Unique Times 2021 September by Unique Times

Vol 9 Issue No.120 Sept - Oct 2021 USD 0.70`50AED 5BD 0.500

Is bitcoin taking the sheen off gold? Shri V.P. Nandakumar MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

"It is personality that matters, not height or skin colour" Manappuram Miss South India 2021 Winner Ansi Kabeer

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Editorial “C

onfidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” – Peter T. McIntyre Ansi Kabeer, who was crowned Miss South India, graces our cover in this edition. Inside, you can read the amazing tale of how Ansi conquered her inhibitions to discover her true potential and how she wowed the judges with her unique talent, charm and intelligence. Chandralekha, the first runner-up, and Shwetha Jayaram, the second runner-up, also recount their experiences. This month, Manappuram Finance Limited MD and CEO V P Nandakumar shares his valuable opinions on a new topic -- ‘Is Bitcoin Taking the Sheen Off Gold?’ For those who are raring to travel but can’t because of the restrictions, here is some vicarious reading pleasure. This month’s travel destination is Dubrovnik, a city in southern Croatia known for its sparkling sea and Baroque architecture. In this edition, our auto expert analyses Skoda Octavia. The expert explains the subtle and sleek features of the car. Apart from the above, the edition has all our regular features, from beauty, movie reviews and book reviews to motivation tips, business articles and the humour column. “No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books”, said Elizabeth Barrett Browning

So let’s create a new bond! Enjoy Reading! Thank You Sd/Jebitha Ajit

Cover Photograph Ansi Kabeer Manappuram Miss South India 2021 Winner

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

"It is personality that matters, not height or skin colour"

Is bitcoin taking the sheen off gold?

New Ways to Productivity in the Emerging World

Know More About Downs Syndrome

Is the crackdown on nidhi companies uncalled for?

46 48 52 58

Gadgets Eat Your Greens and Be Power-Packed Set Your Eyes on the Beauty of Pearl of the Adriatic – Dubrovnik Skoda Octavia

UNIQUE DIARY

Trials for a Two-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine to be Tested by Reliance Life Sciences

he drug regulatory authorities authorised Reliance Life Sciences’ proposal to conduct clinical trials of its recombinant protein-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate on Thursday. Reliance Life Sciences is part of India’s largest private-sector organisation. Reliance had requested permission from the agency to undertake a Phase 1 trial of its proposed two-dose vaccination. Reliance hopes to learn about medication safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and mechanism of action in Phase 1. According to a source familiar with the situation, Phase 1 trials typically last 58 days, after which Reliance might apply for Phase 2 and 3 trials. Reliance Life Sciences is yet to make an official announcement. Reliance’s vaccine initiatives come at a time when the country’s vaccination rate is increasing.

Alexa Users Can Now Add Amitabh Bachchan’s Voice Feature to Device

"If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."

Jim Rohn

mit Agarwal, Amazon India’s global senior vice president and country head, revealed that India’s first celebrity voice, Amitabh Bachchan, is now available on the cloud-based voice assistant Alexa. Anecdotes from Bachchan’s film career, poetry by his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan, weather forecasts, jokes, tongue twisters, music, and inspiring quotes will all be included in the feature. For an initial fee of Rs 149 per year, customers can add Bachchan’s voice to their Alexa device or just hit the mic icon on the Amazon shopping app. On their Echo devices, customers can engage with Bachchan in English, Hindi, or both, whereas on the Amazon Shopping app, they can only interact with him in English at launch.

September - October 2021

UNIQUE DIARY

Parent Company of KFC, Pizza Hut Files IPO Papers

apphire Foods India Ltd, which owns KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants, has filed draught documents with the capital markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an IPO (IPO). According to the draught red herring prospectus, the initial share sale would be fully an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 17,569,941 equity shares by promoters and current shareholders (DRHP). Sapphire Foods, an omni-channel restaurant operator and the largest Yum Brands franchisee in India, is backed by big names like Samara Capital, Goldman Sachs, CX Partners, and Edelweiss. Sapphire Foods had 204 KFC locations in India and the Maldives as of March 31, 2021, 231 Pizza Hut restaurants in India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, and two Taco Bell restaurants in Sri Lanka as of March 31, 2021. Sapphire Foods stated on Monday that it has secured Rs 1,150 crore from private equity funds led by Creador, NewQuest Capital Partners, and TR Capital in a mix of primary and secondary rounds.

India in Talks to Buy 50 Million Doses of Pfizer Vaccine

"Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value." Albert Einstein

he Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that India is in talks to buy 50 million doses of Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine from German partner BioNTech SE, citing people familiar with the subject. The government has been depending primarily on the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India and a home-grown shot produced by Bharat Biotech, which launched one of the world’s largest vaccination efforts earlier this year. Last week, the country approved Johnson &Johnson’s one-shot vaccine for emergency usage, joining the list of vaccines approved by AstraZeneca, Bharat Biotech, Russia’s Gamaleya Institute, and Moderna.

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Government Plans to Modify the Income Tax Act Making Retrospective Tax Demands Null

ollowing the failures of Vodafone and Cairn Energy, the Union government said on Thursday that it would change the Income Tax Act to eliminate retrospective taxation. The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was submitted in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, with the goal of removing tax claims made on indirect transfers of Indian assets prior to May 28, 2012. At least two large firms are affected by this bill: Cairn Energy Plc and the Vodafone Group of the United Kingdom. Both companies had won international arbitrations challenging the imposition of retroactive taxes on them.

[24]7.AI Plans to Hire 5,000 People This Year

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." Winston Churchill

ustomer engagement solutions provider [24]7.ai has announced that in the current fiscal year, it will hire around 5,000 workers in India. The company is based in San Jose, California, and maintains offices in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, India. The company has moved its whole employment process online, and the HR staff has been sourcing candidate profiles via social media, employee referrals, consultants, and job portal applications since the start of the COVID19 pandemic, according to a statement. It has used artificial intelligence (AI)-powered monitoring to ensure workplace and transaction compliance, two areas where remote operators face increased security risks. It was founded in April 2000 by PV Kannan and Shanmugam Nagarajan. Customer care, sales, and technical support, and back-office services are among the services and technology provided by the corporation to Fortune 500 organizations throughout the world.

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Russian LGBT Family Flees to Spain After Threats

fter receiving online hatred and death threats, a Russian lesbian family who appeared in a contentious health food ad has left the country. Yuma, the mother, wrote on Instagram that “we’re safe, we’re relaxing.” After starring in an ad for grocery chain VkusVill, the family became the victim of a hate campaign. Later, the company issued an apology and replaced the photo with one of a heterosexual family. A law passed in Russia in 2013 prohibits the promotion of LGBT beliefs and lifestyles to children, which has been extensively denounced in the West. Many followers of President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church associate LGBT+ activists with Western liberal principles, which are considered incompatible with Russian culture.

Shanne Braspennincx Wins Keirin Gold Six Years After Suffering a Heart Attack in Tokyo 2020

hanne Braspennincx, a Dutch keirin rider, earned Olympic gold six years after suffering a heart attack and not knowing if she would ever participate again. Braspennincx, 30, finished ahead of Ellesse Andrews of New Zealand and Lauriane Genest of Canada. After watching teammate Laurine van Riessen taken to the hospital after colliding with Team GB hopeful Katy Marchant, she regained her composure. Braspennincx’s career was in jeopardy five years ago when she missed the Rio Olympics. She thought her career was ended when she became unwell in Colorado in 2015, requiring surgery to widen a blocked artery and the placement of a stent. “I assumed I’d have to retire,” Braspennincx said. “A heart attack isn’t something you experience when you’re an athlete.”

September - October 2021

Bayern Munich Won the German Super Cup Again, Defeating Borussia Dortmund

ayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice in a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund to help his team retain the German Super Cup. Bayern took the lead through Lewandowski shortly before halftime, and Thomas Muller added a second immediately after the restart. On 64 minutes, Marco Reus equalised for the hosts at Signal Iduna Park. With his 24th goal against his previous club, Lewandowski restored his side’s two-goal lead 10 minutes later. Between 2010 and 2014, the Poland international played four years with Dortmund. The German Super Cup is contested between the Bundesliga champions, which Bayern Munich won for the tenth year in a row last season and the DFB-Pokal winners.

Instagram Apologises for Pedro Almodovar’s Film Poster Censorship

acebook, the parent company of Instagram, has lifted a prohibition on a poster for Spanish director Pedro Almodovar’s latest film, which depicts a nipple producing a drop of milk. The platform “should be ashamed” for its “censorship,” according to Javier Jaen, who designed the Madres Paralelas (Parallel Mothers) commercial. The social media business has since apologised for the poster’s removal. Because of the “clear artistic context,” Facebook issued an exemption to its customary rule on nudity. Penelope Cruz plays one of two women whose paths intersect at a hospital as they prepare to give birth in the film, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 1st.

For more info: europetimes.co

September - October 2021

COVER STORY COVERSTORY

"It is personality that matters, not height or skin colour" Says the newly-crowned Manappuram Miss South India Ansi Kabeer who broke free from the shackles of inhibition and orthodoxy Sujit Chandra Kumar

ailing from an orthodox Muslim family in Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram, it was but natural for Ansi Kabeer to be a no-nonsense front-bencher in school, too studious and bashful for any extra-curricular activities. As the only child to her parents – dad was a non-resident Keralite and mom a homemaker – love and care were there in abundance but ‘discipline’ figured high up on the parenting list. Ansi did not disappoint but delighted her parents by securing admission to an engineering college in Kazhakoottam, not far from her home. Then it happened. Perhaps

it was her height that made her seniors select her as the showstopper for an inter-collegiate fashion show that they organised at the college. She was adjudged the ‘best model’. “There was no special prize or gift voucher but I felt exhilarated,” says Ansi. The show and the recognition left a deep impression on her. She realised, for the first time, that she was cut out for far more than a mere academic or professional career. The journey of self-discovery and self-actualisation that began in college culminated in Ansi lifting the coveted Manappuram Miss South India 2021 title on

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August 27 at a colourful though compact beauty pageant held at the Le Meridien hotel in Coimbatore that saw her triumphing over 13 other pretty and talented lasses selected from the five southern states. “I am overwhelmed and happy,” she reacts to her selection but adds that the process was rather effortless than stressful for her. “Perhaps because I have participated in several other pageants before, I was confident and positive about the outcome,” she lets on but goes on to add that competition was intense. “During the day of grooming, I felt that everyone was equally deserving. But perhaps

“I think there is a misconception about beauty pageants among many. I think the word ‘beauty’ should be deleted because every girl is beautiful in her own way. I think it is personality that matters. It is all about what you are and who you are.”

September - October 2021

COVER STORY COVERSTORY

For success to happen, there has to be thousands of failures preceding it. So, every girl must step out of her comfort zone and try something new. Experiencing failure is also a success.

September - October 2021

experience gave me an edge,” she says. Besides her ambition to make a mark, it was her mom’s constant support and encouragement that catapulted her forward, despite the misgivings of relatives and acquaintances that she should instead be thinking of getting married and ‘settling down’. “I am the only girl who is yet to get married in our family and girls younger than me have become mothers. It is as though marriage and bringing up kids are the only purposeful things in life. I am against this mindset and wonder why none of them have raised their voice against it. The reason why I decided to take part in the pageants is to influence other girls and help them believe in themselves,” she says. It was after she had been selected to join Infosys as a systems engineer and was waiting for her appointment letter that her mom spotted an ad in the Grihalakshmi magazine’s Face of Kerala contest and asked her to give it a shot. “I enrolled for this competition and took part in the auditions but did not make it to the final line-up. This contest made me realise how ungroomed I was. When every other girl carried a makeup kit, all I had was an eye-liner. I did not even know how to give a good ‘introduction’. I wanted to improve and prove a point to myself,” she says. She then chanced across the Miss Malabar pageant, took part in it and finished as first runner-up. Then came the Lulu beauty fest where again she was adjudged first runner-up. Meanwhile, the Infosys call letter came and she took up her job at Mysore from where she was later transferred to Thiruvananthapuram. But then, hardly happy with her partial success at the first two pageants, she was determined to become the eventual winner when she signed up for Miss Kerala and fulfilled that dream in 2019, thanks to a new confidence and devil-may-care attitude. What is it that makes a girl stand out at such pageants? Ansi explains: “I think there is a misconception about beauty pageants among many. I think the word ‘beauty’ should be deleted because every girl is beautiful in her own way. It is not possible to judge people based on their beauty and award them the crown. I think it is personality that matters. It is all about what you are and who you are.” If this is true, then why is height considered a pre-requisite for contestants?

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY

“Yes, I had this doubt too. Pageant managers have told me that this is mainly because, in international competitions, contestants who represent other countries are usually very tall, so our girls need to match up to them. But then, in this year’s Miss Universe competition, Miss Australia was quite short. In my personal opinion, neither height nor skin colour or anything should be a criterion. One’s true self is one’s beauty, in my view. What won the titles for me is my originality, not my beauty. Beauty is subjective.” What a title victory does is to give one visibility, she says. “It helps you get out of your comfort zone and do something new,” she says. Is she planning to follow on the footsteps of all those beauty queens who have tried their hand at acting? “Soon after the Miss Kerala title, there were some film offers. But I did not want to rush into it. But yes, if a significant role comes along, I may take it up.” Yet another passion is travelling and she has just returned from a Mysore trip. “I like the work-from-home mode since it allows me to travel and work from anywhere,” she says. How does she plan to strike a balance between her job and other interests? “My job provides me with a stable income, so I don’t intend to give it up. It is possible to earn a stable income from fashion and showbiz provided you are ready to take up all the assignments that come your way. But I am choosy when it comes to many things including the kind of outfits that I would be required to wear. While doing shoots, I make it clear that I am not okay with revealing clothes,” she says. Is Miss India contest the next stop for her? “Someone had suggested it earlier but I didn’t take the plunge. But I will not hold back now and may go for it,” she says with confidence. In conclusion, she has this to say about success and failure. “I have failed so many times. People only see your success. For success to happen, there has to be thousands of failures preceding it. So, every girl must step out of her comfort zone and try something new. Experiencing failure is also a success. For me, all those girls who reached the final stages were winners, not just the person who walked away with the crown,” she says

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY

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handralekha Nath, the first runner-up at the keenly contested Miss South India competition organised by Pegasus, is delighted with her performance and shows no remorse in missing the title by a whisker. “I am happy that I could make it to the top three as the competition was very tough,” says the girl who started her stint with the pageants by enrolling and winning the Miss Queen Kerala competition, another Pegasus event, last year. “I am happy with my journey so far and my next aim is to take part, and perhaps win, the forthcoming Queen of India contest.” The Queen of India contest is a national pageant organised by Pegasus Events. From childhood, Chandralekha had a dream of taking part in beauty competitions and acting in films. “I used to watch national and international beauty contests on TV along with my mother,” she says. Understanding this secret desire, her mother who is an entrepreneur, egged her on to take part in such shows but Chandralekha lacked the confidence to go for it. “I was overweight and shy. Though it was a passion, I did not have the courage to be on stage or be photographed. I did not take part in any fashion show even at the college level,” she says. “The only time I took part in any contest during college was a group Thiruvathira competition for a youth fest,” says Chandralekha, who is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer. Finally, after completing her MBA from Christ University, Bangalore, she decided that it was now or never. “While the pandemic put paid to many people’s plans, for me it provided a lot of time to prepare myself both physically and mentally,” she says. “I wasn’t confident about my body. I also used to panic at the thought of public speaking. But after my post-graduation, I told myself that if I at least did not make an attempt, I would regret it later.” It was during a pageant training class that she came to know about the Miss Queen Kerala. After winning this title, she gained an automatic entry to Miss South India. She now has her task cut out and

plans to enroll for the national-level pageants which are the stepping stones for Miss World and Miss Universe. “It requires a lot of training, both physical and mental. Physical fitness plays a very important role because you are presenting yourself before such a big audience. People may think that taking part in pageants is easy and that one has to just smile and walk around but then to put yourself out there like that and be judged is very difficult. You are not only judged on your looks but on your mental abilities and overall personality. How you speak, how you walk and how you carry yourself – everything needs to be moulded. I

still need to work a lot on myself,” she says. Acting is also on the cards, she says, but she has put a temporary pause to that aim. I want to finish with the pageant run and then take it up. “I did a small part in a movie that is yet to be released,” she reveals. Surely, the journey has only just begun for Chandralekha

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COVER STORY COVERSTORY

“What makes the difference is your aura on stage” Shwetha Jayaram has a keen understanding about pageants and she wants to pass on that knowledge to other aspirants

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hwetha Jayaram is who you would describe as a girl of eclectic interests. Pursuing her final year of graduation in chemistry in Sacred Hearts College in Kochi, she is naturally interested in science but also likes to read about psychology, human emotions and spirituality. In school and college, she has been active in public speaking, acting and recitation. Second runner-up in Miss South India 2021, she has already taken part in five beauty pageants, does a bit of modelling and is slowly establishing herself as a social media influencer. “Miss South India this year was a very nice experience for me,” she says. “I took part in this pageant last year, too, but I could not make it to the top 12. So, it was truly fulfilling and I intend to participate in the Queen of India contest whenever it happens.” It was in 2016 that Shwetha developed an interest in beauty pageants after watching episodes of Miss India on YouTube. “I was always attracted by the fact that pageants are a platform where you get to know more about yourself. It also merges a lot of my interests together. I love performing on stage, I love fashion, experience new things and meet new people. Pageantry is something that amalgamates all these things together. Once I started participating, I realised that it really improved my confidence and enhanced my life skills in different ways. I don’t know if I can make a career out of it yet since I am way too young to know it. But it is something I truly enjoy doing. Preparing for pageants, performing and all the rest of it have truly transformed my personality in a very positive way,” she says. What separates the winner from the other contestants? “When it comes to a pageant, it is all about how the judges perceive you,” she explains. “It all depends on who performs best on stage on that particular night. Personality, your smile, it could be any aspect that could tilt the scales. As the judges told us, it is often a half mark or quarter mark that can bring you down a position.” She goes on to add: “I think what makes a difference is your aura on stage and that comes when you truly believe in yourself. No matter what dress you are wearing, what make-up, what your height is or complexion, it doesn’t matter. If you are confident from within, it will truly show on stage. That’s what the judges will be able to connect with. That connection is what you are trying to establish while you are on stage. That I think is what decides a winner.” With such a clear understanding of what goes into a pageant, it is not surprising that she aspires to be a pageant groomer someday. “I would love to share my knowledge with other girls and help them believe in themselves and help them win,” she says. She is still figuring out which of her various interests she would like to pursue in the long term and perhaps she would multi-task with a corporate career along with one in glam and showbiz. She pooh-poohs the idea that pageants and fashion fests project an unrealistic standard of beauty for

women. “Pageants don’t objectify women,” she says. “It is people who objectify them. If you see the women who participate, each one of them is different. Even when on stage, with a full face of make-up and all glammed up, we are still individuals with flaws and we are as imperfect as anyone else. As a pageant winner, what I try to establish is a relatability quotient. Whether through my social media or otherwise, I want to show that pageants are not just about the glam side of things, that there is a lot of hard work that girls put into it, that it is a place where you need a lot of confidence. In a world that is primarily patriarchal, pageants really empower women to be themselves and to be confident in who they are. It is a platform where you introspect about yourself and gain self-awareness. When people realise this, the wrong perception will start changing.”

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BUSINESS

The US Fed has printed money at a frenetic pace after the pandemic, and the run-up in inflation has already begun. In April this year, US consumer price inflation registered an increase of 4.2% over the year, with equally hefty increases in the months following. Yet, the gold price has not gained as conventional wisdom would suggest.

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

IS BITCOIN TAKING THE SHEEN OFF GOLD?

write in continuation of my earlier article “Gold: Outlook for 2021 and the competition from cryptocurrencies” published in the February 2021 issue of this magazine. In that article, I had looked at how investors, uncomfortable with the surge in money printing by central banks, have fuelled a rush of money into digital cryptocurrency. The returns on gold during the calendar year 2021 were far outstripped by the multi-fold rise in Bitcoin and other digital cryptocurrencies. Consequently, investors wary of the US dollar in this age of unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus were shifting a part of their portfolio from gold to bitcoins. The size of the market for cryptocurrencies had reached a third of private-sector gold investments in just a decade. I had

concluded with the observation that had Bitcoin not emerged as an alternative, gold prices would have continued to move up to new peaks. Now, looking at subsequent developments, in FY 2020, gold prices were steadily on the ascendant and closed with substantial gains of more than 24%. However, in FY 2021, gold did touch a record of USD 2,062 per ounce on 7 August 2020 but all the gains were given up by the end of the year to close flat at USD 1,685 per ounce. This was, of course, the year that bore the brunt of the pandemic. Due to prolonged lockdowns and other containment measures, the world economy had suffered much damage. The US GDP plunged by 32.9% (annualised) in the June 2020 quarter while the full-year GDP declined 3.5%, it's the worst

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year since World War II ended. Likewise, India’s GDP contracted by a record 23.9% in the June 2020 quarter while its full-year GDP for FY 2021 shrank by 7.3%.

Central banks respond to the pandemic

Responding to the economic distress, central banks around the world stepped up monetary stimulus. The US Fed Funds rate was dropped to near zero, and from June 2020 onwards, they began a new round of quantitative easing to pump money and shore up the economy. The US Fed is currently injecting liquidity to the tune of US $ 120 billion every month by purchasing $80 billion worth of US treasury bonds and $40 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities (to support the real estate market). This money is all newly created money, in other words,

created out of thin air. Further, to alleviate distress among ordinary people, the US government also added fiscal stimulus as part of Covid relief. By the time Joe Biden took over as President, most Americans barring the wealthy had already received two payments of $1200 and $600 per person. After the passage of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in March

2021, millions of Americans have received a further one-time direct payment of up to $1,400 each. On top of all this, the US Federal government has been providing an extra weekly payment of US$300 to all its unemployed citizens (which expires in September 2021). The US was not alone. When financial conditions began to tighten in March 2020, most central banks in the advanced economies

rapidly injected liquidity through market operations and purchased government bonds to support market functioning. Other measures to support economic activity included lower policy rates, the introduction of new or expanded asset purchase programs, and schemes to lower longer-term interest rates and to support the flow of credit to businesses and households.

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BUSINESS

Chart 1: Money Supply Growth in Major Advanced Economies

With all this free money sloshing around, and with interest rates held at near-zero levels, conventional wisdom would suggest that the price of gold should have shot through the roof. However, the reality is that after the peak of US$2,062 on 7 August 2020, gold prices ended up correcting sharply and touched a low of US$1,685 on 31 March 2021. Since then, it has gained somewhat but continues to struggle to hold levels above US$1,800. What could be the reasons or the likely factors holding down gold and preventing its rise to the levels expected of it? Many analysts would point to the strength of the recovery in the global economy and the rapid gains in the stock market as

factors shifting money away from gold. While this is true for now, the fact is, investors who put money into gold are often those seeking a haven investment, especially at a time of valid fears about currency debasement causing a resurgence of inflation. The US Fed has printed money at a frenetic pace after the pandemic, and the run-up in inflation has already begun. In April this year, US consumer price inflation registered an increase of 4.2% over the year, with equally hefty increases in the months following. Yet, the gold price has not gained as conventional wisdom would suggest.

The Bitcoin Factor

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That brings us to Bitcoin and

the outsized gains this cryptocurrency has posted over the last one to one-and-a-half years. Consider the period from 7 August 2020 onwards. That was the day that gold price had hit a peak of US$ 2,062 per ounce and Bitcoin was trading at US$11,592 per digital coin. Fast forward to recent days (first week of September) when gold trades at about US$ 1,812, a decline of 12% from the peak, while Bitcoin is fetching US$ 49,999 apiece, more than 4 times the level on 7 August 2020. The below table plots the difference in price between one Bitcoin and one troy ounce of gold, and it shows how much Bitcoin has gained over gold in recent months.

Chart 2: US Dollar vs. Bitcoin – Difference in US$ price between one Bitcoin and one ounce of Gold

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency without a central bank or single administrator which can also be transferred from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network which does not need intermediaries. Transactions are recorded in a public distributed ledger called a blockchain after they are verified by network nodes using codes (cryptography) which also ensures anonymity for the users. The currency began to use in 2009 when its implementation was released as open-source software. The idea behind a decentralized cryptocurrency was to eliminate centralized control of money from government agencies. An alternate currency, outside the purview of governments and government agencies, is an idea with merit and

appeals to our instinct or gut feeling. By design, Bitcoin limits the maximum number of bitcoins that can be generated to 21 million. This is cited as an advantage over paper currency that can be printed at will by central banks. Besides, its design makes it especially useful for international transfers which would attract currency conversion charges otherwise, and also carry settlement and counterparty risks. Another point in favour of Bitcoin is that you don’t need a bank account to transact with Bitcoins. However, the drawbacks are also equally, if not more, substantial. Firstly, it is not backed by any physical asset and that makes it just like any fiat or paper currency. Secondly, a very important function

of currency is to act as a store of value. The sheer volatility in Bitcoin prices makes it unreliable as a store of value through speculators would find it attractive. Thirdly, in its role as a currency for day-to-day transactions, it suffers from systemic limitations such as painfully slow transaction speeds. That’s because each transaction requires validation by a network of other users called “miners” who solve complex mathematical problems to verify the transactions on the network. The miners get rewarded with bitcoins based on their success in solving such problems. The below table shows the month-to-month volatility in the price of Bitcoin since 2013 which points to its unsuitability as a store of value.

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Despite these limitations, Bitcoin has attracted a large following among retail investors who are fanatically loyal to it. Indeed, there is a new term for this loyal band; they are called “HODLers.” Originally, it was a misspelling of “hold” but now it has come to mean, “Hold On for Dear Life.” Moreover, in recent months, thanks to the recent spectacular up move in Bitcoin prices, institutional investors have also got into the act. The most talked-about example is that of Elon Musk and Tesla which bought bitcoin worth US 1.5 billion in the month of February 2021.

Summing up

As bitcoin essentially caters to the same concerns and fears that

long-term investors in gold have, it is clear that a substantial chunk of the money that should have flowed into gold is now going into bitcoin. Over the last 12 months, the market capitalisation of Bitcoin has risen from US$ 216 billion to US$ 884 billion having briefly crossed the US$ 1,100 billion mark in March 2021. Therefore, there is good reason to believe that Bitcoin’s rise has blunted the appreciation in the gold price. What remains to be seen is how long this interest in cryptocurrency sustains. Many well-informed and sensible observers have declared the bitcoin frenzy to be nothing but a bubble, bound to burst sooner or later. There is now talk of launching a cryptocurrency backed by gold, which will of-

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fer the technological functionalities of Bitcoin but backed a real and valuable physical asset. Therefore, when taking a longterm view, it is likely that the Bitcoin mania will wane given its limitations as a currency. Also, should there be a collapse in price, investors will lose because it’s not backed by any physical asset. If this should come to pass, we may then expect gold prices to rise substantially. And if a viable cryptocurrency backed by gold emerges, that will also be a major boost for gold (V.P. Nandakumar is MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd. Views are personal.)

BUSINESS

Rajesh Nair Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

Thinking itself is a difficult habit in today’s world. But it is fundamental for us to learn and unlearn. The digital nature of things necessitates it. Changes in technology demand immense synergies with education and the future employment scenario.

New Ways to Productivity in the Emerging World

e have talked endlessly about the changes brought in by technology. The larger business landscape and the broad workings of every industry have been transformed. While the ‘way we do business’ is changing workstyles, the most significant changes will happen to the individual habits and the way we look at productivity. The quotidian 9-5 job is passe! We will perhaps not see any of the emerging jobs coming with the security of ‘changeless’ environments. We will now be faced with a world where we will have to constantly re-engineer ourselves and be prepared for huge changes in every aspect of our waking life. As the renowned author,

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Alvin Toffler says, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” Increasingly, change is not something that we will have to negotiate with time and again but managing change will be as fundamental as managing life! Whatever work sphere we are in, there are some fundamental changes to what resembles ‘productive’ and what must constitute ‘habits’ for us in the long term. These are not short-term measures to keep us going till the world changes back to normal! There is no return to the old normal. We will move into a world that would have changed forever and there is no vestige

of the past that we can hope to see again. Author Charles Duhigg has an interesting take on productivity in his book, Smarter, Faster, Better. It explains productivity in this way: ‘It’s basically being able to first identify your goals, what matters most to you, and then being able to achieve those, without stress and strife and a sense of incompleteness in chasing them. Not necessarily getting everything you want, but not having that thing sitting on your shoulders, about whether you’re ever going to be able to get close to what you actually want.’ While your productivity goals

change daily to the tasks and the jobs you encounter, a basic unit of all this, is the list of activities we categorise as ‘habit’. And the most fundamental habit is ‘DEEP THINKING’. Thinking more deeply, training ourselves to think more with intent about the choices that we are making, to make sure that what we are doing right now, aligns with what we think is most important, and acknowledging that it might be different yesterday and it might be different tomorrow, is the essence of deep thinking. Thinking itself is a difficult habit in today’s world. But it is fundamental for us to learn and unlearn. The

digital nature of things necessitates it. Changes in technology demand immense synergies with education and the future employment scenario. The student who enters the portal of employment and entrepreneurship has some baffling puzzles to solve. The traditional career ambitions are sure to be disrupted by some of the attractive jobs of today that will change in nature and character. Looking from the point of view of early and professional education, the significant divide in the earlier decades, between the earning capacity of a good student and the below-average student was more

September - October 2021

BUSINESS

The tactical steps to implement the strategy are often underrated and the work is left to ‘the lesser others’. These are not blunders or mistakes on the part of the able gurus who articulate strategy; nor are they the inefficiencies and the lack of capability of the resources who are implementing. It is the nature of the beast.

stark. More college qualification in India, normally, was some sign of future success. Of course, exceptions were always there. Today, this divide is fading. The key habits remain much of the same and core to the way we live and collaborate. These are just three:-

Ability to Listen The changes we see around us also lend themselves. The additional need of clearing out your mind is the need to sit and understand the pace

of change in our work lives. The empty desk in yesterday’s office with perhaps a notebook and a bunch of files in the ‘IN’ tray is the visage of a very distant past, which we remember with a sense of nostalgia and wistful blues. We now have perpetually scrolling screens in front of us, be it the computers we work on, the smartphones we doodle on, and the myriad screens everywhere. The apps ensure a ‘push’ model on daily news, which sends you news faster than you can digest. The anticipa-

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tory wait for the daily newspaper in the morning with a cup of tea or coffee is non-existent now; the websites and social media ensure you get all the news you want in a split second, whether you want it or not!

Ability to De-clutter the Mind Thinking time is not just a philosophical or spiritual conversation with oneself. It is not also a luxury you take once in a blue moon! This time has to be integrated with your daily life. This silence needs to reap-

pear several times in your working day. You cannot let all this ‘thinking through’ wait till your next weekend or for your next annual vacation. The managers who are able to work through this ‘work-think’ integration will increasingly understand the surge in consciousness they have about their lives and the maturity to pre-empt at least some of the changes and make adequate changes. The criticality of slowing down our mental muddle—to find the time and space to think—is nothing new, of course, and thought leaders of every generation, have always reminded us that the more attention we pay to the moment, the less time and energy we have to place it in some larger context. “Distraction is the only thing that consoles us for our miseries,” the French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote in the 17th century, “and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries.” He also famously remarked that all of man’s problems come from his inability to

sit quietly in a room alone.

Ability to Act In the last decade, a prominent word, perhaps also the most used, in management literature has been ‘strategy’. The ability to chart direction, the ability to plan over a time horizon, the ability to forecast economic macro and micro tendencies, the ability to articulate what the future look like et.al. Pundits often diminish the clout of other words and concepts and have put a strategy in a ‘pride of place’. This also meant the top dollar went to the strategists and while consulting firms globally have done stellar work in this space, there has also been the perennial spurt of advisors in this area. Every butcher, baker, and the candlestick maker were staking claim to being strategists. Truth be told, some of the seminal frameworks and management literature in strategy have lent a frame to modern management thought and some of them are still very fundamental to neglect. The problem has never been

the embellishment of strategy, but that we forgot to think through and take action when the ‘rubber hit the road’. No amount of preparation and pre-thought prepares you for what happens when you implement improvement and change initiatives. The tactical steps to implement the strategy are often underrated and the work is left to ‘the lesser others’. These are not blunders or mistakes on the part of the able gurus who articulate strategy; nor are they the inefficiencies and the lack of capability of the resources who are implementing. It is the nature of the beast. At to the woes, the state of flux in our times keeps the ‘ground shifting’ always. The baseline is not constant anymore and even basic variables we had control over are subject to erratic behaviour. At the end of it, conscious adoption and adaptation will be core to how we will find the future and how we will leverage it to be more productive and achieve our dreams and aspirations!

September - October 2021

HEALTH

Visual problems include refractive errors, strabismus, Cataracts Keratoconus, glaucoma. Hearing problems are otitis media with effusion and chronic ear infections due to poor eustachian tube function. Excessive ear wax can also cause hearing loss due to obstruction of the outer ear canal.

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.

Know More About Downs Syndrome

8-year-old Bhandari and his 34yr old wife Shelly came to the NS OP with their 3-month-old son whom they got after 2 years of courtship. Obviously, their marriage was a late marriage. They were really apprehensive and filled with doubt about their son a rather floppy baby with a small nose, almond eyes with epicanthal folds, and small mouth with protruding tongue. During pregnancy, various tests and ultrasound scanning had revealed few abnormalities, but the couple were reluctant to terminate the baby as they were already worried about the late conceiving plus the trauma of terminating the pregnancy. They decided to continue the pregnancy ready to take any risk. The child was diagnosed with Downs syndrome leaving the hapless parents with a bunch of questions and apprehension about his future. How did it happen to us? Is it due to any environmental factors or any genetic defect in any of the parents? What will be the future of this child? Will

subsequent siblings be the same? Down syndrome (trisomy of chromosome 21) is the most common chromosome abnormality in humans occurring in about one per 1000 babies born each year. It is typically associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial and physical features, mild to moderate intellectual disability, poor immune function, and increased risk of a number of other health problems, including congenital heart disease, leukemia, thyroid disorders, and mental illness.

Risk Factors for Downs Syndrome Include:

• Advancing Maternal Age. A woman's chances of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome increase with age because older eggs have a greater risk of improper chromosome division. By age 35, a woman's risk of conceiving a child with Down syndrome is about 1 in 350. By age 40, the risk is about 1 in 100, and by age 45, the risk is about 1 in 30. • Having had one child with

September - October 2021

Down syndrome risk for the next child with downs syndrome is about 1 in 100. • Mothers who have Down syndrome themselves are 50% more likely to give birth to a child with Down syndrome. • Being carriers of the genetic translocation for Down syndrome. Parents can pass down a chromosomal abnormality called a balanced translocation, which contributes to the Translocation Down syndrome. In this instance, the parent does not have signs of Down syndrome, but has genetic material "balanced" between chromosome 21 and another chromosome, posing an increased risk for the child if that material attaches to the other chromosome when the cell divides. • Folate metabolism is abnormal in mothers of children with Down syndrome and that this may be explained, in part, by a mutation in the MTHFR gene. Physical features include short stature, small chin, slanted eyes,

poor muscle tone, a flat nasal bridge, a single crease of the palm, a protruding tongue due to a small mouth, and a large tongue, a flat and wide face, a short neck, excessive joint flexibility, extra space between the big toe and second toe, abnormal patterns on the fingertips and short fingers Neurological features include mild (IQ: 50–70) or moderate (IQ: 35–50) intellectual disability. Many developmental milestones are delayed. As they age, people with Down syndrome typically perform less well compared to their same-age peers. Commonly, individuals with Down syndrome have better language understanding than the ability to speak. Many have either a stutter or rapid and irregular speech, making it difficult to understand them. They typically do fairly well with social skills. Behavior problems are not generally as great an issue as in other syndromes associated with in-

tellectual disability in children with Down syndrome, mental illness occurs in nearly 30% with autism occurring in 5–10%. People with Down syndrome experience a wide range of emotions. While generally happy, symptoms of depression and anxiety may develop in early adulthood. Down syndrome is at increased risk of epileptic seizures which occur in 5–10% of children and up to 50% of adults. Many who live 40 years or longer develop dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Visual problems include refractive errors, strabismus, Cataracts Keratoconus, glaucoma. Hearing problems are otitis media with effusion and chronic ear infections due to poor eustachian tube function. Excessive ear wax can also cause hearing loss due to obstruction of the outer ear canal. Age-related hearing loss of the sensorineural type occurs at a much earlier age and affects 10– 70% of people with Down syndrome.

Congenital Heart Diseases in Down syndrome include atrioventricular septal defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, and patent ductus arteriosus. Mitral valve problems become common as people age. The risk of leukemia and testicular cancer is increased and the risk of solid cancers is reduced. Solid cancers are believed to be less common due to increased expression of tumor suppressor genes present on chromosome 21. Cancers of the blood are 10 to 15 times more common in children with Down syndrome. In particular, acute lymphoblastic leukemia is 20 times more common and the megakaryoblastic form of acute myelogenous leukemia is 500 times more common. Thyroid problems can be due to a poorly or nonfunctioning thyroid at birth (known as congenital hypothyroidism) or due to an attack on the thyroid by the immune system

September - October 2021

HEALTH

resulting in Graves disease or autoimmune hypothyroidism. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is also more common. GIT problems like Constipation occurs in nearly half of people with Down syndrome Other congenital problems include duodenal atresia, pyloric stenosis, Meckel diverticulum, imperforate anus. Celiac disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease Males with Down usually do not father children, while females have lower rates of fertility. It is said that fertility is estimated to be present in 30–50% of women. Menopause typically occurs at an earlier age. The poor fertility in men is thought to be due to problems with sperm development; however, it may also be related to not being sexually active. Three instances of males with Down syndrome fathering children and 26 cases of women having children have been reported.

Diagnosis Before Birth

Several blood markers can be measured to predict the risk of Down syndrome during the first or second trimester. Testing in both trimesters is sometimes recommended and test results are often combined with ultrasound results. In the second trimester, often two or three tests are used in combination with two or three of: α-fetoprotein, unconjugated estriol, total hCG, and free βhCG detecting about 60–70% of cases. Testing of the mother's blood for fetal DNA is being studied and appears promising in the first trimester. The International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis considers it a reasonable screening option for those women whose pregnancies are at high risk for trisomy 21. Accuracy has been reported at 98.6% in the first trimester of pregnancy. Confirmatory testing by invasive techniques (amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling) is still required to confirm the screening result.

September - October 2021

USG Findings that indicate increased risk when seen at 14 to 24 weeks of gestation include a small or no nasal bone, large ventricles, nuchal fold thickness, and an abnormal right subclavian artery. Increased fetal nuchal translucency (NT) indicates an increased risk of Down syndrome picking up 75–80% of cases.

Diagnosis After Birth

The diagnosis can often be suspected based on the child's physical appearance at birth. An analysis of the child's chromosomes is needed to confirm the diagnosis, and to determine if a translocation is present, as this may help determine the risk of the child's parents having further children with Down syndrome.

Managing a Child with Downs Syndrome

Efforts such as early childhood intervention, screening for common problems, medical treatment where indicated, a good family environment, and work-related training can

improve the development of children with Down syndrome. Education and proper care can improve the quality of life. Raising a child with Down syndrome is more work for parents than raising an unaffected child. Typical childhood vaccinations are recommended. A number of health organizations have issued recommendations for screening those with Down syndrome for particular diseases. This is recommended to be done systematically. At birth, all children should get an electrocardiogram and ultrasound of the heart. Surgical repair of heart problems may be required as early as three months of age. Heart valve problems may occur in young adults, and further ultrasound evaluation may be needed in adolescents and early adulthood. Due to the elevated risk of testicular cancer, some recommend checking the person's testicles yearly.

Cognitive Development

Hearing aids or other amplification devices can be useful for language learning in those with hearing loss. ]Speech therapy may be useful and is recom-

mended to be started around 9 months of age. As those with Down's typically have good hand-eye coordination, learning sign language may be possible Augmentative and alternative communication methods, such as pointing, body language, objects, or pictures, are often used to help with communication. Behavioral issues and mental illness are typically managed with counseling and/or medications. Education programs before reaching school age may be useful. School-age children with Down syndrome may benefit from inclusive education (whereby students of differing abilities are placed in classes with their peers of the same age), provided some adjustments are made to the curriculum.

Others

Tympanostomy tubes are often needed and often more than one set during the person's childhood. Tonsillectomy is also often done to help with sleep apnea and throat infections. Surgery, however, does not always address sleep apnea and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine may

be useful. Physical therapy and participation in physical education may improve motor skills. Efforts to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection with human monoclonal antibodies should be considered, especially in those with heart problems. Plastic surgery has been suggested as a method of improving the appearance and thus the acceptance of people with Down's. It has also been proposed as a way to improve speech Many alternative medical techniques are used in Down syndrome include: dietary changes, massage, chiropractics , and naturopathy,

Future Prospects

Efforts are underway to determine how the extra chromosome 21 material causes Down syndrome, as currently, this is unknown, and to develop treatments to improve intelligence in those with the syndrome. One hope is to use stem cells. Other methods being studied include the use of antioxidants, gammasecretase inhibition, adrenergic agonists, and memantine

Surgical repair of heart problems may be required as early as three months of age. Heart valve problems may occur in young adults, and further ultrasound evaluation may be needed in adolescents and early adulthood.

September - October 2021

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.

idhi companies, especially those in Kerala, are currently embroiled in litigation which could virtually endanger their very existence and bring this business undertaking yeoman services to a grinding halt. It is well known that such companies are largely predominant in Kerala and that they primarily service members who hail from the ‘unbanked’ sections.

At the outset, what is a ‘Nidhi’ company?

A ‘Nidhi’ is primarily regulated under section 406 of the Companies Act, 2013 (‘CA, 2013’) read in conjunction with the Nidhi Rules, 2014 (‘the Nidhi Rules’). A ‘Nidhi’ has been defined under Rule 3(da) to mean “a company which has been incorporated as a Nidhi with the object of cultivating the habit of thrift and savings amongst its members receiving deposits from, and lending

Interestingly, the retrospective operation was introduced through the Rules, which in my view, is also against the spirit and intent of section 406 of the CA Act, 2013. Apparently, the term “meets” too has an inherent subjectivity, which one would argue bestows unbridled discretion on the approving authority.

to, its members only, for their mutual benefit, and which complies with the rules made by the Central Government for regulation of such class of companies.” As is apparent, these are entities that are incorporated with the intent of inculcating the habit of thrift among the members. Pertinently, such companies primarily deal only with its members, as they are run “by the members” for the benefit of “the members”. It would also be relevant to state that section 406 as it stood introduced in CA Act, 2013 automatically regarded a company as a ‘Nidhi’ it was incorporated as a ‘Nidhi’ with the object of cultivating the habit of thrift and savings among its members, receiving deposits from, and lending to, its members only, for their mutual benefit. Thus, once incorporated as a ‘Nidhi’, the said status could not be altered. In a rather strange amendment

September - October 2021

that came into effect on August 15, 2019, the government inter-alia introduced two new rules, ie, Rules 3A and 23A to the Nidhi Rules. The said rules inter-alia mandated existing Nidhi companies to obtain a ‘fresh’ declaration, albeit already functioning as a Nidhi, from the government. For this purpose, existing Nidhi companies were mandated to apply in a form, styled, Form NDH-4 within a specified time frame. Further, if the government was “satisfied” that the applicant “meets” the requirements of the Nidhi Rules, it would notify such “applicant” as a ‘Nidhi’ in the Official Gazette. Interestingly, the retrospective operation was introduced through the Rules, which in my view, is also against the spirit and intent of section 406 of the CA Act, 2013. Apparently, the term “meets” too has an inherent subjectivity, which one would argue bestows unbridled discretion on the approving

IS THE CRACKDOWN ON NIDHI COMPANIES UNCALLED FOR?

authority. Post the said amendment, existing companies had preferred applications seeking a fresh “declaration” as a ‘Nidhi’. In the context of the various applications received, the government in a statement which was reported by a leading newspaper on August 24, 2021, stated as follows: “It has been observed that companies have been applying to the Central government for declaration

as Nidhi under the CA, 2013, but of the 348 number of forms scrutinised up to August 24, 2021, not a single company could satisfy the requisite criteria for it to be declared as a Nidhi company by the Central government.” This statement triggers various questions. Is the government trumpeting its sudden fond affection of cleansing sectors or is it a raw display of the arrogance and the tyrannical

approach of the government, which appears to be not merely imposed but clearly immanent? To me, the strong sense of schadenfreude is apparent in the statement issued by the government. I ask myself this question, if not a “single company” was allegedly scrupulously failing to adhere to the Nidhi Rules, what were the regulators concerned doing since 2013? Shouldn’t they too be put to task, courtesy, their own adminis-

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FINANCE

In my view, the action of the Central government in withholding of the declaration would fail to meet the test of proportionality, amongst various other grounds. It is time that governments of the day understand that law cannot be used as a ruse for targeted harassment or to emasculate the citizenry. It is also equally important that we truly relish and understand the meaning of our freedom.

trative lethargy, and lackadaisical approach? Interestingly, the government appears to be silent on holding its officials, the obsequious vassals, accountable? Various Nidhi companies in Kerala have challenged the action of the government in withholding their declaration before the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. The petitioners in their writ petitions have also challenged the amendments effected to the Nidhi Rules, as being ultra-vires the CA Act, 2013 apart from being violative of Articles 14, 19, 21, and 300A of the Constitution of India. To me, the act of “withholding” declaration is akin to a death sentence. Viewed in that perspective, a question that arises therefore

is whether “withholding” of declaration would satisfy the test of “proportionality”, especially when a large section of these companies have been performing well, without complaints from its members. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Modern Dental College & Research Centre (2016) 7 SCC 353 laid down a four-pronged step to test whether an action satisfies the test of proportionality: 1. That the measure is designated for a proper purpose, 2. That the measures are rationally connected to the fulfillment of the purpose, 3. That there are no alternative less invasive measures and 4. That there is a proper relation between the importance of achieving the aim and the impor-

September - October 2021

tance of limiting the right. In my view, the action of the Central government in withholding of the declaration would fail to meet the test of proportionality, amongst various other grounds. It is time that governments of the day understand that law cannot be used as a ruse for targeted harassment or to emasculate the citizenry. It is also equally important that we truly relish and understand the meaning of our freedom. I would hope that the government would display its magnanimity and consider introducing a scheme whereby defaults, if any, could be cured/rectified. This would also be in conformity with the government’s claim of creating a ‘business’ friendly atmosphere rather than increasing litigation

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.

Use the power of your subconscious to tap the immensely dominant potential inside you, figure out the elements that are sabotaging your success, find out fundamentals that will help you succeed, realize your strong areas to focus on, and leap into action.

CREATE YOUR OWN REALITY! “Everything is within your power, and your power is within you.”

he transformative power of your subconscious mind had always been a mystery. For centuries, humankind had been in the pursuit to tap the supreme most potentials of the innermost realms of our mysterious minds. During the decades we learned a lot about how to unlearn and re-learn, and how we can reprogram our own minds in order to achieve success. Our subconscious has control and effect over everything we do and experience. Studies have revealed that we can indeed make our imaginations and dreams a reality if we know how to control our minds. It is like a mental magnet. Our mind is very powerful. It stores all the data that we come across in life, whether we decide to run it or not. Just like driving, cooking, operating a machine, etc. has become an organic drill for you today

as it has become a habit. You really don’t need to tediously focus on the activities anymore as you used to while in the initial days of learning it. Our subconscious mind recognizes and stores the patterns of our thoughts and activities of everyday life, which helps it to mould our selfconcept. This is why it becomes important for us to be aware and conscious of what we feed our minds. Because knowingly or unknowingly whatever we feed in, is what controls us tomorrow. In case we see that some patterns are not benefitting or acting in adverse, we need to quickly channelize ourselves into changing these set patterns. This is easy said than done, as it is difficult to challenge an already formed habit. However, in order to succeed in lifechanging, the patterns to our benefit become imperative ad inevitable. When we are talking about our subconscious mind, we cannot omit “intuition”. We have often felt some ‘voices’ from inside talking to us over

September - October 2021

some situations – sometimes to do some things and sometimes not to do. These that we feel, we call it ‘vibes’, ‘feelings’, ‘connection’ or ‘intuition’, is a gut feeling which leads us to the right thing. Today there is a lot of highlighting happening worldwide or reasoning, rationalizing, and logical decision making. Most of the time, when you follow your intuition genuinely, you later realize that it was the right thing to do. Intuition is a more fluid way of immediate decision-making approach, which is less structured. As intuition doesn’t rely on logical reasoning, we find it difficult to explain these ‘inner voices’. This intuitive thinking emerges from the Subconscious mind where a huge amount of information lies without our knowledge. That is why when our analytical conscious mind sometimes fails to reach a favourable solution, but your intuitive subconscious abruptly comes up with a key unexplainably. The Subconscious as we know has access to everything we

hear, see, feel and experience from childhood and has been recorded and saved, the mystery is that it access information from the universal consciousness-collective too. This is a power and phenomenon beyond humankind’s understanding & imagination, something that man is yet to comprehend. Listening to your subconscious definitely provides you with a competitive edge. Most of the time, business people in the entrepreneur world do not concur with this, as they live in a realm of data and analytics, and to them, it should be more logical than just a feeling. We are forced to leave our emotions

at home. However, the new studies show us that our best counsel afterall lies deep within us; it is always wiser to listen to our own inner gut feeling when it comes to taking crucial decisions. Today, look into yourself and ask a question – have you reached your full potential? If not, what’s holding you back? Whatever it may be, there is a way out. Use the power of your subconscious to tap the immensely dominant potential inside you, figure out the elements that are sabotaging your success, find out fundamentals that will help you succeed, realize your strong areas to focus on, and

leap into action. Tapping the potential of your subconscious – is the key to success. It is just a decision away. Reprogram your mind. How? Step one is to Accept that you have to. Decide that you need to change. Agree on your limiting beliefs and then disagree to go forward with them. You are only disagreeing on things that are hindering your growth, those bogus dogmas that hold you bound. The next step then is to be Determined. Taking a decision to commit until you succeed and take action. There will be many obstacles and hurdles that will pull you back. The first phase of repro-

September - October 2021

gramming your mind is difficult, as you are swimming against the current, against the formed patterns and habits you’ve built for months & years. However, once you cross the threshold of mediocrity, it becomes another habit to break patterns. Most of the time, we might be withholding ourselves with negative narrations we, unfortunately, invented on our way. Unfortunately, we are storehouses of impressions – we become what we think, we become what we believe. We act on our thoughts and beliefs. So it is important that we choose – Positive. Every human being faces the fear of fail-

ure. Your conscious mind might tell you, as per the data available, that it is not practically possible. But that is where you need to activate your subconscious and take that leap of faith. Negative thoughts will cost you high. Have clear specific goals in your head which will push you faster to your goal. Let all that positivity in you take you to the heights. Affirmations and repetitions of these desires and goals will be imbibed by your Subconscious and it will start working in favor of you. What you have in your mind, you hold in your hand. What you imagine will happen, will become your

September - October 2021

reality one day! So, the first step is to dream! Even when you cannot substantiate any results then. It might look a bit difficult for you to believe things you cannot validate initially – it is just like learning to walk, but you’ll definitely be able to do it one day with adequate practice. It is true that we cannot change our beliefs overnight. But once we do, that is our journey to Success! Feed your Subconscious what you want it to manifest, and it shall be done! Make a difference in your life, a Big difference. And only YOU can do that, by resorting to the power of your subconscious!

GADGETS

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

Rs. 1,49,999 (Approximately) Android v11 7.6 inches (19.3 cm) Display 12 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP Primary Cameras 10 MP + 4 MP Front Camera 12 GB RAM 256 GB Internal Storage 4400 mAh Battery Capacity

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

Rs 84,999 (Approximately) Android v11 6.7 inches (17.02 cm) Display 12 MP + 12 MP Primary Cameras 10 MP Front Camera 8 GB RAM 128 GB Internal Storage 3300 mAh Battery Capacity

September - October 2021

Sony Xperia 10 III Lite

Rs 31,690 (Approximately) Android v11 6.0 inches (15.24 cm) Display 12 MP + 8 MP + 8 MP Primary Cameras 8 MP Front Camera 6 GB RAM 64 GB Internal Storage 4500 mAh Battery Capacity

Google Pixel 5a

Rs 33,490 (Approximately) Android v11 6.34 inches (16.1 cm) Display 12.2 MP + 16 MP Primary Cameras 8 MP Front Camera 6 GB RAM 128 GB Internal Storage 4680 mAh Battery Capacity

September - October 2021

BEAUTY

Eat Your Greens and Be Power-Packed

ating diet-rich food including leafy greens can offer numerous health benefits such as the reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and mental illness. Leafy green vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber but low in calories. These veggies should be a compulsory part of your routine diet. They play an important role in helping you to recover from certain health conditions and illnesses. The vitamin C found in many green leafy vegetables helps the body produce collagen, a key factor in maintaining healthy skin and hair as you age. Let’s take a look at some of the amazing health benefits of green leafy vegetables.

Kale

It contains almost all the best leafy greens can offer. Kale is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, folate, potassium, and fiber. It protects the

heart and can prevent or slow down cancer. Kale helps strengthen bones and teeth as it’s high in calcium and vitamin K.

Spinach

Spinach contains folate, vitamins A and C. Spinach is rich in potassium, which can help lower blood pressure. It moderates the production of oil in the skin pores and hair follicles to moisturize the skin and hair. Cooked spinach is more nutritious than raw.

Cabbage

This vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin C and cancerfighting compounds. Cabbage also helps keep skin looking healthy, toned, blemish-free, and glowing.

Broccoli

It is rich in vitamins C and A, potassium, folate, fiber, protein, and iron. Broccoli also contains cancerfighting sulforaphane. It also contains lutein, a carotenoid that works like beta carotene. Lutein helps protect your skin from oxidative dam-

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International

Mob: 9388618112

September - October 2021

age, which can cause your skin to become dry and wrinkled. Green leafy veggies make an important component of a balanced diet. Eat them as you like -chop them in your salads, add them to your smoothies, stuff them in your wraps and sandwiches or cook them with your favorite flavors, but don’t forget to consume them in some or the other way daily to keep your body healthy and glowing.

Stay Healthy! Stay Beautiful!

September - October 2021

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TRAVELOGUE

The Dubrovnik Cable Car takes passengers up Srd Hill, high above the Old Town, with vistas that become better and better as you climb (on clear days, it's said you can see for 50 kilometres). The trip takes less than 10 minutes, and after you are at the top, you're free to explore the surrounding region.

September - October 2021

ubrovnik dubbed the "Pearl of the Adriatic," certainly lives up to the moniker. This lovely city on Croatia's southern coast is one of the Mediterranean Sea's most popular tourist attractions. It is noted for its rich history and culture, as well as its spectacular architecture and beautiful scenery. Dubrovnik has recently gained more attention as one of the primary filming loca-

tions for HBO's hit series Game of Thrones. Created in the 7th century and ruled by the Venetians and the Hungarians throughout the years, each leaving their stamp, the city grew at its fastest throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, as evidenced by the spectacular architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Site classification. This place is known for its stunning Dalmatian Coast

oceanfront setting, as well as its evocative and historic Old Town neighborhood, which is home to Croatia's creative and intellectual elite and offers a variety of cultural activities and festivals. Walking about its attractive old streets and lanes while visiting such wonderful sites as its splendid cathedral and treasury, the long Stradun pedestrian walkway, and its many fine old palaces and fortifications are among the

September - October 2021

TRAVELOGUE

The old city walls of Dubrovnik is one of the city's most well-known features, now more than ever, thanks to its appearance in the blockbuster HBO series Game of Thrones. These powerful walls—as high as six metres in sections and up to six metres thick—were built in the 10th century and modified in the 13th and 14th centuries to provide a sturdy defence against invaders

highlights of a visit. If you're considering a vacation to Croatia, you'll need to know the local currency, the Croatian kuna (HRK). Currently, 1 USD equals roughly 6,50 kunas, whereas 1 EUR equals just over 7 kunas. Dubrovnik, particularly its Old Town, is a pricey destination. As a result, plan to pay a little more than you anticipated. The old city walls of Dubrovnik is one of the city's most well-known features, now more than ever,

thanks to its appearance in the blockbuster HBO series Game of Thrones. These powerful walls—as high as six metres in sections and up to six metres thick—were built in the 10th century and modified in the 13th and 14th centuries to provide a sturdy defence against invaders. Dubrovnik's city walls, which stretch for about two kilometres and give multiple magnificent views over the Adriatic and inwards over the old city centre, are a great site for a cas-

September - October 2021

ual stroll. The Minceta Tower (Tvrdava Minceta) and the Bokar Tower (Tvrdava Bokar), as well as two forts, the Fort Lovrjenac and the Revelin Fortress, are also noteworthy. The main entrance, on the left of Pile Gate, provides access to the walls. Fort Lovrijenac, which is located just outside the Old Town, is not only another Game of Thrones location, but the views from the fort are also among of Dubrovnik's most beautiful. The Old Town, including

the walls, maybe admired in all of its magnificence from here. Fort Lovrijenac, also known as St. Lawrence Fortress, has long been one of Croatia's most important fortresses, dubbed "Dubrovnik's Gibraltar" because of its location on a rocky promontory just beyond the city's western wall. Fort Lovrijenac is also famous for its distinctive triangular layout with three terraces, which is approached via two drawbridges and a gateway through its formidable walls, which are up to 12 metres thick in sections. The fort is utilised as a site and backdrop for Dubrovnik's famous Summer Festival and its various theatrical and musical productions, in addition to acting as a tourist attraction. Next is the Stradun which runs through the heart of the Old Town. It's also where Star Wars Episode IX was being filmed. Stradun, also known as Placa, is Dubrovnik's main thoroughfare and has been a hub of activity in the city since the 13th

century. It was once a channel that was filled in to make way for a road. Today, Stradun is often packed with people and visitors, and it is widely regarded as one of Europe's most picturesque thoroughfares. The white limestone street splits the Old Town into two fairly equal halves and goes east to west. It is lined by a variety of restaurants and cafes where you can sit and people-watch while eating or drinking. It's also the best place to go souvenir shopping in Dubrovnik. Another enjoyable activity to do in Dubrovnik is to take a cable car ride up to the hills. The Dubrovnik Cable Car takes passengers up Srd Hill, high above the Old Town, with vistas that become better and better as you climb (on clear days, it's said you can see for 50 kilometres). The trip takes less than 10 minutes, and after you are at the top, you're free to explore the surrounding region. Adults pay 170 HRK and children pay 60 HRK for a round-trip ticket

up Mount Srd Cable Car. If you want to trek or drive up or down the mountain, you can buy a one-way ticket for 90 HRK for adults and 40 HRK for children. The Rector's Palace is a must-see destination for history fans, architecture buffs, and anybody interested in seeing one of Dubrovnik's most important cultural relics. It was built in 1435 and served as the residence of the Rector of Ragusa (Dubrovnik's original name when it was an autonomous republic) until 1808. Due to various reconstructions over the years, it now has a combination of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles, as well as a lovely central courtyard. For a price of 120 HRK for adults and 25 HRK for children, the well-preserved palace is now open to the public. It now functions as a museum, with refurbished rooms and other exhibits from the city's cultural history. Many exquisite paintings by Dalmatian and Venetian artists can also be found.

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TRAVELOGUE

The Rector's Palace was used as the setting for Qarth in Game of Thrones. The Franciscan Church and Monastery in Dubrovnik is another major historic landmark to include on your Dubrovnik itinerary. This well-preserved structure was built in the late 1600s on the foundation of an earlier monastery dating from the 1100s, and currently houses one of Croatia's most significant libraries. It's a fascinating medieval pharmacy that's been in existence since 1317 (making it one of the world's oldest) and is noteworthy for its numerous

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ancient ornamented jars, measuring equipment, and mortars. It was founded in the 17th century and has a collection of more than 21,000 rare book manuscripts. There's also an on-site museum containing items of historical interest and a fine art collection. Dubrovnik is a beautiful city and there are plenty more attractions that you will witness while wandering around. Most importantly it’s the perfect place to relax, wander, eat, and drink. So enjoy every moment of being in this beautiful place

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.

September - October 2021

The Octavia comes loaded with eight airbags, ESP, park assist, fatigue warning, foot-activated tailgate, request sensor on all four doors, etc. The front seats are wide and have good bolstering on the shoulder area which can almost pass off for an RS seat.

or many years, the Octavia has been the yardstick of European quality by which other cars were measured. It was classy, good-looking, well-built, and no matter what engine you chose, it was fun to drive. There was the punchy yet frugal diesel, an all-rounder of a standard petrol

version, and a hotter RS version for enthusiasts. In short, there was an Octavia for everyone. The latest fourth-generation model has big shoes to fill and it’s not going to be easy this time. For one, it is now very expensive. The model we tested costs Rs.37 lakhs on road. Then there is the lack of a diesel en-

gine option this time around. And to make matters worse, there is a crossover pandemic going on. The previous car designed by Jozef Kaban of Bugatti Veyron fame was one of the best-looking Octavias to date. The new one has a slightly smaller wheelbase, lot more overhangs, a jacked-up body, and thinner tyres which messes up with how you perceive the Octavia styling. It plays with the classic proportions too much. To understand the difference, look up ‘Octavia Pro’ sold in China which has better proportions thanks to the longer wheelbase. The front grille is set a level lower,

the bonnet swoops down a lot and the headlamps are slimmer – all of which makes it appear pinched up towards the front. There is a lot of visual mass around the C pillar area. The rear-end design of the previous generation Octavias was a simpler affair, but this one sees some stylish tail lamps and split Skoda lettering. Our biggest gripe are those 17-inch wheels which look like a cheap aftermarket addition and the thinner tyres used. The insides are a stark departure from the previous generation. Quality has gone up unless you judge it against the price. The dashboard has

a simpler design, with cleaner minimalistic controls. Most of the functions are now integrated into the touchscreen. If you want to adjust the AC settings, that involves going into the submenu which is annoying as well as distracting. The music system in the L&K version is the 12 speakers 600W Canton audio controlled via the 10-inch screen with third-generation UI. The central AC vents are placed lower and above that sits a few buttons for essential functions and on top of that, a slider for the volume control. Internationally too, the regular Octavia doesn’t get a sunroof, but the estate and

September - October 2021

AUTO REVIEW

LWB variant does get it. The driver gets a digital gauge cluster that can toggle between a twin dial layout and a simple minimalist readout. The two spoke steering wheel that is now shared with the Karoq looks odd but is great to hold. There are excellent knurled finish knobs for the thumbs which are also clickable. eight airbags, ESP, park assist, fatigue warning, foot-activated tailgate, request sensor on all four doors, etc. The front seats are wide and have good bolstering on the shoulder area which can almost pass off for an RS seat. Even the passenger seat gets electric adjustment with three memory settings. The rear seats are much more spacious than last time with good support all over. The seats and the fabric strip on the dash are made of a cream suede material which will be tough to keep clean in the long run. The boot is 600 litres and has clever hooks, a small partition, and a cargo net. The tailgate is electrically operated and opens quite high, but you can set it to rise up only to a certain height for basement parking lots with low ceiling heights. The Octavia uses the 2.0litre four-cylinder engine that also powers the Superb, Tiguan All Space, etc. It makes 190bhp and 320Nm channelled through a 7 speed DQ381

dual-clutch gearbox. The engine is very docile at low speeds in town, with good tractability. The gearbox likes to shift up at the earliest opportunity. At times, the DSG gets a bit confused at slow speeds feeling jerky and clunky especially when parking. You don’t get any driving modes in this car. There is a strong surge once you cross 2000rpm and it gets stronger once you get past 4000. It also sounds great when revved up. 0-100kmph comes up in 8.1 seconds and the gearbox is quite responsive though not as eager as the last-gen EA888. The EVO series engine is a long stroke motor and has a relatively low redline of 6000rpm. While a few more revs would have made it even more enjoyable, it is still loads of fun and feels punchy on open roads. All generations of the Octavia have impressed us with great road manners. The ride quality is excellent with an underlying firmness that’s typical of VAG cars. The suspension is on the softer side, but the car feels very well balanced through the corners. You can feel the car tucking in more as you go faster, with help from the brake vectoring front axle. The standard-fit 205/55 R17 Goodyear Assurance tyres are inadequate for this car and they lose grip quite easily. Also, Skoda

September - October 2021

recommended tyre pressures make the ride skittish. Braking is okay, but grippier tyres would make it even more confidence-inspiring. The steering is on the lighter side and lacks proper feedback. But with an engine this eager and a chassis this dynamic, it is still a car you enjoy driving. With everyone wanting a crossover, the Octavia lands itself in a dying segment. The cars that made up the segment -the Corolla and Civic are gone; the Elantra sold here is the last-gen car. Save for a few misses, the Octavia does everything right. It feels premium, is well built, has good quality interiors, the seats are comfy, the space is decent, it is fun to drive. But all this is very expensive. You can get a Superb Sportline for roughly the same money. With everyone wanting a crossover, the Octavia finds itself in a dying segment. Driving pleasure and classy three-box proportions make way for more practicality, a tall driving position, and more ground clearance. The cars that made up the segment – the Corolla and Civic are gone. The only other car in the segment is the last-gen Elantra. We wish more people saw what a good car this was and bought more of them

MOVIE REVIEW

Home

ome is a Malayalam movie directed by Rojin Thomas. The story is about a technologically challenged dad who desperately tries to reconnect with his young sons. The story is not far from reality, often we can see them within our home, sometimes, that goes so deep in our heart. They are also relatable to all age groups, which makes it the perfect family movie to watch. All the other characters were also portrayed wonderfully. This movie was something that the Malayalam industry needed. It’s worth watching it in the pandemic period when people went back home while continuing Work From Home with parents at the home.

Chehre

hehre is an Indian Hindilanguage mystery thriller film directed by Rumy Jafry. The story revolves around an ad agency executive who takes shelter at an old man’s home in the mountains amid a dangerous snowstorm but soon finds himself trapped with no way out when the man and his clan of veterans hook him for a game of crime and punishment. The game is interesting with every scene and the focus on the narration of the scenes is commendable, the transition of the film is naturally built. Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi are seen in the movie playing lead roles.

September - October 2021

Reminiscence

eminiscence is an American neo-noir science fiction thriller film written and directed by Lisa Joy, in her feature directorial debut. The film stars Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton, Cliff Curtis, Marina de Tavira, and Daniel Wu in the lead roles. The story is about a man named Nick Bannister, a private investigator of the mind, who navigates the darkly alluring world of the past by helping his clients access lost memories. Living on the fringes of the sunken Miami coast, his life is forever changed as he uncovers a violent conspiracy while trying to solve the mystery behind a client who disappeared. It is tragic, and heartbreaking, while also keeping you on your toes because you never know what’s going to happen next. A classic mystery with numerous twists and turns.

The Girl Who Got Away

he Girl Who Got Away is a suspense thriller written and directed by Michael Morrissey. The plot is about a female serial killer who killed four young girls is sent away to prison, but a fifth victim escaped with her life. Twenty years later, the killer escapes and begins hunting for the one who survived. The film stars Kaye Tuckerman, Anni Krueger, Audrey Grace Marshall, Lexi Johnson, and others in key roles. The premise may seem simple, but the story is an involved one with great characters and developments. It's because of the amount of narrative complexity that we're able to look past the clunky parts brought on by budgetary constraints.

September - October 2021

BOOK REVIEW

A Slow Fire Burning Author Price

: Paula Hawkins : Rs.2,043 (hard cover)

slow fire burning is a dark thriller novel written by the best-selling author Paula Hawkins. It serves as a reminder that buried traumas can manifest in unexpected ways if they aren’t healed. The story revolves when a young man who is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, triggers questions about three women in particular. When it comes to revenge, even good people might be capable of terrible deeds. How far might any one of them go to find peace? How long can secrets smoulder before they explode into flame? The novel is the answer to these questions.

Not a Happy Family Author Price

: Shari Lapena : Rs 2,175 (hard cover)

ot a happy Family is an unbearably suspenseful psychological thriller by Shari Lapena centred on the murder of a wealthy couple and the dark motives that their children are trying desperately to hide. A pretty decent and undemanding mystery that will keep us guessing the unsolved puzzles. Readers, along with Detectives Reyes and Barr, work to fit the pieces of this puzzle together and bring the murderer to justice. Not a Happy Family works well as a crime novel, and there are some fun surprises. Overall, Shari Lapena has produced another engaging and entertaining read.

September - October 2021

We Are the Brennans Author Price

: Tracey Lange : Rs 1,947 (paperback)

e Are the Brennans is a Domestic Fiction novel penned by Tracey Lange. It is the story of an Irish-Catholic family fractured by shame and secrets. When eldest daughter Sunday wrecks her car after a night of heavy drinking in LA, she sets her pride aside and moves back east to her family’s New York home. In the end, the Brennan family is forced to confront painful mistakes—and ultimately find a way forward, together. This story is about secrets and how secrets can destroy a family. The style of the storytelling is nearly flawless, as each chapter transitions from one character to another. There’s a hint of mystery to the tale, which also keeps the reader engaged enough to never want to put the book down.

Velvet Was the Night Author Price

: Silvia Moreno-Garcia : Rs. 1,996 (Hardcover)

elvet Was the Night is a noir crime fiction novel penned by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The novel follows a daydreaming secretary and a lonesome enforcer who are desperate to find the mystery of a missing woman. Velvet Was the Night is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes. The novel features memorable characters, rigid pacing, an intricate plot, and antiheroes you can’t help but root for. This book leaves the reader keyed up, breathless, and eager for more of what Silvia Moreno-Garcia has to offer.

September - October 2021

EASY & BREEZY

On waking late and walking slow Sujit Chandra Kumar

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

am not one of those ‘early morning people’ who become hyperactive as soon as they wake up. A few minutes is all they need to wash their faces or be done with their ablutions before they can be on their way, walking or jogging hurriedly. It is as though they are racing against the sun mainly and want to be back in their homes before he shows up. I, on the other hand, take my own time to enjoy my bed tea, read the newspaper from cover to cover and change into something comfortable before I can venture out of my home. This means that it is at least 8 am and the town is all agog as one starts walking. The destination is usually a tea shop, a kilometre or two away. Why a second tea? Because, otherwise, there is no motivation to last at least that much distance. I have realised that the dedicated walker chooses the dark early morning hours for another reason: the doctors advise

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them to swing their arms wildly and walk briskly and this doesn’t always present a pretty sight in broad daylight. Admittedly, I walk at a rather leisurely pace and if the self-proclaimed health experts point out that this is but a waste of time from the health point of view, I would disagree violently. My answer to their criticism is that the walk is as much for the mind as it is for the body. Sure, the slow walker can’t expect to experience the ‘runner’s high’ – the brief state of euphoria experienced by runners as a result of endorphins being released into the blood – but there are other benefits. The greatest is that the mind takes its own independent journey, thanks to the much-need ‘me time’. Sometimes, you get ideas or creative flashes that may help you in your chosen profession or generally reach wise conclusions with regard to life situations. Besides, you get to meet people on the way or at the end of the journey. And, you can buy fish still dripping with blood or freshlyuprooted spinach from the wayside vendor. But some who you meet on the

way can be naggingly troublesome. I recently had to change my route because of one shopkeeper who greets me every day with, “You got late today?” These days when one is on work-from-home-or-notwork-at-all mode, there is no particular need to hit the road at nine or reach the office at 10 but these are difficult concepts to explain while you are walking. So, initially I agreed with him that I got delayed and when confronted every day, chose to avoid that stretch. There are others who simply ask if one is not ‘doing’ anything these days. Is walking not considered part of ‘doing something’? Needless to point out that it can be pesky to walk our roads in the rainy season. The roads are full of potholes and the risk of getting splashed all over is very real. There is, of course, the bigger risk of getting run over by vehicles, so it is always better to walk on the right side of the road so that vehicles do not catch you off guard from behind. Perhaps it is time someone came up with an innovative, easyto-carry rear-view mirror for pedestrians who can also then ‘keep left’ like everyone else

Printed On 09/ 09/ 2021

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