gold loan NBFCs face no such constraints and thanks to their low operating costs, are well placed for last mile delivery of credit. They have won recognition as pioneers who have professionalized this traditional activity and introduced transparency, technology, and scale to the business.

They were instrumental in reducing the dominance of the unorganized players in gold loan and thus paving the way for the rest of the banking sector to follow.

Over the years, we have seen anecdotal evidence that whenever gold loan NBFCs open a new branch in a semi-urban or rural location (where other banks and NBFCs are not present), the mere entry into the market causes a drop in the

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interest rates that moneylenders of the locality charge. What happens is that once an organised sector gold loan lender enters a new territory, it begins to pose stiff competition to the moneylenders and pawnbrokers of the area who ruled the roost till then. Therefore, an unintended consequence of policies that curtail branch expansion by gold loans NBFCs is that it effectively strengthens the hands of the unregulated local financiers at the cost of marginal borrowers.

Gold loan NBFCs deserve encouragement from the policymakers to lead the way for institutional lenders to gain market share from the unorganised moneylenders who control two-thirds of the gold loan market even today. Gold loan NBFCs have

Anyone familiar with the gold loan business would know that gold loan NBFCs cater mostly to the marginalised sections who lack access to banks, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

More than two-thirds of the gold loans given by NBFCs are microloans by nature, averaging amounts of less than Rs.50,000.

a unique business model, funding small and marginal borrowers, who would otherwise end up borrowing from moneylenders and loan sharks.

These borrowers would rarely have a regular source of income or possess documentary evidence to prove creditworthiness. Unlikely to have a valid credit score, they face difficulties in getting loans from banks and other NBFCs. Gold loan NBFCs not only create a credit culture among the marginal borrowers but also establish a credit history, enabling them to move up the ladder and gain access to banks and other NBFCs in due course. Accordingly, the RBI’s Regulations Review Authority should seriously consider recommending an easing of the restrictions on opening new branches by gold loan NBFCs to promote financial inclusion in every nook and corner of the country (Shri 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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Technology has very interesting solutions which make our lives better. The virtual assistants and the social robots are designed to make repetitive tasks easier and bring in certain customisation that will make getting things done easier and smoother.

The Loneliness PandemicCan Technology Provide a Solution?

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he pandemic has brought in changes galore and changed our quotidian lifestyles. Besides disrupting a significant portion of our work and our leisure time, it constantly forces us to adopt new habits and usher in life-altering mindsets. We pride ourselves as homo sapiens on the ability to embrace change, albeit with difficulty, and emerge with the ability to not just cope with the circumstances but also to master them.

With the healthcare research bandwidth around the globe today, there is a clear possibility that we would have conquered the virus and controlled such outbreaks for years to come. I am optimistic!

But like all wars, it will leave the debris and a trail of untoward disturbances. One of these is what the clinicians and the psychologists call the ‘loneliness pandemic’. Social media and the multifarious interactive apps have brought us closer, but the immense number of connections does not give the comfort and warmth of physical interactions and neither does it produce the closeness we require. Connections are often clicking on the devices and marking ‘Likes’ does not always replace a conversation. Conversations are often interactions, again with a device, and while technology enables us to see and to an extent, feel, it can’t be a replacement for the real thing. So is this sudden dilapidation of the collective psyche and increasing instances of professionals going to therapists, an aftermath of the pandemic? While experts say that it

accentuated the problem, the writing was on the wall, for those who cared to think about it.

The pre-pandemic phase also had similar conversations. The then culprit was ‘technology’. The treatise and the essays were on how technology is a weapon of ‘mass distraction’ – how technology has made people more individualistic, children addicted to little screens and averse to the usual group activities and sports, and how we have become lonely even when we are not alone! But thinking more about the situation, we step back even less. The society is clearly moving towards smaller households, the Eastern civilization is also picking up the cues from their Western counterparts on lifestyles and daily work patterns which make us live in smaller nuclear families rather than large extended families. The elders are often seen to live separately in even China and India – where traditionally large families lived together.

This mindshift is one of the primary reasons. Technology seems to have given us the right tools to live in that changing world.

While we look at the past and laud it as ‘those good old days’, change is a constant imperative in all walks of life. Sometimes, the pace is faster when black swan events like the pandemic break out but there is change happening. It is true that there is a clutter of social media, the need to be visible in multiple networks, and the ease of accessibility to multiple trains of information flowing around us. A quick gaze at the handphone takes our mind away

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BUSINESS and there is the time-lapse of concentration from whatever we are doing. Attention deficiency is not a new phenomenon but the ease with which one may get affected is alarming. Eminent author and work psychologist Cal Newport wrote in his book, Deep Work, that ‘light touch’ has become the order of the day. Reading, writing, and thinking need what he calls ‘Hyperfocus’, and the multimode communication around us provides us with too many distractions to conquer.

So with all these distractions and the ability to connect in a jiffy – why are we more alone today? An interesting study was by Stanford University about a year and a half ago, where they had 3,000 participants, with 1,500 in a control group and restricted environment.

The rest of the 1500 participants were expressly charged to go off Facebook. The results were interesting and thought-provoking. The group that went off Facebook for a period of 60-odd days were significantly less lonely, significantly happier. The participants did not start using different platforms but spent more time with people and

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found reasons to interact and connect. So perhaps a little more conscious engagement can take care of this issue.

Loneliness is a topic where the conversation has also become an ‘OK’ in today’s context. The pandemic has foisted loneliness on us and with the lockdowns and restrictions on movements, we are confined within closed doors. This restrictive feeling also causes loneliness. Even the introverts when faced with a lack of an option to fraternize see it as curbing, even if under normal circumstances they might not have wanted to venture outside. The adoption of technology also raises a tricky conundrum.

Social scientists refer to another controlled environment experiment – where friends were asked to lock their smartphones and interact. There was an increasing sense of angst and adjustment which was required and a lot of them found the atmosphere stifling and restrictive in spite of the fact that the experiment was about removing distractions and opening a channel for interruption-free communication.

The answer to all this is not

the ostracization of technology.

Technology has very interesting solutions which make our lives better. The virtual assistants and the social robots are designed to make repetitive tasks easier and bring in certain customisation that will make getting things done easier and smoother. An interesting Israeli Startup LEQ makes social robots. They have a social robot specifically designed for the elderly population. During peak pandemic time a lot of these robots were sold in the US and got excellent reviews from users. Countries like China and Japan, where there is a large aging population, are big markets for these technological marvels.

For the time being, our communication is limited to the visible blur of computer screens, we hardly make eye contact as we are looking at our cameras and they theirs. We get distracted by the multiple images on the screen. But soon technology will find a way to bridge these gaps, and the loneliness pandemic will find interesting technology solutions as well. Till then, it is time to stick to the basics – read, write, love, and live! 

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.

Short-term memories like a possible chess move, or a hotel room number are processed in the front of the brain in a highly developed area called the pre-frontal lobe.

The Stages of Memory Formation

M

emory is the process in which the mind interprets, stores, and retrieves information.

Memory serves human beings in many complex ways. It enables us to process our environment, improve behavior, and gives context to our lives. Studies of this psychological phenomenon reveal that memory occurs in stages, which gives us valuable insight into the inner workings of the brain. Forming new memories is an incredibly complex and fascinating process, researchers have been able to trace memory down to the structural and even the molecular level in recent years, showing that memories are stored throughout many brain structures in the connections between neurons, and can even depend on a single molecule for their long-term stability.

Although memory remains susceptible to all sorts of problems, the brain’s elasticity is unique and re-

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markable. Memory is just as capable of improving as decaying.

Stages of Memory Creation

The brain has three types of memory processes: sensory register, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

Sensory Register

In the sensory register process, the brain obtains information from the environment. This activity is short, lasting at most a few seconds. During sensory register, the brain gathers information passively through visual and auditory cues known respectively as “iconic” and “echoic” memory. When you look at a computer screen and then look away, but can still see the screen’s image, this is iconic memory at play.

Similarly, when you have conversations with others and ask them to repeat themselves, only to understand what they said a moment later, it demonstrates echoic memory.

In the memory-making process, attention is considered a stage be-

tween sensory register and shortterm memory. Short-term memory formation can begin by giving your attention to the information received through the sensory register.

Short-Term Memory

Short-term memory occurs in two parts: traditionally termed “short-term memory” and “working memory.” Short-term memory is when the brain stores information temporarily so that it can be repeated, such as remembering a phone number you see on TV. Working memory refers to the brain storing information for the purpose of manipulating it, such as remembering a set of numbers while working on a math problem. Short-term memories like a possible chess move, or a hotel room number are processed in the front of the brain in a highly developed area called the pre-frontal lobe. When psychologists talk about improving memory, they most commonly focus on working memory because you have the most control

over it and can actively improve it.

Long-Term Memory

Short-term recollection is translated into long-term memory in the hippocampus, an area in the deeper brain. The Hippocampus takes simultaneous memories from different sensory regions of the brain and connects them into a single "episode" of memory, for example, you may have one memory of a dinner party rather than multiple separate memories of how the party looked, sounded , and smelled. As memories are played through the hippocampus, the connections between neurons associated with a memory eventually become a fixed combination, so that if you hear a piece of music, for example, you are likely to be flooded with other memories you associate with a certain episode where you heard that same music.

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Many think of long-term memory as a permanent “bank” within the brain. Once a memory arrives there, the mind stores it completely and indefinitely. But in truth, this is not the case. Although the longterm memory process allows information to remain in the brain for an extended period, nothing in the brain avoids risk. Information stored in long-term memory can stay in the brain for a short while (a day, a week) or last as long as a lifetime.

When long-term memories form, the hippocampus retrieves information from the working memory and begins to change the brain’s physical neural wiring. These new connections between neurons and synapses stay as long as they remain in use. Psychologists divide long-term memory into two length types: recent and remote.

Long-term memory can also be described by the nature of the memories themselves- Implicit memories and explicit memories

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• Implicit memories are remembered automatically, like driving a car.

• Explicit memories- you are actively trying to remember.

• Episodic memories: Contain events that happen to an individual specifically.

• Semantic memories: Contain general knowledge.

Forgetting

Forgetting can manifest as inattention or can happen because the brain does not reinforce a memory long enough to store it. Research suggests two main theories as to why memories are forgotten: • Decaying theory infers that if a certain memory isn’t repeated, it will eventually deteriorate.

• Interference theory infers that new information received by the brain replaces old information (such as the inability to remember an old password after you have created a new one).

Seven Hypotheses for Forgetful-

ness.

1. Transience - Memories may become increasingly difficult to access, due to either the natural aging process or damage to the hippocampus and temporal lobe.

2. Absent-mindedness - Attention lapses and forgetting tasks.

3. Temporary Memory Blocking - When memories are temporarily inaccessible. (Also known as “tip-ofthe-tongue syndrome.”)

4. Suggestibility - When misinformation is incorporated into memories, such as when someone is asked a leading question.

5. Bias - When memories are distorted because of your knowledge and belief systems.

6. Persistence. When unwanted memories can’t be forgotten, such as in post-traumatic stress disorder.

7. Misattribution. When memories are attributed to an incorrect source or when you believe you have seen or heard something you never experienced

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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.

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Another provision inserted in the Finance Act, 2021 has been the introduction of section 194Q in the Act. Under this provision, a buyer of goods is required to deduct taxes on any sum payable to a resident for the purchase of goods.

I

t has now become a saddening trend of laws changing so frequently on the assumption that there is no intelligent life outside the North Block. An even more disturbing trend which is neither fair nor in the national interest that law is made to bear hard on a large number of taxpayers merely in order to get a few dishonest ones. As Nani Palkhivala once remarked, “It is not right that so much should be inflicted on so many in order to rope in a few.”

The Government has been steadily increasing the scope of withholding taxes, albeit ensuring punitive rates of withholding taxes for non-filers. For starters, Finance Act, 2021 introduced a provision, namely, section 206AB in the Income-tax Act, 1961 (“the Act”) which requires a payor to deduct taxes at the higher of the following rates on any sum or income or the amount paid, payable or credited by the payor in the case of a “specified person”: • At twice the rate specified in the relevant provision of the Act; • At twice the rate or rate in force; or • At the rate of 5 percent.

The objective for introduction of the said provision has been stated in the Memorandum to the Finance Bill, 2021, which states as follows: “Section 206AA of the Act provides for a higher rate of TDS for non-furnishing of PAN. Similarly, section 206CC of the Act provides for a higher rate of TCS for non-

furnishing of PAN. It is seen that while these provisions have served their purpose in ensuring obtaining and furnishing of PAN by various person, there is a need to have similar provisions to ensure filing of return of income by those people who have suffered a reasonable amount of TDS/TCS. Hence, it is proposed to insert a new section 206AB in the Act as a special provision providing for a higher rate for TDS for the non-filers of the income tax return. Similarly, it is proposed to insert a section 206CCA in the Act as a special provision for providing for a higher rate of TCS for non-filers of income-tax return.”

On a cursory glance, a striking feature of the amendment appears to be a sad display of incertitude, lack of clarity or coherence, in the thinking of the Government. If the ultimate objective was to ensure that non-filers file their returns, why have provisions such as section 206AA mandating furnishing of a Permanent Account Number and putting deductors to an unnecessary grind? Further, if section 206AA has served its purpose, why continue to have the said provision in the statute? Looking at the provision differently, is the Government accepting that the bureaucracy and its machinery have failed in ensuring compliance? If that be so, with the luxury of data available with the Department, should the taxpayer be penalized or should the Department

A FEW RECENT DIRECT TAX AMENDMENTS - IS IT A CASE OF MISTRUST

be restructured? To me, it’s time that the Government considers restructuring the Tax Departments.

Moving on, the term “specified person”, simplistically, has been defined to mean a deductee/ recipient who has NOT filed an income tax return for two assessment years relevant to the two previous years immediately prior to the previous year in which the

tax is required to be deducted for which the time-limit for filing the return of income has expired AND the aggregate of taxes deducted at source or taxes collected at source is INR 50,000 or more in each of these two previous years. Coincidentally, in certain situations, the tax to be deducted could be as high as 80 percent, which could prove to be confiscatory, and thereby arbitrary

offending the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

There is a case to argue that the provision requiring disclosure of one’s tax returns offends the right to privacy. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in KS Puttuswamy (2017) 10 SCC 1 has held that the right to privacy restrains the state from committing an intrusion upon the life and personal liberty of a citizen. Further, the

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FINANCE

right to privacy has now been recognized as one of the core freedoms available to a citizen and an integral component of liberty as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Another provision inserted in the Finance Act, 2021 has been the introduction of section 194Q in the Act. Under this provision, a buyer of goods is required to deduct taxes on any sum payable to a resident for the purchase of goods. The said provision would apply if the following conditions are met: • The total sales, gross receipts, or turnover from the business carried on by the buyer exceeds INR 10 crores during the Financial Year (“FY”) immediately preceding the

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FY in which he purchases; • The purchase of goods is from a resident; • Value or aggregate of purchase value shall exceed INR 50 lakhs in any previous year; • Lastly, the buyer should not be included in a list of persons excluded from the applicability of the provision of deduction of tax.

If the above-mentioned conditions are satisfied, the buyer would be required to deduct taxes at the rate of 0.1 percent of the value exceeding INR 50 Lakhs. Post introduction of the related provision, the Central Board of Direct Taxes has issued Circular No 13 of 2021 seeking to clarify certain aspects.

To me, whilst the Circular indeed

is a welcome initiative, it is fraught with ambiguity. For instance, the Circular contemplates carrying forward the excess taxes deducted in the case of purchase returns, whilst remaining silent on whether such excess taxes can be refunded to the buyer. Further, the Circular contemplates that even a non-resident buyer could also be subjected to the said provisions, which could now be embroiled in unnecessary litigation.

I do hope that the Government would realize that its policies should be nutritive enough to breed lilac out of dead land and stir dull roots with spring rain. For truly, the need of the hour is economic growth with social justice

MOTIVATION

Dolly Neena 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.

Success is formed by years of patient hard work. One fine day, your efforts also will bear fruits. Your belief in yourself will make you win eventually. It takes trust and courage to put that foot forward. No matter what you feel today, always decide to show up.

WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS WHAT YOU SEE!

O

ur mindset is a sum of our beliefs, experiences, conditioning, knowledge, perception, and thoughts about the world we live in. It is also how you see yourself. Your mindset is the ultimate determinant of your success. We have seen some people accomplish more than others.

We see that some people believe in themselves more than others and are more optimistic about things & tomorrow. What makes them do so is the mindset they developed. Those who achieve great success believe that they can accomplish big things.

Your mind controls the way you look at things, the way you talk and make decisions.

Psychologists say there are predominantly two types of mindsets: Fixed mindset and Growth mindset.

A fixed mindset is stopping you from taking risks and avoids opportunities.

It holds you down on self-doubt, al-

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ways criticizes yourself, and assumes that you cannot possibly change anything for good. The fixed mindset in your head tells you, “You will not be able to finish that task successfully, don’t attempt it…” On the other hand, a growth mindset believes that you can achieve greater things if you put your heart and soul into it. A growth mindset encourages you by realizing that continuous efforts and persistence always takes you ahead in life, and your commitment to excellence will definitely bring you accolades & success one day if you keep up.

One can always improve. With consistent actions, you can always better your surroundings and defeat adversities. You just got to create the right mindset. You need to trust your talent and skills. Have a selfanalysis to list down your positives & negatives, strengths, weaknesses & improvement areas. When the

fixed mindset discourages you to move ahead, talk up to yourself and banish all the negative talks in your head. Always have a goal and purpose for you. List down your goals and work towards it. Celebrate each milestone. Look back at each success and pat yourself on the back, and do realize that how far you’ve come. Be patient about your plight.

Nothing happens overnight. Every success is formed by years of patient hard work. One fine day, your efforts also will bear fruits. Your belief in yourself will make you win eventually. It takes trust and courage to put that foot forward. No matter what you feel today, always decide to show up. Always push yourself ahead. A positive mindset is created. At times, the circumstances might not be that encouraging or hopeful. But your determination to make things happen will make things better in the longer run. Nothing is permanent,

even your current hapless situation.

So be rest assured that tomorrow is brighter. Learning is another key to keep yourself updated and going.

Skill-building is a mandatory thing in the path to success. We are not perfect – hence it is imperative that we add to our repertoire and keep improving. This can be achieved by learning by videos, online learning, trying it by yourself, joining courses, academic education, having a mentor, reading books, etc. Even failures teach you lots more than success.

Each failure takes you closer to your goal. Each failure will tell you what ‘not’ to do. Inturn helps you do the right thing. All achievements come after great trials and tribulations. No one has won the war easily and without a defense. Your actions should be planned in order to overcome the obstacles and challenges and to create a mindset that will help you grow, not limit you.

You need to track down all the thoughts that cross your mind in your day-to-day life. What are the majority of self-talks saying to you?

Does it limit you? Or does it fuel you up for a great future? If former, then you need to deliberately consciously eliminate the limiting self-talk. The way you think about yourself makes a huge impact on how you see yourself and in turn how others see you.

Others cannot give the respect you don’t give yourself. We might keep shifting on the spectrums of a different mindset, however, to be aware of that is important. If you have a Fixed mindset, even if you are born with a lot of talents and skillsets, you won’t be able to use them productively in advancement for you. This mindset negatively impacts your propensity to learn. A person with a fixed mindset will not take risks as he/she cannot handle failures. They never try to get out of their comfort zones, which in turn limits their growth. They are most threatened by their environment, and seldom try to make any

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MOTIVATION

Listen to your gut feelings and intuitions. Believe in the magic of positive thinking. Your attitude determines your altitude.

Create your own magic mindset.

effort to overcome that. The comfort zone is that warm n cozy place for them, which eventually becomes that inevitable graveyard of gradual decaying existence to them.

However, the Growth mindset understands their capacities to learn and grow, and uplift others by their success stories. They are open to challenges and hurdles. They don’t tend to fear failure, instead learn from mistakes and failures.

They use the failures as stepping stones to success. They believe in their incredible powers which help them make things happen. They have an abundance mentality

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from which they manifest positive greater things, for themselves and others. They are free from the selflimiting negative dialogues which are liberating. Listen to your gut feelings and intuitions. Believe in the magic of positive thinking. Your attitude determines your altitude.

Create your own magic mindset. It will help you to be more receptive and act optimally. Listen to ideas and feedback from others and improve on how you do things. This will enable you to produce better results. You always need to challenge your thoughts. Defy your own limitations. Find motivations – internal

and external- to keep you going.

Determination, commitment, and dedication are that magic potions that will guarantee your success.

You can change your entire life by changing your mindset. Be aware of how you process the world around you, and how you reflect & respond to things. Having a Growth mindset makes you happy and content.

Envision your destination. Have clarity on where you want to reach, what you want to become - The right mindset is the only element that will take you there. Open your mind’s window, to a better and brighter world

Ravi Saini

The current pandemic has caused unprecedented damage to the health, wealth, and psyche of the people and leaders across all over the world and it needs to be addressed with the right mix of curative & preventive treatments to address the root cause of all diseases/illnesses.

YOUR FOOD IS YOUR MEDICINE A

ncient old Vedic systems of India have shown that we are what we eat and eating habits determine good health or disease risk. There are certain foods, fruits, and vegetables that trigger health while the others are capable of providing medicinal and preventive, protective & curative qualities. That is the strongest reason that many people votes in favor of food is medicine. Despite the above facts, we can’t simply say that food/diet alone cannot and should not replace medicine in all conditions & circumstances, I strongly feel and recommend that food sup-

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plements and medicines can go hand in hand. It's wrong to suggest that the entire pharmaceutical industry and modern science are bad and Ayurveda/alternative systems of treatment are best.

The current pandemic has caused unprecedented damage to the health, wealth, and psyche of the people and leaders across all over the world and it needs to be addressed with the right mix of curative & preventive treatments to address the root cause of all diseases/ illnesses. The purpose of this article is to bring a larger acceptance and awareness that your food is your

medicine – “WE ARE WHAT WE EAT”.

The present and future belong to India and all that has become possible because of the solid past decisions like IT, Telecom Revolutions that took a lot of burdens off the shoulders of the Govt for creating jobs and business opportunities that helped the huge economic growth.

World leaders will be better advised to use India as : 1. Food Factory of the World 2. Medical Tourism Hub of the World.

3. Infrastructure Development in India will push Steel, Cement, and

Green Energy for the UN’s SDG goals and ESG (Environmental Social Governance) compliances – that will motivate the best EPC contractors of the world to march towards India during this current unprecedented pandemic.

India’s rich heritage and strong fundamentals, foundations laid will help to push for the Global Economic Recoveries.

Past Indian Prime Ministers like Late Pandit Nehru, Late Indira Gandhi, Late Rajiv Gandhi, Late PV Narsimha Rao, and Top Economist Shri Man Mohan Singh’s visionary

approach and especially that of Late Rajiv Gandhi that brought about IT Revolutions without that millions of jobs are created and brought all the AI and IoT with that we could help to build Smart Cities and monitor large Agro Farms with ease.

Israel, the US, Japan, Russia, EU, the UK along with Australia will become Financial and Tech Partners with strongly marching ahead new India. Present Leadership must take pride in having received the Baton to carry forward the goodness and richness of India.

Ministry of AYUSH is continuously

pushing its agenda of healthy India and feeling the need for creating Ayush Health Care Centres and Hospitals across India. Kerala, Tamilnadu, Punjab (especially Bhatinda for Cancer Research & Super Speciality Hospital) offers the best opportunity for investments in Organic Farming, food supplements, and the right mix of curative & preventive treatments that will boost medical tourism in India to boost the local economy and global health that will thwart the menace of current and future pandemics

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July - August 2021

49

BEAUTY

Some Remedies to Prevent Hair Breakage

S

ome of the causes of hair loss are lack of moisture in the hair, washing hair in thick water, drying hair with heat styling, coloring the hair, using cotton pillows, and tying hair with wet after bathing.

The following are some of the most effective ways to prevent hair breakage.

Vitamins

Vitamin C, D3, and biotin work best to improve hair health.

Vitamins play an important role in improving the beauty of your hair and providing proper blood circulation and nutrition. Vitamin C is an important component in the production of collagen, which is the basis for the formation of blood vessels. Biotin is essential for hair growth, and its deficiency can lead to excessive hair loss. Eating citrus fruits, eggs, cheese, and leafy greens can help alleviate these vitamin deficiencies.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer that helps prevent protein loss from the hair. Its lauric acid

has antifungal properties and protects the hair from fungal infections like dandruff. These benefits also help prevent hair breakage.

Apply a little coconut oil on the scalp and massage. Cover the head with a cloth and rinse after 2-3 hours. Do this at least once a week.

Castor oil

The ricinoleic acid in castor oil helps to increase blood circulation to your scalp. It nourishes and strengthens the hair and prevents hair breakage. Take 1 tablespoon castor oil, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, or olive oil. Mix it and apply it to the scalp and hair and massage.

After 1-2 hours, wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Repeat 1-2 times a week.

Green tea

Green tea contains catechins that have antioxidant properties and stimulate hair growth. It also has antifungal properties. Therefore, green tea can help protect your scalp from infections and prevent hair breakage. Mix ½ tablespoon green tea powder with 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Apply this

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International

Mob: 9388618112

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July - August 2021

paste on your scalp and hair and after 10 minutes wash your hair with cold water. Use this hair mask at least once a week.

Egg Hair Mask

Egg whites are a rich source of protein. Eggs help keep hair healthy, soft, and brittle. Its antioxidant properties protect your hair and scalp. Mix 2 egg whites, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 cup milk, and a few drops of lemon juice in a bowl and apply on the scalp and hair. After 30 minutes, wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Do this 2-3 times a month.

Aloe vera

The benefits of aloe vera gel for skin and hair are well known.

Aloe vera has moisturizing, antiinflammatory, photoprotective, and antifungal properties. Aloe vera can help keep dandruff out of the scalp, prevent hair breakage, and restores hair pH. Mix ½ tablespoon aloe vera gel and ½ tablespoon almond oil and apply on scalp and hair. After 20-30 minutes, rinse hair with water. Aloe vera gel can be applied directly to the hair. Do-

ing this twice a week will help prevent hair breakage.

Garlic

Hair is mainly made of keratin. Garlic is a rich source of sulfur, which acts as a blocker in the formation of keratin. Garlic also has antifungal and antioxidant properties. Therefore, garlic will protect your scalp from fungal infections and prevents hair loss.

Take 6-7 cloves of garlic, 100 ml of coconut oil, or olive oil. Chop the

garlic and put it in the oil. Keep it in a cool, dry place for a week.

Then take and apply on hair and scalp. Wash hair after one hour.

Applying this oil at least once a week will give good results.

Apple cider vinegar

Poor pH can make your hair dry. Apple cider vinegar helps to balance the pH of your scalp. Acetic acid helps to maintain the softness of the hair and thereby prevents hair breakage. In addition,

its antimicrobial and antifungal properties help prevent infections of the scalp. Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to two cups of water and mix well. After shampooing, wash your hair with this water. It is best to do this once a week.

At the same time, keep clean and eat a nutritious diet.

Stay Healthy!

Stay Beautiful!

July - August 2021

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TRAVELOGUE

The Shibuya area is located directly outside the Shibuya Station. This station is served by the JR Saikyo and Yamanote lines, the Metro Ginza and Hanzomon lines, the Tokyo Den-en-Toshi and Tokyo lines, and the Keio Inokashire line.

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Shibuya: The Most Vibrant District in Tokyo

T

he beating heart of Tokyo, undoubtedly Shibuya, best illustrates the charm of the city. A unique district in Tokyo, Shibuya has everything a tourist wants to check out -- cutting-edge fashion boutiques, world-class nightclubs, unbeatable record shops, hip bars, and the list goes on.

Shibuya is always busy with Tokyo’s fashionable youth,

workers from the surrounding offices and tourists keen to experience the neon lights and crowded streets that Tokyo is always famous for. Shibuya was historically the site of a castle in which the Shibuya family resided from the 11th century through the Edo period. Following 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as a railway terminal for southwestern Tokyo and eventually as a major

commercial and entertainment centre.

Shibuya is one of the 23 city wards of Tokyo but is commonly referred to as just the popular shopping and entertainment area around Shibuya station. Over a dozen major department stores can be found around the area catering to all types of shoppers.

Its streets are the birthplace of many of Japan’s fashion and

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TRAVELOGUE

entertainment trends. With worldfamous sights including the iconic scramble crossing, this area is a must-visit especially for those craving for nightlife and trendy youth culture.

The Shibuya area is located directly outside the Shibuya Station.

This station is served by the JR Saikyo and Yamanote lines, the Metro Ginza and Hanzomon lines, the Tokyo Den-en-Toshi and Tokyo lines, and the Keio Inokashire line.

Perfect Mix of People and Cultures

Unlike the neighbouring areas of Aoyama, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Ebisu, central Shibuya doesn’t have a unified culture. With each street as unique as the next, this area is a melting point of different subcultures, nationalities, and

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tastes.

ganised there in his memory.

Tokyo’s Most Famous Dog: Hachiko

The World Famous Shibuya Crossing

While leaving the station from the Hachiko exit, you will happen to see the statue of the dog after which the exit is named. This place is commonly used as a meeting spot and is watched by a memorial of the Akitaken dog named Hachiko. According to a famous story, Hachiko used to wait for his owner to meet him after work in the 1920s. Without knowing the sudden demise of his master, the loyal dog waited around 10 years for his late master to return to their usual meeting spot.

Hachiko’s bronze statue has been a symbol of Shibuya for over 80 years and it’s the most popular meeting point of the district. Every year on March 7th, a party gets or-

Located just outside the Shibuya Station, the iconic Shibuya Crossing is a perfect starting point to this bustling neighbourhood. This pedestrian crossing witnesses more foot traffic than any other crossing in the world.

It is said that approximately 2,500 people cross it every minute during rush hour.

This crossing has been used in many movies, to the point of becoming a stereotype of Japan. It is also frequently compared to the Times Square in New York. Shibuya had achieved iconic fame with its appearance in the Hollywood movie, Lost in Translation, where Scarlett Johansson crosses the Shibuya crossing. This Shibuya crossing is

TRAVELOGUE

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just like an organised chaos right in the heart of Tokyo.

Capsule Hotels

This is one of the best things to do while being in Shibuya. Capsule hotels are a great compromise if you can’t afford to get a cab back home. Here you can get your space to shower, chill, and get the night sleep you totally deserve. As the name suggests itself, you get to sleep in a capsule. Mostly these kinds of hotels are male-only, but some cater to females and couples too.

Each capsule is equipped with an alarm and TV. Some newer hotels have capsules that are much larger and come with extras like a small table, large bed, etc. In Shibuya, you can also see the worldfamous Nakagin Capsule Tower which was the first capsule hotel built during the 70s.

Ohara Matsuri Parade

Ohara Matsuri is a dance festival that takes place in mid-May. This festival originates from Kagoshima where it is still held every year in November. Everybody will be dressed in traditional Yukata (which is a summer-style Kimono) or Happi (a colourful overcoat worn during festivities) and dance together in unison with traditional music such as Ohara-bushi.

Sushi Bars and Conveyor Belt Sushi

If you are a foodie, then enjoying the sushi bar near Shibuya is a must! After all, no trip to a Tokyo neighbourhood is complete without feasting the classic sushi. Shibuya consists of a variety of sushi bars but the sushi train restaurants are more fun, fresh, and cheap. For a better experience, heed over to a posh sushi place and order the handmade, delicious sushi directly from the itamae (sushi chef).

Pay As You Go Dining

Another brilliant experience that you will love to do while being in Shibuya is to check out the ubiquitous vending machine restaurants. At its entrance, there will be vending machines that display all the items from their menu. You just have to select what you want to eat and drink and pay for your meal in advance. Then you will get a ticket with the order that you have made which you need to give to the waitress. Take a seat and food will shortly follow.

Just simple, you go in, order, pay, eat, and go! No waiting around! These restaurants are quick, cheap, but still delicious.

Get Electrified in Shibuya’s Paradise

There are still lot many things to discover in this beautiful paradise. By day, Shibuya is a shopper’s heaven, and by night, the city’s youth come out to play. There’s something to suit anyone in this pulsating district. To match its cutting-edge fashion, Shibuya is also home to deep and creative art scenes as well, which you would truly love.

Shibuya has practically everything any visitor to Tokyo could hope for which is why it would be a challenging place to visit in just a day.

Have fun in Shibuya!!

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AUTO REVIEW

Vivek Venugopal is one of India’s top automotivewriterswithover 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 18-inch alloy wheels look classy and go well with the body size of the car. The overall design manages to look like a scaled-down version of Hyundai’s global flagship SUV, the Pallisade.

T

he Creta has been Hyundai’s most successful SUV offering in India. Now into the second generation and costing nearly two million rupees, it still manages to outsell its rivals by a big margin. A year into this new gen, Hyundai wants to offer something the rest of the segment doesn’t have. What if you need two extra seats without having to go for something bigger like a Safari or Hector Plus?

The Alcazar adopts the same approach as the Tata Sa-

fari by taking an existing SUV and making it longer. The addition of a third-row aims to make it more practical but clearly, the focus is on making the second row more comfortable by offering an option of individual armchairs. Hyundai has gone one step further and given it a longer wheelbase in addition to the extra rear overhang. The rear end looks better integrated than ever. The wrap-around glass and the character lines on the rear fender make it look one piece than something that

Hyundai

Alcazar was added on later. The front end has some differentiation with the bigger grill that has a tiny block-like pattern that replaces the horizontal slats. The dull chrome finish grille also extends between the headlamps which used to be filled by a bodycolored bit in the Creta that looked a little blander. The chin is deeper and the fog lamps are larger units.

The rear is a bit tamer in design compared to the front but it looks

nicer than the Creta’s. The 18-inch alloy wheels look classy and go well with the body size of the car. The overall design manages to look like a scaled-down version of Hyundai’s global flagship SUV, the Pallisade.

The dashboard and interiors are very similar to the Creta in design, but the execution is far better. The choice of tan and black trim elevates the ambiance to another level. The center console gets a glossy piano

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AUTO REVIEW

black finish and that alone feels richer than the matte grey finish on the Creta. It is not all softtouch material but it’s alright.

The digital instrument console looks fantastic and can toggle between various modes with some cool transitions thrown in. When you indicate to turn to either side, the tacho/speedo makes way for a blindspot camera on that side – a feature that first made its debut in the Hyundai Pallisade globally.

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The front seats are the same as the ones in the Creta with good support and sufficient width. The middle row seats look similar but have lesser side bolstering and support. You get way more legroom than most, and the seats slide back and recline a fair bit.

There is a fixed center console in the middle and that gives you a storage box with another wireless charging slot for your mobile phone. You also get sun blinds and

foldable tables with extendable cupholders from the back of the front seats. Because of the center console, you can’t walk into the rearmost row through the middle, but the second-row seats easily tumble forward to let you from the outside. The last row, though not as big as a Safari’s, is fairly decent for short journeys and you get dedicated AC and charging ports.

The boot is a decent 180 liters and with the rear seats folded down,

can dwarf the Creta in terms of practicality.

The 10.25-inch screen supports a 360-degree camera, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, and various connected-car tech. The Alcazar comes loaded with everything including ventilated seats, cruise control, panoramic roof, tyre pressure monitor, Bose audio, wireless chargers, 64 color ambient lighting, air purifier to name a few. The automatic variants get traction and drive modes as well.

As of writing this, we have only driven the diesel automatic, but that’s the one most will buy.

It has the same 1.5 liter U2 series diesel engine as the Creta producing 115bhp and 250Nm. There is also a 2.0-liter petrol variant with 159bhp and 191Nm that is priced similar to the diesel. The diesel automatic might not seem very powerful on paper, but it is adequate for most. It pulls well from low revs

and up inclines without breaking a sweat. The six-speed torque convertor is quite smooth and keeps the engine in its powerband for most of the time. It is when you have a full complement of passengers and luggage that it could be a little out of its comfort zone.

Drive it in a relaxed manner and you wouldn’t be worried too much.

If you drive predominantly in the city, you will love the Alcazar.

It is the right size and doesn’t feel big and bulky like the Safari or MG Hector Plus. The manageable size and the good all-round visibility make it an easy car to live with.

The steering is on the lighter side and feels effortless. The 360-degree camera makes parking it a doddle. The ride quality is excellent and the soft suspension silently soaks up most bumps and ruts.

The car we drove had 18-inch wheels and lower-spec versions on 17-inch wheels would be even bet-

ter. On the flip side, it is not a car you enjoy driving fast. Yes, it grips better in corners than Hyundais of the past and the steering is very accurate, but it lacks the feel and connections one looks for.

Unless you really need two more seats over the regular fiveseater Creta, the six-seater Alcazar is the one to buy. The base model Alcazar has pretty much everything standard and is priced around the Creta top-end variant.

The top-spec variant is around Rs. 3.5 lakhs more, but you get every feature you can think of. If you look at it as a variant of the Creta, it might feel expensive. But if you factor in the additional engineering, the longer wheelbase, the bigger wheels, the more comfortable second row, the additional third row, the number of toys on offer, and how it manages to look better and classier, that’s money well spent

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61

MOVIE REVIEW

Cold Case

C

old Case is a Malayalam investigative horror thriller movie by debutant director Tanu Balak. Prithviraj Sukumaran is seen playing the lead role in the movie. The story revolves around a mystery, when a skull is found in a discarded package and the police is in the hunt for identifying the victim, to find out the motive and the culprit. The movie progresses slowly taking time to establish each characters and scenes and in second half we can see events unfolding in a perfect manner. Aditi Balan, Lakshmi Priya, Anil Nedumangad are also seen in the movie playing pivotal roles. The film got an OTT release on Amazon Prime.

Hard Hit

H

ard Hit is a 2021 South Korean thriller film, directed by Kim Chang-ju. The movie stars Jo Woojin, Lee Jae-in and Ji Chang-wook as main leads. The film depicts the unpredictable circumstances of an ordinary family, who goes through a horrific situation due to a mysterious phone call. Hard Hit is a movie that combines the charms of two opposing genres: a car chase that runs through a wide-open city and a thriller that takes place in a limited space. The emotive subplot that centers on the changing relationship between a father and a daughter is another striking element of the film. Set in Busan, the gripping film is also the directorial debut of Kim Chang-ju.

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Midnight

M

idnight is a 2021 South Korean thriller film, written and directed by Kwon Ohseung. The film star Jin Ki-joo, Wi Ha-joon and Kim Hye-yoon is seen playing pivatol roles.

The movie is revolving around a life-threatening hide-and-seek chase between a psychopathic killer and a deaf woman. The more you watch Midnight with your breath, the more you can enjoy the film's gauguin. For the ones who love to watch a gripping thriller movie with unexpected twists and turns, Midnight is a perfect visual treat for them.

Sara’S

S

ara'S is an Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Jude Anthany Joseph. The movie depicts the story of a struggling associate director and it also touches an assortment of relevant subjects like feminism, generational gap and societal norms. The movie gives a soothing and fascinating journey of Sara and Jeevan.

A feel-good movie exploring the woman's choice which allows her to make her own decision in a traditional society. It is centred on the refreshing perspective of today's modern career woman. Sara's is different and lightheartedly focusses on changing mindsets in modern India. The storyline is quite simple and probably this is where the beauty of this movie lies.

Sunny Wayne and Anna Ben are seen in the movie playing lead roles.

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63

BOOK REVIEW

The Paper Palace Author Price

: Miranda Cowley Heller : Rs.1,151 (Paperback)

T

he Paper Palace penned by the bestselling author of The Wife and The Female Persuasion, Miranda Cowley Heller. The story takes us deep into a vivid summer landscape, a family, and a private, longstanding love story, and holds us there from start to finish. It is also a masterful novel that brilliantly illuminates the tensions between desire and safety; the legacy of tragedy, and the crimes and misdemeanors of families.

Sach Kahun Toh: An Autobiography Author Price

S

: Neena Gupta : Rs 599 (Hardcover)

ach Kahun Toh: An Autobiography, actor Neena Gupta chronicles her extraordinary personal and professional journey-from her childhood days in Delhi’s Karol Bagh, through her time at the National School of Drama, to moving to Bombay in the 1980s and dealing with the struggles to find work. The charm of this memoir lies in Neena Gupta’s honest and conversational writing style. Fans of the actor would admire her a bit more for being brave and resilient after reading this book.

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The Maidens Author Price

: Alex Michaelides : Rs 799 (Hardcover)

T

he Maidens written by Alex Michaelides is a mystery thriller novel.

The story is about a therapist who has dark suspicions about a charismatic Greek tragedy professor named Edward Fosca, who is revered by a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility, her closest relationships, and her own life. The buildup of the story and the mystery is really enjoyable to read. Michaelides also evokes Greek mythology and literary references in the plotline in ways that are substantive and evocative.

Somebody’s Daughter: A Memoir Author Price

: Ashley C. Ford : Rs. 2,093 (Hardcover)

S

omebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford reflects on the lasting impact of her childhood, most notably the sexual assault she suffered at the age of 14. It is a heart-wrenching yet equally witty and wondrous story of how Ford came through the fire and emerged triumphant, as her own unapologetic, Black-girl self. Ashley battles her body and her environment, she embarks on a powerful journey to find the threads between who she is and what she was born into, and the complicated familial love that often binds them.

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EASY & BREEZY

Thank God it’s a Monday Sujit Chandra Kumar

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

W

orkers of the world may be united or not but Malayali workers are definitely united on one count. Of late, Monday, the first day of the week, has actually become a second Sunday, for most of them. I became familiar with this trend while getting an unnecessary second floor done recently. Well, that is another Mallu trait; to make mansions of the size that one doesn’t really require but more of that another time perhaps.

Work would drag on and come to a grinding halt invariably on Saturdays. I would ask the contractor why his men didn’t turn up and he would talk about how a neighbour of the main worker met with an accident or how another’s mom-in-law slipped on a banana and damaged her hip, so on and so forth. How come these

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incidents happen always on Saturdays I used to always wonder? But when there was no sign of them on Monday, the contractor wouldn’t offer any such excuse but simply say, “Monday, right?”

I had to make extensive inquiries to crack this mystery of the long weekend. An electrician was the one who finally threw some light on it. Working for four days from Tuesday meant that each had earned nearly 5000 rupees and that called for a mini celebration during the weekend, with what else but Indian Made Foreign Liquor, and the Sunday mood percolates to the following morning too.

The trend is limited to the indigenous worker while the ‘Bengali’ labourer –an umbrella term that covers those not only from Tagore’s land but also Bihar, UP, Assam and even Delhi – are seen trudging to work even on Sundays, with their packed lunch and paan parag. For them, it is but an equivalent of what the Gulf has been for Malayalis. They keep on working so that they could send money back to

their mothers and sisters in their villages.

The Malayali workers, on the other hand, truly believe in living in the moment. They don’t care much about saving for the rainy day, which in this state is anyway almost all the year round. A sub contractor who handled my upstairs building used to arrive in a mid-sized car, all the way from Aluva to Kochi, making me wonder about how much of a margin there was in the contract to make it viable for him with the current fuel prices. Once or twice, he would demand 500 rupees since he had run out of cash for lunch. ‘You may make a note of it,” he would tell me, helpfully. He too had many accidents and deaths in his family on Saturdays during the four months it took to finish the work.

If the labour scene has been entirely taken over by the ‘Bengalis’, including the barber shops, fish and chicken outlets, restaurants, even coconut tree climbing, it is because of one reason: they rarely confuse a Sunday with a Monday

Printed On 09/ 07/ 2021

RNI Reg No. KERENG/2011/42633