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FOCUS FEATURE MYTHS ABOUT INDIA This Republic Day, we bust a few myths about India to help you update your ‘India Quotient’ FOREIGN SHORES DOCTOR WHO? DOCTOR YOU? Want to become a doctor? We compare studying medicine in India with studying it abroad COUNSELLOR CONNECT A SPECIALIST'S MBA If you are planning to pursue an MBA degree, here’s how you should specialise AWARENESS – ADDICTED THE BEGINNING OF AN END Drinking away your troubles? Here’s all you need to know about alcohol addiction 4
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RELATIONSHIP WHAT RISES IN THE WEST SETS IN THE EAST? Find out how concepts of relationships depicted in western media impact us in the east FITNESS 4 MINUTES TO FITNESS Want to get fit, but short on time? A four minute Tabata workout is all you need COUNTDOWN 2015S WACKIEST RESOLUTIONS We countdown 10 wacky resolutions for 2015 that will have you ROFL, but will also get you thinking POINT OF VIEW NO STRINGS ATTACHED It’s high time someone dispels the darkness that surrounds the concept of one-night stands in India FASHION DRESS TO IMPRESS! We bring you trend setting looks that will ensure that the ladies give you that second look BEAUTY HAIR IN TECHNICOLOUR Add a dash of colour to your tresses with four of the hottest coloured hairstyles of 2015
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Volume 4 Issue 7 January 2015
Editor's
note
Editor-in-Chief NITISH SHAH nitish@youthincmag.com
The quality of democracy and the quality of journalism are deeply entwined – Bill Moyers I would like to begin the New Year with some great news. I am pleased to share with you that Youth Incorporated magazine has won a Bronze award for the cover and cover Story of our April 2014 issue at the ICMA (International Creative Media Awards) held in Germany. We received this honour from amongst 364 participating publications from 17 countries around the world. This just goes to show that nothing in the world can stop you from achieving success when you give it your all. I’d like to say kudos to our entire team who won us this award with their passion and dedication. A large percentage of the voters in 2014 were voting for the first time and special credit goes to our editorial team who came up with the idea for the cover story and executed it brilliantly for those setting out to vote for the largest democracy in the world. Journalism is one of the most exciting careers in the world. In this month's cover story, we delve into the various streams of journalism and how they are all converging in today's digital age. Join us in 'The Quest for Truth'. As we go about our everyday lives, we often ignore the various factors that are working behind the scenes and influencing our decisions. From Bordeaux’s finest wines to India’s most recent general election, we take a look at how Big Data impacts so many choices that we all have to make each day. If you're a real foodie and enjoy trying out different cuisines each time you head out for a meal, then this month's entertainment feature is for you. We present to you, the fascinating culinary science that's taken Indian metros by storm - Molecular Gastronomy. At the end of 2014, two tech giants shook the tech world with their newest OS releases. Apple launched iOS 8 and pitted it against Google’s Android 5.0 Lollipop. The tech junkies that we are, we couldn’t resist putting our perennial office debates on paper in this issue. We hope our technology section can help you decide who wins the OS battle once and for all! This year also marks India’s 66th Republic Day. I hope you all have a patriotic month and year ahead!
Nitish Shah
Chief Operating Officer CAROLINE SAMSON coo@youthincmag.com
Editorial
AAYUSH AILAWADI
Editorial Interns RUCHA PAWAR ADITI DHEKLE JANVI MANCHANDA
Art & Design
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Printed and published by Nitish Shah on behalf of Splash Publication Pvt Ltd
For advertising, subscriptions and circulation mail@youthincmag.com +91-22-2351-6622 / 6609 Published at: 9 Forjett Hill, British Express Bldg, 2nd floor, Mumbai 400036. Editor: Nitish Shah
Admin office: F9&10, Commerce Centre, 6th Floor, 78 Tardeo Road, Mumbai 400034.
Printed at: Repro India Ltd Plot No 50/2, TTC MIDC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai 400 710, District Thane All content in print and online is owned by Splash Publication Pvt Ltd under international copyright laws. No part of the content can be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publishers. Publishers will not be held responsible for the content of the magazine including accuracy and effects. All disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of competant courts in Mumbai only.
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Write to us at mail@youthincmag.com
SOCIALLY YOURS
YouthIncMag
Youth Inc won Bronze at the 5th International Creative Media Award (ICMA). We received this prestigious international award for our April 2014 cover & cover story amongst 364 publications from 17 countries.
@YouthIncMag
Students at N L College Malad, Mirage 2014 with their copies of Youth Inc
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BLOGGER OF THE MONTH Ayesha Dhurue www.forthepubliceye.com
Ayesha is the 18-year-old CEO of ‘This Week Mumbai’. She also started her personal blog, ‘For The Public Eye’ out of her love for sharing photographs, new stories and her take on life. She hopes to spread peace, joy and happiness through her work. Of her blog she says, “My blog isn’t just created for articles, I believe it it is destined to fulfill much more than that.” Fascinating photographs, good reads from around the web and a great design make her our blogger of the month.
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PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH
@ CREEPOWOMAN
This personality from Mumbai tweets about daily happenings from her life whilst making loads of WhatsApp references. She is also a proud grammar nazi. Her tweets will definitely make you laugh out loud. Just yelled boo you to my food as it fell from my spoon back into the plate so don't ask me how I am with people skills these days Fear of the unknown is the most legit one of all. Eg: fear of spiders? More like fear of where it'll go if you don't keep an eye on it. If we aren't dealing with everyone who's hurting our feelings by singing "Y u gotta be so rude?", then why is this song even made? ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’ would have been a badass movie had they turned Mohnish Bahl into a negative role in the end. Like he took the money and ran.
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A VARIETY OF DIGITAL CONTENT: VIDEOS, RELATED ARTICLES AND MUCH MORE
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Contribut rs m nth ROHAN MURDESHWAR is an actuarial consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mumbai. When he isn’t building mathematical models in Excel and studying for qualification exams, he enjoys literature, poetry, CrossFit, running marathons and learning computer programming. He some day hopes to brew his own beer.
PIA BOBADE is a hair stylist based in Mumbai. She’s one of the only teenagers in town who owns her own salon in central Mumbai. Along with running her own salon, she’s also pursuing a mass media degree at Lala Lajpat Rai College in Mumbai.
DEVIKA SONI is an arts student who wishes to one day pursue journalism. She loves reading and is a massive One Direction fan. In her spare time, she likes to work on our beauty & fashion section.
NIMI JAYACHANDRAN is a doctor who has pledged her soul to the arts. This Californianbred girl is an avid reader, writer and parttime editor who dreams of one day travelling throughout India on a Royal Enfield and publishing her own 'Motorcycle Diaries'. She is currently based in Chennai.
AARUSHI AGRAWAL is an arts student at Jai Hind College who is majoring in English Literature. If not at a rock concert, she's usually busy writing education stories for us.
VIGNESH SUNDARARAMAN is a budding chartered accountant and CMA (US) based in Chennai. He is also a freelance model. Writing is a passion for this strapping young lad. He also loves reading corporate fictions and informative self-help books.
DIVYA KHAIRAJANI is pursuing her Masters in Mass Media in Mumbai. Inspired by Youth Inc’s December 2014 cover story on advertising, she now wants to pursue a career in the ad-mad world. She is an adrenaline junkie who loves to take on adventures like trekking in the Himalayas.
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K E E I PI N S D E
We compare studying medicine in India as opposed to going to med school abroad... Page 24
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MYTHS ABOUT INDIA
A SPECIALIST'S MBA
THE BEGINNING OF AN END
LET'S UNLEARN ALL THAT YOU'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
A LOOK AT VARIOUS SPECIALISATIONS IN AN MBA DEGREE
HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO OVERCOME ALCOHOL ADDICTION
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EDU NEWS
LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY PARTNERS WITH IITB
L. SHYAMLAL, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Loughborough University, United Kingdom and Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay aims to develop an academic alliance. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Vice Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, Robert Allison and director of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Devang Khakhar. The aim of this alliance is to find solutions to world problems like sustainable buildings, water scarcity, transport and bio-engineering and clean and renewable sources of energy. To benefit from the various aspects of research, and help students move freely between the institutes, LU is looking forward to develop placement opportunities, PhD studentships and fellowship schemes.
WWW.DUTCHHRCA.NL
IISC, BANGALORE RANKED INDIA’S NO.1 UNIVERSITY IN TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION RANKINGS2015 The Times Higher Education Rankings 2015 has ranked the Indian Institute of Science as number one in the latest rankings from other developing economies and BRICS. As per the latest university rankings, IISC Bangalore, Chandigarh’s Punjab University (39), IIT Roorkee (38), IIT Bombay (37) made it to the list. IIT Guwahati (98), Aligarh Muslim University (78), IIT Kanpur (74), Jawaharlal Nehru University (71), IIT Delhi (56), IIT Madras (44), and IIT Kharagpur (43) are the other seven universities that made it to the 2015 list, adding to India’s total of 11 institutes this year. The yearly tables are based on an extensive range of 13 distinct, rigorous performance measures used to build the definitive THE rankings, encompassing all aspects of the modern university's core objectives (international outlook, knowledge transfer, research, and teaching).
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NARENDRA MODI, WIKIMEDIACOMMONS
UK GOVERNMENT QUADRUPLES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN STUDENTS
PARLIAMENT PASSES IIIT BILL
The Indian Institutes of Information and Technology (IIIT) Bill, 2014, approved by Lok Sabha aims to provide the four IIITs an independent statutory status and intends to declare them as institutes of national significance. HRD Minister Smriti Irani assured the house that any decisions on education policy by the government will be within the scope of the constitution. This bill is the first education bill approved by the Modi government. The four institutes are IIIT Design and Manufacturing, Kancheepuram; IIIT Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur, IIIT, Gwalior; IIIT Allahabad.
The United Kingdom government has recently announced a four-fold increase in the number of scholarships for Indian students to study in the UK. Secretary of State for business, innovation and skills, United Kingdom, Vince Cable declared this at a session on ‘UK and India: Natural Partners for Investment’ conducted by FICCI along with UK Trade & Investment and the British Business Group. Mr. Cable said that the United Kingdom government has also decided to set up an alumni fund to encourage Indian students to actively engage in alumni associations. This fund would be used to arrange return tickets and bear other expenses of students who wish to participate in alumni activities and strengthen their relationships further with the UK.
UGC INCREASES FELLOWSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS To support research scholars, the University Grants Commission has raised the basic scholarships and fellowships amount. The Senior Research Fellowship's (SRF) earlier amount of `18,000 has been hiked up to `28,000 per month for scholars. The Junior Research Fellowship's (JRF) earlier amount of `16,000 has been increased to `25,000 per month. The Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarships for research in social sciences will be increased from `8,000 to `12,400 per month in the first two years and from `10,000 to `15,500 per month in the third and fourth year. The PG scholarships for GATE in engineering qualified students will be increased from `8,000 to `12,400 per year.
JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 13
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EVE N
IARY D T
Protagonists of the show 'Tum Aise Hi Rehna' enjoying the event
Tina Desai & Zayed Khan watch the Mr and Ms Brouhaha talent round
Actress Shilpa Mehta graced her presence at the fashion show
BROUHAHA - KC COLLEGE, MUMBAI
DETOUR - JAI HIND COLLEGE, MUMBAI Zayed Khan waving out to his fans
The winners of Detour'14: 'The Lion King'-H.R College
(L)Various contingents putting their best foot forward at Detour's Dance event (R)Playback singer Aman Trikha was part of the judging panel for the Band Event
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Participants performing at the event Footloose, the national level dance face-off
Lead singer and guitarist of Blood Brothers, Parth,13, in his element
(L)The organising committee of Perspective|Richter 10 after the last event (R)DJ Dhruv's special performance for the enthusiastic audience
PERSPECTIVE NIRMA UNIVERSITY TALA ASH - JAI HIND COLLEGE, MUMBAI Some breathtaking performances by the participating colleges
Mr Shailendra Singh , the chief guest for the event Colleges enjoying at a game stall at Talaash, 2014
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FOCUS FEATURE
WHAT’S YOUR ‘INDIA QUOTIENT’?
THIS REPUBLIC DAY, DIVYA KHAIRAJANI DISPELS SOME COMMON MYTHS ABOUT INDIA
A
s school children, we were all taught certain things about our country and have always believed them to be true. But, if we were actually to begin to question a few facts that we take for granted about India, we might all be in for a little surprise. If you thought you knew it all, this 26 January, I think it’s time to start off with a clean slate and burst all our little bubbles! Here’s a bunch of myth busters surrounding our beloved Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic of India as we proudly celebrates its 66th Republic Day.
IS KASHMIR A PART OF INDIA?
Kashmir is an integral part of India that every Indian is proud of. We all fondly refer to it as ‘paradise on earth’ and flock there as tourists, but do we really know what went down in history?
Where did it all begin?
It all began in pre-Independent India. During the British Raj, the British had divided the whole nation into various princely states for their administrative and political reasons. Later, the
reorganisation of the 'princely states' was carried out and these states were to be divided on linguistic basis. These states were free to join India or Pakistan or remain independent. An 'instrument of accession', which is
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BASHARAT ALAM SHAH, FLICKR
an agreement between the state and the government, was to be signed. Amongst 565 princely states, 562 signed the instrument and merged with India. Kashmir was one of the three states that did not sign the accession. Kashmir was a unique case. It was a state with a pre-dominantly Muslim populace, but was ruled by a Hindu King named Hari Singh. Singh originally attempted to maintain his independence by staying away from India and Pakistan. There was a common belief that rulers of the princely states, in deciding to accede to India or Pakistan, ought to value the wishes of their people, but most rulers didn’t do any such thing. Pashtun tribesmen from Pakistan invaded Jammu and Kashmir with the help of Pakistan's government under the impression that Singh would accede to India. That was when Hari Singh cried out to India to lend him a hand. Although Nehru was ready to send troops, the GovernorGeneral of India, Lord Mountbatten, advised Singh to accede to India immediately. Therefore, considering his predicament, the Maharaja signed
an Instrument of Accession to join the Dominion of India. Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, acceding the whole of his princely state (including Jammu, Kashmir, Northern Areas, Ladakh, TransKarakoram Tract and Aksai Chin) to the Dominion of India. Indian troops were then sent to Srinagar to get the situation under control, but the Government of Pakistan refused to withdraw its troops from some areas which were occupied by them. This created a dispute between both the countries thus leading to their first war over Kashmir in the years 1947-48.
What was India’s plan of action?
India then took the dispute to the United Nations. The UN asked Pakistan to remove its troops, after which India was also supposed to withdraw the bulk of its forces. Once this happened, a 'free and fair' plebiscite was to be held to allow the Kashmiri people to decide their future. Later in 1950, the Indian government distanced itself from the
commitment to hold a plebiscite. This was only because the Pakistani forces had not withdrawn their troops and the chance of making a decision was already lapsed. Pakistan has consistently maintained that the issue be resolved by the means of a plebiscite and has been blaming India ever since. While India and Pakistan continue to bicker, the Kashmiri separatists still demand a separate state.
Myth buster
After nearly seven decades and countless wars, Kashmir still remains an unresolved territorial conflict between three primary stakeholders –the Government of India, Kashmiri insurgent groups and the Government of Pakistan – over control of the Kashmir region. Just like Christopher Nolan’s Inception, there’s an internal conflict brewing within the conflict, between Kashmiri insurgents – a few are in favour of Kashmiri accession to Pakistan and others seek complete independence for the area. Parts of Kashmir may be disputed territory but India continues to toe the same line – Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India. JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 17
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FOCUS FEATURE
IS HINDI OUR NATIONAL LANGUAGE? Hindi is the most commonly used language in our country. In many schools it’s compulsory for one to study Hindi. We have always assumed it is our national language. However, the truth is a little different
Who raised the issue ?
When a consumer named Mr. Suresh Kachhadia filed a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) in the Gujarat High Court seeking direction from the Central and State Government to make it mandatory for manufacturers to print details of goods like price, ingredients and date of manufacture in Hindi. The court promptly replied, “No command can be issued on any manufacturer for giving details of commodities in Hindi, since there is nothing on record that depicts Hindi is our National language.” There is no mention of national language being Hindi in the constitution of India.
Why didn’t the constituent assembly think of this?
Indeed, the makers of our constitution did feel the need to have a national language. They thought it was
imperative to have a national language for administrative and court proceedings. There were more than 1,600 languages used in India at that time. More than 40% of the Indian population conversed in Hindi, the Muslims used Urdu and the elite used English. It made perfect sense for
LIST OF LANGUAGES IN THE CONSTITUTION (1) Assamese (2) Bengali (3) Gujarati (4) Hindi (5) Kannada (6) Kashmiri (7) Konkani (8) Malayalam, (9) Manipuri (10) Marathi (11) Nepali
(12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22)
Oriya Punjabi Sanskrit Sindhi Tamil, Telugu Urdu Bodo Santhali Maithili Dogri
them to declare Hindi as the national language. But, there were protests against such a move by non-Hindi speakers, especially from southern India. Hence, Hindi wasn’t declared as our national language.
Myth buster
Another reason could have been the fact that a large number of documents, books and laws were written in the English language. Had they declared Hindi as our national language, all the documents and laws would have had to be translated in Hindi, which would have been very cumbersome, bordering on impossible. So, the provision for ‘official language’ was made instead. So, it turns out that Hindi is not our national language, but is accepted as the official language with English and 22 other languages in India.
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IS HOCKEY OUR NATIONAL GAME?
In India, Hockey has always been associated with nationalism. We, as Indians take pride in the fact that the Indian hockey team has been the most successful team in the history of Olympics ROHIT MARKANDE, FLICKR
It’s safe to say that the movie Chak De India still gives us goosebumps. The very thought that we are rooting for our national hockey team battling it out for national pride is the sort of stuff that makes the hair at the back of your neck stand up. Frankly, I hate to be the one to burst your bubble. Hockey is not the national game of India. We may assume it is our national game but, the fact is that none of the sports played in the country enjoy the status of 'national game'.
How was this revealed?
We’d have continued to be as ignorant as ever if it wasn’t for a school girl named, Aishwarya Parashar from Lucknow, who filed an RTI query (Right to Information) in 2012 to the Prime Minister’s office to seek official documents of declaration with regard to the same. She had also requested
information on India’s national anthem, bird, symbol, flower and animal. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in its reply stated that the ministry has not declared any sport as the national game of India. Further in an explanation they stated, “The ministry had sports disciplines put into different categories. Hockey is one of the priority disciplines, but it is not a national game.” The candid response from the Ministry has left hockey players fuming. “They should then tell us which the national game is and show us the notification which says hockey is not a national game,” says Olympian Sujit Kumar. Until this revelation, hockey was still glorified as our national game even on our National website 'www. india.gov.in' under the National Portal. After this discrepancy was
reported, the website removed the heading ‘National Game’!
Then, why is Hockey assumed to be our national sport?
India first became world hockey champions in 1928, by winning the Gold Medal at the Amsterdam Olympics. Cricket fans believe that cricket should be declared as India’s national game, owing to our resounding success on an international level. In the same way, back then, patriotic hockey fans would have perceived hockey to be our national game since we were so successful in the sport at that time.
Myth buster
Much to the disappointment of sports fans across the country, nowhere is it explicitly mentioned that hockey is the national sport of India. yi JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 19
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SPECIAL FEATURE
THE NEXT BIG THING Rohan Murdeshwar highlights the crucial role that ‘Big Data’ plays in our everyday lives
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The
French city of Bordeaux is often associated with expansive verdant vineyards, beautiful churches and some of the finest art galleries. Introduced by the Romans in the 1st century, Bordeaux’s wine has earned it a famed reputation across the world – a reputation that remains untarnished twelve hundred years later. However, in the late 1980s, wine connoisseurs sensed that a rather unconventional force was threatening their informational monopoly on wine quality. Orley Ashenfelter, a Princeton economist, was using statistics and data analysis to predict the price and quality of fine Bordeaux wines, a task until then only bestowed upon the refined palette of the world’s wine experts. The fact that the weather was a strong influence on wine quality was not unknown, however, Ashenfelter did what any number cruncher would. He amassed gigabytes of weather data from the Bordeaux region and discovered that the finest wines were harvested during periods of low rainfall and high summer temperatures. The outcome of his analysis was a statistical equation, which on inputting weather data of any year would tell you the quality and price of that year’s wine. His two-line equation turned out to be a far more accurate forecaster of wine prices than the taste buds of seasoned wine connoisseurs.
From Wine to Web Browsers
Ashenfelter’s experiment is just one of the myriad examples where large datasets and mathematical models are being used to offer better predictions and improve decisionmaking. Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, uses data analytics to determine on which shelf its products should be placed so as to maximise revenue. Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce firm, utilises its customers’ online browsing habits to develop algorithms that offer tailormade product recommendations on its website. Google uses its treasure trove of accumulated data to develop
UNIVERSITY COURSES IN BIG DATA/ ANALYTICS ▶Certificate Programme in Business Analytics, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad ▶Certificate Programme in Business Analytics, IIM Lucknow ▶Executive Programme in Business Analytics, IIM Calcutta ▶Advanced Analytics for Management, IIM Ahmedabad ▶Master of Science in Business Analytics, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore ▶Master of Information Systems Management, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (MISM-BIDA), Carnegie Mellon University, USA ▶Master of Science in Analytics, Northwestern University, USA ▶Master of Science in Analytics, North Carolina State University, USA ▶Master of Science in Business Analytics, New York University Stern School of Business, USA ▶Master of Science in Analytics, University of Chicago, USA
models that learn from users and offer more relevant search results. Big Data is used in times of human crisis as well. Epidemiologists use call-data records (CDRs) generated by mobilephone calls to contain the spread of diseases such as the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa and Mexico’s swine-flu epidemic in 2009. Sports teams use data analytics to develop team strategies and improve player performance, as portrayed in the film Moneyball. On analysing data from social networks, credit card companies found a high correlation between
credit card defaults and customers who typed their Facebook names in uppercase letters. From governments to airlines to rental car companies, insurance firms and banks, big data is transforming how we understand the world, do business and implement public policy.
What is big data?
It’s a term used to describe the exponential growth and prevalence of structured and unstructured data from which one can glean information. Big data and data analytics are often used interchangeably however, there are differences. In 2001 Doug Laney, now an analyst at advisory firm Gartner, defined big data as “high-volume, -velocity and -variety information assets that demand cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for enhanced insight and decision-making” now commonly known as the ‘three Vs of big data’. Walmart collects approximately 3.5 petabytes (that’s 3,500 1 terabyte (TB) hard disks) of data every hour from its customers’ transactions. Globally, 2.3 zettabytes (equivalent to 2.3 billion 1 TB hard disks) of data are created every day! The velocity of data generated today enables Google to study real-time data and inform its users of traffic congestion and blocked routes. Big data accumulated from a variety of sources such as social networks, mobile phones and sensors helps consumer product companies get an unprecedented view into its customers behaviour and purchasing preferences. Additionally, rapidly declining costs of computation – processing power, bandwidth and storage among others – has made it far more economical to analyse large datasets.
Adapt or perish?
The disruptive power of the Internet, technology and big data is causing an increasingly recurring trend. Organisations from the pre-internet period are being rendered obsolete JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 21
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SPECIAL FEATURE precious time and expensive fuel. By adjusting the GPS trackers in its vans to make only right turns it saved approximately 10 million gallons of fuel and significantly reduced emissions.
Big Data Wins Elections
Nate Silver, a statistician, former poker player and writer for the New York Times and current editor-in-chief of ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight blog gained instant stardom when he accurately predicted the outcome of America’s 2012 presidential election. By building sophisticated statistical models, he correctly forecasted the way each of America’s 50 states voted proving yet again that number crunching can trump political pundits’ ‘gut feelings’. Closer home, Today’s Chanakya, one of India’s leading public opinion polling companies, was the only polling agency to get close to the National Democratic TRS 12 BJD 20
Pebbles Build Mountains
One should also be conscious of the fact that big data is not a panacea for all the world’s problems, nor does it result in massive instantaneous gains. Tiny incremental tweaks spread across a large customer base and over a long period of time aggregate to produce cumulative effects that are immense. Take for instance UPS, the world’s largest shipment and logistics company, whose engineers found that left-hand turns against traffic wasted
Alliance’s (NDA) final tally of 336 seats (it predicted 340 seats for the coalition). It was the only agency to use a Bayesian forecasting model, one that uses prior knowledge of a population and then updates it with interviews from a random sample of voters to arrive at a final opinion. The Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP) resounding success in the 2014 elections can, at least in part, be attributed to its adoption of big data analytics. Narendra Modi’s pervasive social media presence laid the platform for the BJP’s data-centric strategy. In a country with over 900 million mobile phones, it used phone data to create algorithms that helped it determine voter demographics such as age, location and income levels. This insight was the sharp end of the stick that it used to carefully target voters and build a successful campaign.
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by those that are born in the digital age. Netflix, the US based online movie-streaming provider, caused Blockbuster, a home movie rental service, to file for bankruptcy. Amazon put Borders, an international book and music retailer out of business. However, all traditional brick-and-mortar establishments are not destined for the grave. The ones who adapt to the digital age and incorporate data analysis in their business strategy can gain competitive advantages over their offline business competitors. Indeed the most vital aspect of big data is its “enabler as an enhanced decisionmaking tool, offering a far superior alternative to ‘intuition’ in corporate boardrooms”, says Rajiv Sharma, the VP at an analytics consultancy based in Gurgaon. This does not mean that human knowledge and industry experience have become irrelevant. On the contrary, determining which questions need to be addressed and what problems need to be tackled using data, requires critical human insight.
TDP 16
Shiv Sena 19 TMC 34
BJP - 283
AIDMK 36
Congress 43
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Big Data = Big Brother?
With Big Data becoming ubiquitous and technology enabling corporations to continuously gather more data from users, today’s information landscape is beginning to wear a rather Orwellian look. The battle for data privacy is on going with every smartphone user being a soldier on the front lines. Companies use technologies such as cookies and e-tags to identify users as they browse the web collecting information such as what users shopped for and where they live. From this, they can infer other personal details such as age, gender, and annual income and often users are unaware that they are being tracked. Companies insist that they don’t have information of user names but possess only numbers in a database. Analysis methods such as ‘homomorphic encryption’ enable companies to process data while it is in an encrypted state thus protecting user privacy. However, performing computations on encrypted data takes about ten thousand times longer than open data and is considerably more expensive. Moreover, industry experts believe that no data are perfectly encrypted and linkages to the end user can be easily ascertained. Some believe that more government intervention is required in order to draft regulation that forces firms to comply with data privacy laws. However, Edward Snowden’s revelations that America’s National Security Agency (NSA)
was and is running a surveillance programme called PRISM to collect information about its citizens from big technology firms, proves that governments themselves are very much in the data-gathering business. On the other side of the debate are those who believe that data privacy concerns are overstated and having their personal details collected is just a small price that users pay for more relevant and customised information.
'The Sexiest Job of the Century'
The Harvard Business Review touted the job of a data scientist as the ‘sexiest job of the 21st century’ with some comparing them to Wall Street’s quants of the 1990s. “Many industrial sectors are seeing a severe shortage of people trained in mathematics and statistics”, says a professor at an Ivy League university in America. Top educational institutions, both in India and abroad, have launched data analytics programmes to cater to a rising demand for the skill set that firms are specifically looking for. With demand far exceeding supply, Indian technology firms such as Snapdeal, Flipkart and Amazon are continuously on the lookout for data scientists luring them with lucrative job offers. Smit Mehta, a Trainee Decision Scientist at India’s largest analytics provider in Bangalore says that a job in data science is ‘pretty awesome’ and one that ‘lets you interact with decision makers on a regular basis’ where ‘analytical insights are actually implemented by the company’. Big Data is still in its infancy in India and even around the world. However, going by its importance and usefulness, organisations and people acorss the globe are only now realising its immense power. From something as innocuous as wine tasting to more pressing matters such as the Ebola crisis and elections in different parts of the world, Big Data has the potential to drive better decisions, help strengthen governments and change the world along the way. yi
As interest in Big Data is increasing exponentially, the number of job opportunities are increasing as well. For example, McKinsey has calculated that in North America alone, companies will need around 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to use the analysis of Big Data to make effective decisions in the next five years. While Gartner has predicted that more than four million jobs will be created by 2015. Students graduating from a Master in Business Analytics and Big Data will have many different opportunities as any enterprise that needs to optimise its decision making process and improve its performance to be competitive will need this kind of professionals. Some of the exciting professional activities that graduates from this field can do are smart cities, management consulting, marketing intelligence, energy analytics, logistics and supply chain optimisation and financial analytics just to name a few. - Marcos Ramírez Amoretti Associate Director, Business Analytics & Big Data, IE, Madrid
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FOREIGN SHORES
DOCTOR
WHO? DOCTOR YOU! Each year thousands of students around the world apply to medical colleges and embark upon a new journey. Nimi Jayachandran explores how one can study medicine abroad and how it compares with the Indian medical system
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FOREIGN SHORES
The Indian Way
After receiving admission to a medical college, a student is faced with a five and a half year long curriculum of studying ahead of them. The last year of this is known as the Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) year, which consists of clinical rotations in different departments. The first two years are focused more on theoretical learning. In the second year of medicine, students are exposed to the practical learning set up and are given basic clinical training. This includes interacting with patients and how to approach formulation of a diagnosis. As the years go on, more importance is given to clinical subjects and training so that by the time students enter CRRI year, they are qualified to diagnose and treat patients, under the guidance of a senior doctor.
Pros and Cons of a Medical Education in India
There are definitely certain unique advantages that come with being a medical student in India. One of the most important learning opportunities as a doctor is the practical skills acquired by seeing patients. That being said, the number of patients admitted to hospitals per day in India is higher than anywhere in the world. Among these patients, students see not only some of most common ailments, but also some rare ones, thus providing a well-rounded practical learning opportunity. Dr T.S.
Subbiah, a CRRI at Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Chennai, says, “The quantity of patients we see is definitely an advantage over our foreign counterparts. We are free to examine each patient with his or her permission and by doing so our clinical history taking and examination skills are honed to excellence.” Gayatri Padmanabhan, a Final Year MBBS student at Sri Ramachandra Medical College goes on to add, “Even as students we are given a certain liberty to examine patients under proper supervision of our senior doctors. When theoretical learning is combined with such a practical situation, it helps us to better understand how to approach each patient’s illness and how to best treat them.” When it comes to clinical learning methods and opportunities, students have a lot of freedom to examine patients and to learn by a hands-on approach rather than merely learning from theory how to establish a rapport with a patient. The quantity of the patients seen on a daily basis itself presents such a vast opportunity of knowledge at the students’ disposal. However, a disadvantage of such a system does exist. As Dr Yuvaram Reddy points out, “In India the resources are limited, as a result of which quality gets compromised due to the quantity of patients.”
How is Medical Education in India Different Around the Globe? Most medical college systems around
Top Medical programmes in India and abroad Top Medical Colleges in India 1. AIIMS, New Delhi 2. CMC, Vellore 3. Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 4. Grant Medical College, Mumbai 5. Madras Medical College, Chennai
Top Medical Colleges in the USA 1. John Hopkins University, Maryland 2. Stanford University School of Medicine, California 3. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts 4. Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut
Top Medical Colleges in the UK 1. Cambridge University School of Medicine, Cambridge 2. Oxford University Medical School, Oxford 3. Imperial College School of Medicine, UK 4. University of Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh
the globe follow a similar system. Students undergo a few years of rigorous theoretical teaching which is followed by a year of clinical rotations. The advantage that many Western countries have is in their ability to spend time developing quality patient care. “I love how organized everything was – there was very little margin for error and no matter what, patient care was never compromised,” says Dr. Srividya Maharaj of her experience working as a doctor at Valley Hospital and Medical Center in Nevada, USA. From the start of a student’s medical career, it is drilled into them to provide quality patient care. While the Indian medical education system is modeled to teach students how to successfully treat a large number of patients, the western medical education system focuses on emphasising individual patient care. “In the US, the quality and cost of care is high, in the UK and India there exists a government health care policy,” says Dr Yuvaram Reddy, “this means that students in the US have the luxury of being able to individually treat a patient according to their specific needs, whereas in a place like India, doctors have to focus on the masses.”
And the winner is...
Education has always been a matter of controversy, whether it is with regards to how a certain topic is taught, or whether a topic should be taught altogether. Medical education is no exception to this. In countries like India where the number of patients outnumbers the number of doctors, the existing system of focusing on treating the populace works better. In places like the US, students have the opportunity to learn by approaching each patient’s history individually. Overall, good medical education needs to give our future doctors a set of skills with which they themselves learn to apply quantity or quality based treatment according to what a situation demands. yi JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 25
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CAREER WATCH
People The
Job
AN ORGANISATION IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT ITS HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT. VIGNESH SUNDARARAMAN TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS PROFESSION AND TRACES ITS IMPORTANCE TODAY
“I
ndia’s greatest asset is her ‘human resources’. While developed countries such as the United States and United Kingdom abhor population growth, our nation has always embraced it with a sense of inclusivity, which is why I think a career in HR has enormous scope here in our country.” Says Dhivya Hariharan, HR at L&T, Chennai. The scope of human resource management in India is huge. There are an increasing number of jobs within all the sectors across different industries largely because the number of young people looking for jobs has always been on the rise. Therefore, the demand for young and talented people has increased to a large extent. An HR person's job is all about talent management, says
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Girish Krishnan, an HR aspirant. Managing talent is the most critical part in any organisation irrespective of its position in the industry. The HR department of a company works cohesively with all the functions in the enterprise and ensures that the company’s activities are in line with the goals of the organisation. All said and done, we may wonder why there are still many qualified HR personnel out there without a job or with low-paying jobs. There can only be one reason; this field is still developing and is facing challenges for its recognition and its contribution to organisational objectives and goals. Like any other profession, an HR’s role also needs to be managed by professionals with expertise and flair so as to be able to scour the right talent as per an organisations requirement.
The Go-To Guy
In 2008 when the whole world was in recession, people across the globe were losing their jobs left right and centre leading to the crumbling of most departments, there was one sector that was still thriving – HR. During this time, it became companies' HR department’s responsibility to meet the enterprise’s human resource needs and guide the company as a strategic partner. In today’s information age, company bosses have realised the importance of HRand have started focusing more on this discipline. The main job of an HR person is to ensure the goals of the organisation
STUDY HR AT IIMs XLRI, Jamshedpur Symbiosis, Pune MSW TISS, Mumbai Madras School of Social Work Delhi School of Social Work
are met through employee search and to strive and develop a positive and healthy working environment.
Key areas of work
▶Recruitment HR Planning is all about finding the right person for the right job at the right time. ▶Manpower Planning It involves analysing the current manpower status and estimating future manpower requirements, popularly known as succession planning. ▶Administration Primarily includes defining an organisation’s HR policies, procedures and their correct implementation. ▶Training and Development “Human resources are the greatest assets of any company. You can raise tariffs or prevent MNCs from entering, but one can't stop the employees from leaving if they are dissatisfied.” Says N.R Narayana Murthy, Co-Founder, Infosys. Only when the career progression of an employee is taken care of by various training programmes and techniques, will he/she be inclined to work with a positive mindset for the company. ▶Appraisal Involves reviewing performance appraisal system of the employees from time to time for the purpose of promotions and incentives. ▶Brand Building A company’s brand image and name is as important as its product or service. The HR department works continually towards increasing and sustaining the company’s brand image.
Study Route
Success in HR solely depends on one’s own interests, skill-sets and hard work. But if we were to sketch out a study-blueprint, it would look like this:UG degree in any discipline, PG degree in Human Resource
Management - MBA(HR) or MSW(HR) In some organisations, a degree in
law combined with a PG in HR is considered advantageous. Several institutes and universities offer courses in HR both on full-time and part-time basis for two years and three years respectively. Apart from professional qualifications, good communication and interpersonal skills can help candidates get the needed edge over others.
Career Opportunities
▶Every large and medium sized organisation keeps a fully functional HRM/HRD department managed by HR professionals. ▶In public sector banks, HR professionals are recruited as specialist officers in junior/ middle management positions. ▶Management consultancy or HR consultancy firms recruit HR professionals as full-time or part-time consultants. ▶Academically inclined HR experts can teach various HR related subjects at universities, colleges and management institutions.
Does money keep the excitement alive?
Oh yes! Pushing away general notions and dogmas, we can safely call the HR profession a well paying one. Not all people in the profession are paid well, which is the case with all other fields also. The educational background, resume-strength, work experience and various other factors determine the pay package for a HR professional. Campus placements in reputed institutes assure a very good salary package ranging anywhere between five lakhs and fourteen lakhs per annum while consultancies pay HR professionals an average of three lakhs per annum. “As an Analyst, we always have a bird’s eye view of our client’s company. We develop strategic thinking and learn to think on our toes which I believe is our niche and dominant strength”, says Vaishnavi Srinivasan an HR and Image Consultant. yi JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 27
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COUNSELLOR CONNECT
A SPECIALIST'S MBA
W
In the rat race that is life, don’t become a Jack of all trades and a still a Master of none. We take a look at MBA specialisations‌
hen Krishika arrived in the US to study an MBA in Finance she was shocked to see the course modules. Clearly, this was very different from what she thought finance was all about. So, she changed her major to Supply Chain Management and graduated with an SCM specialisation. Certainly, Krishika is not the only student who experienced this kind of specialisation dilemma. Most students who opt for finance or marketing would actually know what the specialisation entails. It’s imperative that students are familiar with and understand the course content of the various MBA specialisations.
You should keep in mind that no matter what your specialisation is, most B-Schools will require you to take core courses such as economics, financial accounting systems, financial analysis for managers, marketing, operations management and process improvement, organisational behaviour and leadership, statistical analysis for decision making and competitive strategy. You should also know that in many one-year MBA programmes, you may not have the option to choose any specialisations, but instead you will have to follow a predefined curriculum. In most of the popular two-year programmes, the first year consists of the core courses
and the second year offers electives or specialisation courses.
Indian and Finance
The most popular MBA specialisation for Indian students, by far, is finance. A student majoring in finance will be required to assess the financial viability of businesses, management and valuation of financial resources. A major in finance will prepare students for managerial careers in corporate finance, investment analysis, portfolio management, financial consulting and so on. Students majoring in finance can sometimes sub-specialise in corporate finance, investment management, banking and financial institutions and international finance.
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TOP B-SCHOOLS FOR FINANCE 1. University of Pennsylvania 2. University of Chicago 3. New York University 4. Columbia University 5. Harvard University What about Accounting?
According to the Wharton Business School website, accounting can be defined as ‘a formal system of collecting, organising and reporting financial data that are used in making economic decisions. The users of these data include corporate shareholders, lenders, management, employees, taxing and regulatory agencies, research organisations and many others. The data shed light on current financial status and liquidity, as well as past profitability and fundsgenerating capability’. Most economic decisions require accounting data. People who do not have access to firms may want to know the economic progress of the firm and hence, accounting data is required. Most B-Schools will teach you how accounting information is generated and how reliable it is. You will also be taught how to analyse this data.
TOP B-SCHOOLS FOR ACCOUNTING
be a ‘generalist’, then the general management specialisation will be most suitable for you. The key objective of the general management specialisation is to lead others in an organisation, irrespective of the organisation’s purpose. Since this is the main objective, the courses aim to increase your critical thinking and persuasion skills. You will study courses in broad business areas such as accounting, marketing and finance so that you can be prepared to be an effective manager in a business setting. Courses taught would include organisational behaviour and leadership, leading change in a quality organisation, social and political environment of business, management and career development, human resource anagement and professionals and business ethics.
Entrepreneurship
A good idea is a great way to start a new business but making the business
successful, generating income and managing the business effectively is a whole new ball game. In the current business environment, it is essential for leaders to focus on pioneering value-based solutions, to expand their creative problem-solving skills and to recognise change as an opportunity. Entrepreneurship is one such field where you can learn how to manage the risks that go along with launching your own business ventures. You would be able to identify new business opportunities and pursue them successfully, stimulate growth in the corporate workplace, recognise cultural biases to entrepreneurial behaviour, methods to overcome them and use entrepreneurial business strategies to shape new ventures. Students who major in entrepreneurship don’t necessarily have to set up their own business, but in fact, they can expand existing businesses or help other companies in setting up new offices. yi
TOP B-SCHOOLS FOR GENERAL MANAGEMENT 1. Harvard University 2. Northwestern University 3. University of Michigan – Ann Harbor 4. Stanford University 5. University of Pennsylvania
1. University of Pennsylvania 2. University of Chicago 3. University of Texas at Austin 4. University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign 5. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor Generalise to lead?
If you want a broad business background and you happen to JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 29
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Y outh Incorporated, India's leading youth magazine brings to you India's first college festival awards Registration starts January 11 CATEGORIES 2015
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DAVID GOEHRING, FLICKR
AWARENESS - ADDICTED
THE
BEGINNING
END OF THE
In a Youth Inc exclusive, we take a look at the various addictions that plague people. This month’s focus is on alcohol addiction. Heer Paresh Kothari unveils heinous facts about alcohol abuse HOW IT ALL STARTED
A gleaming Aryan(name changed), now in his late twenties. He goes back in time unveiling a dark phase of his life – “I was only fourteen when I sneaked out of my house with my friends with a bottle of alcohol. On
learning of the incident, my parents put me under a rigorous scanner. After their constant guidnace, I excelled academically and at sports. I also aced my all college years.” “All was well, until one-day tables turned! I was barely 21 years
and my father suffered and stroke and passed away. Being the eldest, I was the heir apparent to a fairly large business that my father had single headedly developed. I had not an iota of how the business was run. Gripped by confusion I made decisions that
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AWARENESS - ADDICTED caused colossal losses. A friend then exposed me to the vice of drinking alcohol that gradually replaced my morning cup of coffee.” That was when a concerned friend introduced Aryan to a counsellor. After a complete detox, Aryan was made to sit through the sessions at Alcoholics Anonymous (famously known as A.A.). Today, owing to the unending support rendered by family and friends Aryan was able to kick the vice. He also realised that taking to alcohol only urged him to shove problems under the carpet, and not face them.
A COUNSELLOR’S VIEW
Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease if not controlled. The disease is hard to regulate as alcoholics are usually in a state of denial. Binge drinking fosters alcoholism at a rapid fuelled pace. Excessive alcohol also causes both physiological and psychological damage. “There is no specific or scientific explanation for taking to alcohol. Scientists have blamed the changing environment, and have also attributed some of the reasons to the augmenting psychological predicaments. We have also observed that today are less tolerant. Some even take to incessent drinking, owing to peer pressure, or in an attempt to be part of a certain ‘group’, and follow the bandwagon,” adds Dr Kavan Lakdawala, a practicing psychologist in Mumbai.
WOMB WOES
45-year-old Sanjana Walia, (name changed) suffered a stroke at the age of 43. Early signs of excessive drinking showed up in the form of a psychological disorder of dementia. Confidence got the better of her, as when she decided to give up completely she experienced the unwanted withdrawal symptoms. Sanjana was victimised both physically and psychologically by the vice. Two decades ago we'd see men
falling into the malicious trap of the deadly poison, alcohol. But today, as women take charge at the workplace, they are introduced to higher levels of stress. The clink of glasses and the joy of downing glistening bouts of toxins seem like the perfect way of calling it a day. A single glass is then followed by many more when the stress levels heighten. Women are more likely to suffer from alcohol abuse as compared to men. The reasons are attributed to the
ARE YOU AN
ALCOHOLIC BINGE DRINKERS People who consume at least four to five large drinks at one time. BLACK OUTS When a person who consumes alcohol is unable to register what happens to him/her while in state of intoxication. WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS When giving up alcohol all of a sudden patients tend to feel extremely hot or cold, restless or even depressed. EPISODIC DRINKER A person who consumes as much as 60g or more of the prescribed alcohol limits. lack of fat and lack of water content in the body as compared to men. In some cases, the hormones take a back seat and they find it difficult to conceive. One mustn’t overlook the numerous sexually transmitted diseases one can acquire. “Today every third woman suffers from Polycystic Ovary Disorder, this too can be attributed to heavy alcohol consumption,” adds celebrated gynaecologist Dr Shah. Counsellors observe abnormal
behavioural pattern in a child if an expecting mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy. Breast cancer, heart ailments, and liver cirrhosis are other lifestyle diseases that can string onto the list on excessive intake of alcohol.
CITY P.O.V.
In an interaction with traffic police officer, Ramesh Gaikwad, we learn that in spite of the rigorous rules imposed by the government there are still numerous drinking and driving cases. “It is surprising to learn how young women have taken to drinking in the recent years,” adds the officer. He also states that the fines levied have made citizens more responsible drinkers and more aware (at least they refrain from drinking and driving). But, we have not been able to successfully curb the drinking culture as the young are going all out imitating the ways of the west.
WHAT IS A.A. ?
Alcoholics Anonymous is an independent body that has helped over three million people overcome alcoholism from around the world. The body is an informal society that is not attached to any political organisation or denomination. Victims suffering from alcoholism gather to discuss their common problem and to overcome alcoholism, by sharing their strengths and experiences. SMART Recovery is also another self-empowering addiction recovery support group.
SOBER UP!
As we wind up, we learn that depression is the crux of this problem. If you as an individual even remotely feel that your drinking has gone up, it is better to speak to a friend or address your problem to a counsellor, instead of getting stuck in a unhealthy rut, that could just inch you closer to serious health issues or even death. After all, life is not about running away from problems, but it’s all about facing and fighting them! yi JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 33
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COVER STORY
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I
n today’s day and age, the media is consumed in all its forms virtually everywhere. Be it at home or at work or on the move – there are countless ways nowadays to access news and information. With more ways to access news, the demand for talented journalists has increased exponentially. News organisations require well rounded individuals to file stories, produce videos and explain large amounts of information. Journalists are now expected to adapt and be multifaceted and understand print, broadcast and digital journalism. New age journalists will have to embrace ‘digital-first’ reporting, if they want to survive in the constantly evolving and incredibly convoluted world of journalism. It’s still a great time to become a journalist since there is no dearth of resources nowadays for journalists to tell their stories. Countless pages of information and sources can be found online with a click of a button. The ‘click and share’ mindset that exists today coupled with the growth of Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat has made each and every one of us a potential news source. Journalists are now faced with the dilemma of literally ‘making news’ in the rush for ‘breaking news’. In India itself, we have seen how dialogue and reason has often been reduced to mere (high decibel) rhetoric in the television news space. Paid news is a growing concern not
only in India, but all over the world. That being said, the media is still one of the most exciting places to be in the 21st century and with India having experienced a rollercoaster of a year in the form of 2014, it’s an industry that’s only headed one way – and that is up! 2014 was truly a huge year for India. It was a year that firmly cemented the media’s role as the fourth estate in the world’s largest democracy. We witnessed an iconic election which was won and lost in the media space. India’s M&E Industry reaches 161 million TV households, over 94,000 newspapers and nearly 214 million internet users. The numbers might sound massive but they is still a very small percentage of our population of over 1.2 billion people. India’s potential seems infinite and as Indians, our opportunities are endless. But, in today’s media environment, where journalists have become household names, it is imperative that they remember the saying ‘with great power comes great responsibility’. Journalists must ensure that they act responsibly, efficiently and transparently. Today, journalists and consequently the media play a pivotal role in influencing and being an agent of positive change in society. Join us, as we tell you a story about the art of storytelling and get you insights from the some of the best story tellers in the business! JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 35
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COVER STORY
If you were to go by global trends, India is an anomaly. Globally, print media has been in a state of decline for nearly ten years. But, India is a different story. Here’s an insight into the complicated world of print journalism in India.
L
iving in a metro and gaining access to news at the click of a button seems like a walk in the park for most city dwellers. But, we overlook the fact that the internet only has a strong presence in tier one and two cities. We forget that village dwellers and those from smaller towns rely heavily on newspapers to learn of the numerous happenings around the country. In a time when traditional forms of media
are struggling to survive globally, revenues for newspapers in India witnessed 8.7 % growth in 2014. One thing is clear – print media is still alive and kicking in India. In India, newspaper distribution has notched new realms of perfection right from the colonial era and the distribution models ensure that there are papers hitting every single pocket in the nation. This is especially true with regional papers. The regional
papers play a pivotal role in giving one an insight into the numerous socioeconomic events in the country and around the world. “The distribution of newspapers also gives us a reasonable idea about the readability in the various pockets and the numbers are bewildering”, states senior journalist, A. Ranade. According to a survey conducted in January 2014, there are approximately 281.7 million newspaper readers in
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Owing to the unending electrical problems, lack of education, and barely any network in the village areas, relying on TVs, the internet and even the radio is impossible. Thus making newspapers the perfect solution to derive news. Also, newspapers are printed in numerous regional languages, making it easier for the reader to comprehend the details of the news. Being a predominantly rural economy explains why regional news is more popular amongst Indians as compared to the news from prominent English dailies. Unlike the computer screen, a newspaper can be read by a lot more people. The regional newspapers (keeping the regional spreads in mind) are a whole lot cheaper than the English dailies or any other media. In India, one can get their hands on a newspaper at the crack of dawn. This facility is not readily available in the west, owing to exorbitant labour costs. In India, even the hawkers enjoy a cut on the cover cost (which, by the way, is miniscule, but nevertheless fulfilling). “The Indian print media is a stream that enjoys a certain rate of growth as compared to any print media around the world. The readability has still dipped (relatively) primarily because of slow economic progress. This in turn directly affects advertisement revenue, curbing profits�, states Ravi Dhariwal, CEO of BCCL.
THE COURSE OF ACTION
the country. It is also reported that dailies such as Dainik Jagran are in the number one position, recording the highest readership of over 15.53 million.
USE OF NEWS
The Indian economy is rural and agrarian in nature. Our farmers always require knowledge on the development work undertaken by the government in the farming sector.
A career in print journalism is the ideal choice, if you are smittened by words and you constantly feel the need to bring to the people of the country what they need to know. Inquisitiveness serves as an added advantage as it helps the journalist to delve into the crux of an issue and gather the facts. It may not be necessary for one to earn a degree in the subject; however the practical experience can be very important. A clear insight and an investigative point of view on the various proceedings, especially in the
chosen field of interest can take your journalistic career to a new high. It is mandatory to keep your ears and eyes open if you want to be or are already part of this field. Try building on your connections from the very start; perhaps, right from the time you even think of taking up a journalism course. Print journalism today is not only restricted to politics, but it also involves a whole deal of writing on fashion, lifestyle, travel, hobbies, art and other subjects, that would otherwise fall under the bracket of soft news. An education in the field of print journalism, gives you a complete low down on the practicalities and the numerous theories that revolve around the subject. A course in the same involves complete understanding of the writing style, formats, verification of facts and also how to connect traditional journalism with new technology.
THE CHOICE
Both regional and English dailies need good writers, people who are passionate about spreading news and those that have a good network. But the demand for regional writing even in the days of the internet witnesses an ascending trend. It is surprising that one can avail of regional papers online as well. Take www.jagran.com for instance. If writing for a daily you are certain to bag a healthier pay cheque. Profits are usually high in the English dailies owing to the advertisement revenue the publication procures.
THE LOOMING THREAT
Until now, regional print media in India has enjoyed a very safe position in the industry. But, the English print media, which was remarkably well placed till a few years ago, is now faced with the herculean task of surviving in an increasingly digital world. Print must embrace newer technologies to save itself from an oncoming, slow and sure onslaught. JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 37
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COVER STORY
By far, the most formats, including radio, television s ou or am gl d an d te ve aving been involved and nowadays, even using the internet. co in s er in television and radio They are our one stop shop for the of all care myself for many years, I and that influences our everyday m, a career in news can vouch for the alleged journalis lives. A career in broadcast journalism excitement levels that a career in can put you at the epicentre of all the broadcast is no bed l broadcast journalism entails. But, one happenings from the world of politics, of roses. Putting al must understand that all that glitters current affairs, entertainment or the r ou am gl d an z it gl e is not gold. Just like all things in life, ups and downs in India’s and the th st ca there’s always a flipside. It’s a highly world’s economy. aside, broad demanding job, often with unearthly l journalists have to dea hours, impossible deadlines and tremendous pressure. But, if telling h a lot of pressure BUT, I DIDN’T it w STUDY a story to millions of people is what on and off the air. JOURNALISM? makes you tick, then it’s worth all that i d a w ila A sh u Often, that’s a question lingering hassle and a lot more. ay A is in our minds, awaiting a concrete th Broadcast journalists deliver the takes a look at answer. Well, it’s always great to be news to the public in a variety of fascinating world
H
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and driven to achieve your goals, you can always give it a shot! Students in a typical broadcasting programme learn the basic skills of proper news reporting, including the interview process and the writing of segments. They are also taught how to produce the news by managing video and audio equipment. A broadcast journalist can either be the person who is in front of the camera doing a PTC (piece to camera) or with the microphone, being the voice of the news, or the person in the production booth or studio. A lot of work goes into packaging a show or broadcast and it’s the production team that plays a crucial part. The behind-the-scenes action of managing microphones, properly shooting a video and editing are as important as presenting the news precisely and promptly.
THE FUTURE PROSPECTS
Broadcast journalism covers a wide variety of career options. If you aspire to be the storyteller in the spotlight, local television or radio broadcasting is an option. Internships at media
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
A reputed media scholar named Marshall McLuhan once aptly said that ‘the medium is the message’. He meant to say that the medium, or manner, through which the message is transmitted, determines what the message means. Broadly speaking, different media communicate information differently.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
certain about what you want to do in life. But, that’s not always the case. If you’re figuring out what your calling is, (as are most of us throughout our lives) then there’s no need to sound the alarm yet. Rajdeep Sardesai, one of India’s leading journalists happens to be a lawyer. Richard Quest, one of the most successful and eccentric personalities on international television is also a lawyer. Even if ‘the nation doesn’t want to know’, we must know that Arnab Goswami has studied sociology and social anthropology and is still one of the country’s most famous broadcast journalists. Basically, as long as you’re passionate about journalism, patient
organisations are often available and are a good addition to your resume. Similarly, it’s great to gain some experience at your school or college newspaper or radio station as this can make you more employable upon graduation. Positions behind the camera are also popular career choices, and include producing, editing, script writing, and management. Broadcast journalism jobs are perpetually in high demand. Most of them don’t require a specific degree but if you’re sure that journalism is your calling in life, then a formal education may strengthen your application and also add to your network.
JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 39
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MM, FLICKR
COVER STORY
Various types of media have several pros and cons and people’s perception of a news story depends on the manner in which it is fed to them. To illustrate, television is a visual medium. Strong pictures and video impact the television viewers (and hence TRPs) more than words. Television viewers, therefore, tend to remember how a story made them feel rather than the nitty-gritties of the story. A case in point is the debate in 1960 between US presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Many Americans listened to the debate on the radio, whereas the rest watched it on television instead. Although a majority of radio listeners felt that Nixon had won the debate, a majority of television viewers believed that it was in fact Kennedy who had won.
MADE IN INDIA
The fourth estate of Indian democracy has always taken it upon itself to serve as the supreme watchdog of the government, the judiciary and even the citizens of the State. Each day, we witness some broadcast journalists run the ratings rat race to
portray themselves as some sort of an ‘ubermensch’ for society – grilling corrupt politicians, slandering officials from enemy states, nodding along with intellectuals and eventually imposing their own colourable opinion on a country of over a billion people. It is from this show of godliness that a massive problem arises – in the event of arbitrary abuse of power by ostensibly revered journalists, who will hold them accountable? It’s imperative that journalists act responsibly and ethically until a formidable regulatory mechanism is put into place.
THE STATUS QUO
The media industry in India has grown exponentially since the 90s. There are nearly 850 television channels and about 250 private FM channels in the country, broadcasting all round the clock to almost 160 million Indian homes. Sameer Hashmi, a leading international journalist explains, “Television news channels have exploded in the last six to eight years. The regional media has bolstered this growth. With so many languages spoken in India, the launch of so
many news channels doesn't come as a surprise. But, the challenge is sustaining these channels. The business model for many television news channels hasn't worked, with most of them struggling to operate profitably.” It’s interesting to note that ‘the county’s most watched TV debate show’ reaches out to just about 20 million homes, which is still a small part of the 161 million households that have access to television. It only goes to show that in India, news isn’t consumed in English alone but Hindi and regional languages dominate a chunk of the viewership pie. Hashmi adds, “There will be major consolidation in this space with big players buying out smaller channels. The other issue is that the financial crunch is having an adverse impact on editorial quality. Unfortunately, most channels are more or less following the same formula. Television reportage appears to be dying; stories in the national channels are confined to urban areas and issues, making them endemic to that region. They all seemed to be catering to a certain category of audience and end up ignoring the remote rural areas.”
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ANDRÉANNE GERMAIN, FLICKR
Ever since the world’s first public radio broadcast in 1910 from New York City, Radio, as a broadcast medium has truly stood the test of time. It continues to be an effective and ubiquitous platform, enjoying an unparalleled reach throughout India.
I
f you’ve lived in India, then it’s most likely that you’ve tuned into a news broadcast at some point in time on All India Radio, India’s national broadcaster. Prasar Bharati owns and operates All India Radio (AIR), which has a monopoly on the news and current affairs segment and are the only ones allowed to broadcast news on the
Indian air waves. All India Radio reaches out to nearly 99.2 % of the population and hence, it becomes absolutely essential to maintain authenticity and transparency in their news broadcasts. No wonder our respected Prime Minister addresses nearly a billion Indians on AIR in his popular show, Mann Ki Baat.
TRUTH VERSUS HYPE
Fali Singara, a popular radio presenter at All India Radio in Mumbai mentions that he pursued a career in radio since the medium fascinated him ever since he was a little child. Fali, a massive Elvis Presley fan, says, “What’s interesting is that even today with all the choices available and the emergence of internet radio, a good number of people are still listening to All India Radio for the news. In radio there is a big difference between the 'story' and the 'news'. In TV there is no such difference. For example, if there was a big accident - the story or news is shown with maximum impact for its viewers. The channel could have a debate on which person responsible needs to be fired, what the government
is doing about it and so on. In news on the radio, there is no such agenda. News on the radio is unbiased and that makes it unique – the media outlet or the newsreader does not force his or her personal opinion about the incident on the audience. They give the plain facts and let the listeners form their own opinion instead.”
OLD IS GOLD
With the much awaited Phase III policy, there will be more FM stations popping up and news dissemination on the radio will take place on a wide scale in the near future. Broadcast industry veteran Ripusudan Kummar shares an interesting thought, “Radio might sound primitive today but one must remember that old is always gold. Radio still enjoys unparalleled reach throughout India. Over the years, we have seen how so many television show formats inspired from old radio shows.” So, it turns out The Buggles weren’t entirely right when they sang the chartbuster “Video Killed the Radio Star” in 1979. It’s already 2015 and we can safely say that radio is still here to stay! JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 41
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COVER STORY
News is ubiquitous. But, what is it that keeps journalism going in today’s digital age? If you like staying updated with the ways of the world, the internet now serves as the perfect morning cup of coffee to get you started
“
Journalism is a craft that creatively uses media to get citizens involved with the numerous proceedings around them,” explains Harini Calamur, Digital Head at Zee Media. Over the years, the industry has revitalised itself using various media, from its static status to being more emergent and fluid, owing to the internet.
A NEW ERA
The big question here is, ‘What exactly changed when the internet came into being?’ Till journalism was restricted to print, it was all about objectivity, with the term ‘objectivity’ often being questioned. With radio and television stepping in, people could witness were even closer to the action and live news became a possibility. However the definition of ‘objectivity’ still remained unresolved. Traditional
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Traditional journalists were compelled to propagate news of a certain format created by their publishers.
DEFINING ‘OBJECTIVITY’
It was only with the advent of the Internet, that viewers watched all the three media creatively unfolding truths in a way that created transparency and defined ‘objectivity’ more fittingly. Viewers were free to key down their opinions. They have also got the option of supporting facts, using more handy media like phones and tablets. “Today a decent phone with a certain resolution is more than enough to capture video’s and photographs. The same can be linked to apps like Snapchat or Instagram or any other social media networking, with ease,” adds Dhanasha Bhat, a Mumbai based student. This heightens viewership, as news becomes more fluid.
INSIGHTS AND MORE
journalists served as watchdogs, catalysing all social and economic reforms in the country. This has been the case right from the colonial era. Over the years, researchers have provided concrete evidence of media houses having political or private leanings that froze in the form of journalistic norms. This panned through the days of the Raj, till about over a decade ago, side tracking the clear meaning of objectivity.
The internet can be used as a medium to create a stir, for issues that have not been showcased by national media. News can be more specific also owing to the reasonability of the medium, as it helps cut down on cost of heavy equipment and space. “The internet allows extreme localisation,” adds Harini, who also speaks of a certain project called lamin.in, where they spot local issues, local heroes and local impact of news in a certain targeted area. “The news comprises of everything that is required at the local or community level in terms of news, information and knowledge.”
AUDIENCES AND MORE
The inception of the internet sounded a new wave in the field of journalism. According to Ms Calamur we learn of tremendous personalisation in the way people consume content, in the recent years. “Unlike TV or print where you get a single channel, paper or magazine and pay for it in entirety, we will
see a way where people choose only what they want (whether they pay for it or not).” The World Wide Web gives writers an impetus to choose from their desired field of interest. It certainly widens scope, as readers have a lager bandwidth of interests to choose from, and writers can cater to numerous beats of their choice.
VIEWERS GALORE
Pieces go viral, if traditional journalistic writing is strappingly interspersed with a fitting audio, video or with photographs. Take Huffington Post or Buzfeed for instance. They link their news and lighter pieces to prominent social networking sites of the likes of Facebook. They have created a different space for audiences who do not really follow news by combining news with impacting videos, pictorial storyboards, and photographs. This in turn gives way to a larger audience turn out. In more than one way, digital journalism is serious food for thought. News is better interpreted and appropriately analysed as facts and figures are laid down right before the viewer.
THE FUTURE
As we take a plunge into the future of journalism, we see how Nonny De La Penna marries technology with her traditional insight on journalism. She interestingly renders flavour to newsworthy information by using virtual reality to make viewers comprehend a certain situation in real time. She has innovatively used actual sound bytes and videos in a certain event or a situation, and redesigning the same using a 3D virtual space. The GPS tracking system attached to the device gives further insight on the news showcased on the device. Google Glass is another interesting technology that works on the blink of the eye. Even in India, it is clear that as more people go online and as more money is invested in digital media, digital journalism is going to pick up pace slowly but steadily. JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 43
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COVER STORY
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n today’s media world, India is an exceptional case. While newspapers and media houses in the United States and the rest of the world have been struggling to make ends meet for the last ten years, the situation in India is poles apart. In 2014, revenues for newspapers in India experienced 8.7 percent growth, even as international behemoths like The New York Times have been trying to cut costs.
MIRAGE OR REALITY?
The continuing success of India's print industry can be attributed to the fact that in the rural parts of India, internet connectivity is still a glaring issue. But, that doesn’t portray the most accurate picture of the Indian market. According to a KPMG report, of the 214 million Internet users in India, 130 million have access through their mobile devices. The report predicts that mobile users will top 350 million by the end of 2018. Once 4G
connectivity is in full swing throughout India, the opportunities will be endless and the digital media space will be a whole new ball game. It’s interesting to note that a lot of the media growth recorded in India comes from regions where Internet connectivity is low and where news media is just beginning to penetrate. A number of established newspapers and media groups in India and abroad have already spotted these trends. The Times of India, the most widely circulated English-language paper in the world has partnered with ‘digital-first news’ pioneers The Huffington Post for HuffPost India and Buzzfeed has already set up its India operations. In place of going for subscription money, many newspapers have reduced their prices, making their products cheaper and offering free delivery. Instead, they focused on revenues from advertisements, selling large chunks of ad space to people keen on publicising their products and services. That’s where the problem of paid news comes into play.
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PAID TO BE MADE
In a nutshell, paid news refers to the sponsorship of articles or broadcast stories by the powerful elite, published under the garb of journalistic pieces. In India, it’s a known fact that news content is purchased and sold in an open market, especially during elections. It was one of the country’s most influential publishing houses that started this practice of selling their editorial space and planting paid reports as news. The irony is that channels and papers hardly expose or report on paid news related pieces to avoid upsetting their sponsors or rather their private treaty clients. The infamous Radia Tapes controversy reiterated how low the standards of ethics in journalism have fallen in India. These tapes expose a national corruption scandal using telephonic conversations between Nira Radia, a political lobbyist with renowned journalists, corporate houses and politicians. Lobbying per se is not legalized in India like it is in the United States. Due to the absence of a robust and punitive regulatory framework, most of the accused in this controversy are still scot free and continue to hog the Indian media space, as arrogantly and belligerently as ever. Is it fair that in the world’s largest democracy where the denizens take pride in their fundamental rights – the powerful and corrupt minority remain above the law?
CHINA’S HARE V/S INDIAN TORTOISE
To put things into perspective, in China, most media organisations are run by the State, whereas apart from our public service broadcaster’s channels, India’s media houses are mostly privately owned. If the fear in China is that the media is telling the people the story the government wants them to hear, then the corresponding apprehension in India is that media channels might be parrots for their capitalist owners. Many of India’s biggest media networks are known to be run by behemoth corporations with varying and conflicting business interests. But, the question that’s most baffling is - what good is an uncontrolled, untamed media system like India’s where paid news and corporate ownership are becoming rampant and where sensationalism and subjectivity are slowly becoming commonplace? The biggest concern in India is that in this ratings oriented rat race, our media must not lose their rationality and neutrality while reporting a story. India's enormous network of newspapers, television channels and online setups provide an efficient and convenient means of reaching millions of denizens across the country. As we anxiously wait to enter a new era in the digital age, it’ll be intriguing to see how the production, dissemination and consumption of the news will change in India. yi
• Asian College of Journalism, Chennai • Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi • Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai • AJ Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre, New Delhi • Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune
• Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York City, NY • Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University • Cardiff University, UK • University of California, Berkeley • City University, London JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 45
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COUNSELLOR Q&A
JAYANTI GHOSE
COLLEGE IN THE US Q: What is the advisable timeline for planning an undergraduate education in the USA? Anuradha It would be appropriate to start research into the reasons for studying in the US, universities to target for his/ her needs when the applicant is in Class 11th. Also you must find out about the application and financial aid deadlines. Then plan when to take the standardized tests for admission such as ACT, SAT I and SAT II (if necessary), and TOEFL since tests should be taken in advance such that results are available as per university/ college deadlines. Gradually, narrow down your choice of colleges based on subject/ discipline choices, competitiveness, etc. Contact the universities for application/ financial aid forms and so on and also register for the required standardized tests a year before enrolment.
Choices in Mumbai include the National Institute of Fashion Technology (www.nift.ac.in), Pearl Academy (http://pearlacademy.com/) and ISDI (Indian School of Design & Innovation) Parsons (www.isdi.in). National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, and Symbiosis of Design and MIT Institute of Design in Pune would be choices in the neighbouring state /city. Admission to a design school usually involves a written test to judge your aptitude for drawing, design ability, power of observation, creativity, imagination, lateral thinking and writing skills and this may be followed by a situation/ studio test/interview. Examples are merely indicative. Keep tracking prominent dailies for relevant admission notifications.
ANSWER ANSWER
ANSWER ANSWER
If you are good at accounts pursuing Chartered Accountancy or Cost & Works Accountancy alongside BCom would be an option; otherwise, Company Secretary if you are interested in a career in corporate governance. Other choices include the five year integrated law degree or a hotel management degree. A talent for drawing/ sketching could lead in the direction of design or fine arts while a foreign language degree would suit you if you have a flair for languages. If you aren't clear about these, take up BCom or BBA/ BMS or a bachelor's degree with Economics and Maths, and you may opt either for a post graduate programme or a job after graduation. Examples are indicative.
DESIGN Q: Which are the institutions to target for undergraduate programmes in design at Mumbai and nearby cities? Does the selection process include written tests? Neha and Samar
WINE & SPIRITS Q: I have been working in food and beverages for some years now. I would like to pursue further studies abroad to learn about wine and spirits industry challenges from an international perspective. What do you suggest? Sudhir Mohan In France, Kedge Business School offers a global executive MBA programme on wine and spirit management; INSEEC Wine & Spirits Institutes offers MBA in Wine Marketing &Management, while the Bordeaux International Wine Institute runs MBA Wine Marketing and Management course. Burgundy’s School of Wine & Spirits Business offers MSc in wine business and MSc in wine management. In Italy, MBA in food and wine is offered at Bologna Business School while SDA Bocconi in Milan offers Master of Management in Food and Beverage (MFB) closely aligned to your work experience. Sonoma State University in the USA runs both a wine MBA and an EMBA in the Napa Valley while the University of Adelaide in Australia offers Master of Wine Business degree.
ANSWER ANSWER
AFTER THE 12TH GRADE Q: I will be completing class 11th with commerce and mathematics. My quantitative and analytical skills are above average and my social sciences scores in school were excellent. What further education options could I focus on after class 12th? Amarendra
ANSWER ANSWER
STUDY ABROAD
STUDY IN INDIA
Jayanti Ghose is a career and education consultant. She holds an honours degree in economics and a degree in education. Her research in career counselling and guidance spans more than 25 years. She pioneered the concept of career counselling and career writing in the print media. She is actively involved in personal and group counselling.
JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 47
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WISE UP
1
2
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D 1
3
O N Z 1
1
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- By Niloufer Gandhi
1
E
O W
Choose the option that is closest in meaning to the main word and complete the sentence.
1. careened (kuh-reen-ed)-
Driving over the oil spill on the road, the driver lost control and the car ______ along the curve. (a) stalled (b) toppled (c) tipped)
2. ensign (en-sahyn) –
The fluttering ____ with a black eagle on a golden background symbolised the power of the Roman army. (a) flag (b) page (c) parachute)
Aye aye, captain! At the beginning of the New Year, we set sail on a wonderful voyage that will unleash our potential and enable us to achieve our aspirations.
3. flotsam (flot-suh m) –
After searching endlessly for the missing cruise liner, the search pilots finally found the _____ . (a) wooden sheets (b) lifeboats (c) wreckage)
4. growler (grou-ler) –
Even sophisticated techniques such as satellite imagery and ship radars cannot prevent a ship’s unfortunate encounter with a ____. (a) iceberg (b) storm (c) rock)
5. helmed (helm-ed)-
Answers:
1. C, 2. A, 3. C, 4. A, 5. B
As the alert was sounded, the captain ____ the ship out of the hurricane’s destructive path. (a) lured (b) steered (c) turned)
Word Pyramid
The clues will help you find the answers to complete the word pyramid. Each answer must contain the previous answer. You may arrange the words with a new letter. Hint: Start from the top 1. A major blood group
A
2. Nickname for Alfred, Albert 3. To feel pain or unwell 4. The den of a wild animal 5. A cup or chalice used by Jesus in the Last Supper 6. Popular paste used in Indian cuisine ‘Ginger- ___ ‘ 7. A slow moving mass of ice 9. Sharp severe pains along a group of nerves 10. Forming an ulcer 11. Force moving away from center
Answers:
AL, AIL, LAIR, GRAIL, GARLIC, GLACIER, CLEARING, NEURALGIC, ULCERATING, CENTRIFUGAL
8. A patch of land with no trees or bushes
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yi
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29-12-2014 11:37:13
ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE
Spherical Delights
Heer Paresh Kothari explores a whole new facet of cooking, the art called molecular gastronomy
A
fter a gruelling week, and a literal jungle book stirring in your stomach it’s time you gave yourself a lipsmacking, mouth-watering treat this weekend. Can you think of normal foods, assuming an unconceivable and unique form, which when popped into your mouth exuberate this distinct burst of flavours that
tickle your palette? Foods that look so different and still seem familiar? The food that’s fit for the Gods! Well the cuisine maybe the same or perhaps an interesting blend of two cookeries, forming a fascinating form of food famously called molecular gastronomy.
Defining it
Well, what is Molecular gastronomy
and is it any different from fusion food? Both food forms are very unusual. They also require specific apparatus and cooking time depending on the dish that’s to be prepared. According to Chef Harsh Shodhan, of the Gourmet Kitchen & Studio (Mumbai), “Fusion food is the collaboration of two different cuisines, may it be in the form of taste,
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texture and presentation such that the final outcome gives you the experience of both cuisines. On the other hand, Molecular Gastronomy is the changing of the molecular structure of the ingredient or the dish without affecting the basic coherent taste of the ingredient or the dish.” Master Chef Milind Sovani insists, “Molecular gastronomy is more about the visual appeal and the novelty of textures and taste.” The term may sound like we have notched a new high in the food sciences; however, it is only the simple and successful
application of scientific principles and practices in the preparation of food. This form of cooking is almost a few decades old but seems to have rippled attention only in the recent years. Started by renowned chefs Ferran Adria and Heston Blumenthal, molecular gastronomy incorporates laboratory techniques that can be tastefully applied to any cuisine.
Simplifying it
Imagine nipping on an apple flambé (with your eyes shut) normally cooked using regular apparatus. One will
only experience a mash of flavours, which even after trying hard will be difficult to distinguish. Don’t be surprised if you will label the flambé as a potato with a dash of sweetness. This is because whenever we heat an ingredient, it causes a chemical reaction, resulting in the loss of the original flavour. Molecular gastronomy enables patrons to fully cherish flavours of every ingredient involved. Take the Dahi Wada at SpiceKlub in Mumbai for instance. The Wada Caviar is soaked in Dahi, enabling patrons to cherish a definite flavour of the curd and all the spices used. The menu also has the delicious Cheese Pav Bhaji that has changed the physical form to the consistency of the fondue.
Myths galore
Molecular cooking involves the use of controlled temperatures, food grade chemicals and specific apparatus. There is a common myth associated with molecular gastronomy that the food heavily relies on the use of chemicals. This is absolutely incorrect. According to Chef Sovani, all the ingredients are sourced from natural produce. Chef Shodhan states, “It is a complicated form of cookery. Not only is it difficult to make, but it is also considered very expensive,” Aditya Gupta, owner of SpiceKlub states that many people are oblivious to this form of cooking, and think it is strange! It is only when they come in to his restaurant and savour the delights; do they understand what they’re consuming.
The Technique Milind Sovani
Molecular gastronomy involves a lot of research, food grade chemicals for ingredients and the appropriate apparatus (which can also be shipped) to craft the perfectly flavoured dish. Women can try this at home too! “Don’t be disheartened if you are unable to get the dish right in the first try. The preparations indeed require a lot of patience,” adds Chef Sodhan. Techniques like Sous-vide, are JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 51
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ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE carageenan, gellan gum, pectin and methylcellulose. These jellying agents are solid in nature, but assume the appropriate form on hydration. Some of the best cocktails can be prepared using this technique. One can relish these yummy coolers at the J.W. Marriot, Courtyard, ARK. Chef Suresh Thampy, Executive Chef, at the ARK Courtyard Marriot adds, “We, at JW Marriott Mumbai are excited to include molecular gastronomy in our cocktails which lends a unique taste and flavour to the drink. This drink is elegant, crisp and rich in taste which sets it apart from the others.” Flash Freeze is another technique used in molecular gastronomy comprising of the immediate freezing of foods, with the use of liquid nitrogen. Transparent sheets for Raviolis are created using soybean and potato starch. Prints can be applied onto the edible transparent sheets using fruit flavours for ink followed by the laser-printing technique. The transparent edible sheets are neutral in flavour and can be used in the main course as well as in desserts. Maltdextrin is famously used to convert high-fat liquids like oil or clarified butter to powder. And food stabilisers are also used to convert fruits and vegetables into edible foam.
Pav Bhaji Fondue, SpiceKlub Mumbai
Bubbling Kulfi, SpiceKlub Mumbai
Test Tube Pani Puri, SpiceKlub Mumbai
The Effect
commonly used in this form of food science. This involves, cooking in vacuum packs, using water baths that are controlled at 62.8 degrees, in order to retain its natural colour, juices, and tenderness. Traditionally devised for medicinal purposes, spherification, jellification,
Faux Caviar, is now routinely included in the preparation of some lip-smacking dishes and cocktails. Jellification is just another technique that is frequently used in this form of cooking. Liquids are converted into gelatinous substances using gelling agents like agar-agar, gelatin,
Molecular gastronomy has quite a magical effect on food lovers. It spells good news for those on a diet. The calorie measures are lesser than when one consumes normal food. The secret lies in keeping it simple. That is an assured way of inducing the ‘wow factor’ among food lovers. According to Chef Suresh Thampy, “Numerous studies are being done to see if dieters looking for a bit of help to lose weight could benefit from the science of molecular gastronomy. Some research suggests that people looking to shed a few pounds could be given an edible gel that swells in the stomach to make them feel fuller. Scientists and chefs are currently
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working on a way of combining two food ingredients that when they are exposed to stomach acid will expand to form a solid gel. As gel like protein is harder to digest and takes time to break down, it leaves the person feeling less hungry and therefore reduces their desire to overeat.” For those who are keen on learning how to prepare dishes, Chef Sodhan invites learners to his studio. He adds, “Apart from my commercial catering business which we run out of The Gourmet Kitchen & Studio, we also conduct various culinary based handson classes, workshops, demonstrations and master-classes conducted by our in-house faculty and visiting chefs and experts.” The studio is planned in a way, giving students an opportunity to independently cook and prepare dishes at their work stations in teams of two. He adds, “We would like our students to experience and feel what they are cooking and learning and would love them to get their hands dirty!” The Gourmet Studio and kitchen is equipped with the best and yet basic equipment. One can replicate the recipe back home. They also have a 10 seater dining table where students can eat and enjoy their preparations. The place can be converted to a private dining room for family gatherings and private parties. As we wind up, we notice that molecular gastronomy is seriously taking the country by storm. Many restaurants have begun luring patrons by crafting some delectable preparations using this unique technique. However, there are still many who are unaware of this food form. But, there are also many who watch and learn to cook using basic, uncomplicated apparatus. After molecular gastronomy, the next level involves going organic using this form of cooking. Here are two delectable molecular gastronomy recipes by Chef Milind Sovani of April Rain Restaurants India and Hospitatility Innovations, Singapore that you can try at home, by yourself! yi
SPICED SPHERES OF YOGHURT & TAMARIND ON PAPDI (A CLASSICAL PAPDI CHAT SERVED IN A MODERN MOLECULAR STYLE) INGREDIENTS
Thick spiced youghurt (used in chat) 250 gms Tamarind chutney 250 gms Papdis 8-10 Sev 1 table spoon Algin 3 teaspoons Chilled water 500 ml
METHOD
• Mix algin powder with chilled water and blend it in a blender and keep the mixture in the refrigerator overnight • Take thick youghurt with the regular chat spices in it and drop a spoon full in the algin water, it will form white spheres. • Now drop a spoon full of thick tamarind cutney into the algin water and it will form red spheres. • Carefully remove these spheres and drop them in a clean drinking water bath. • Set papdis on a platter and top the papdi with the white yoghurt sphere, place the red tamarind chutney sphere next to it. • Lightly sprinkle with thin sev and serve. • When you eat the papdi with the topping, you will get a burst of flavours in your mouth which is highly enjoyable
A YUMMY COCKTAIL YOU CAN TRY MAKING AT HOME INGREDIENTS
Whisky 45ml Fresh apple 5- 6 chunks Lime juice 15ml Cinnamon stick 2 -3 sticks Sugar syrup 15ml Cigar and apple wood chips Special equipment used Smoke gun and the wood chips
RECIPE
• Prepare the smoke of cigar and apple wood in a decanter by burning wood chips • Store the smoke in the decanter by covering it with a lid • Now, prepare the drink by muddling the apple chunks with cinnamon stick • Add scotch whisky into it and fill the shaker with ice • Add lemon juice and sugar syrup • Shake and pour the ingredients in the old fashioned glass filled with ice • Then remove the lid of the decanter filled with the smoke and invert it over the glass filled with the cocktail • Let the smoke travel through the decanter into the glass • Remove it and serve along with the smoke coming out of glass with the garnish of cinnamon stick
JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 53
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WHAT
RISES IN THE
WEST, SETS IN THE
EAST?
Nimi Jayachandran opines that Western media has influenced the concept of relationships in India and explains how they have transformed the norms in our society
He’s just a guy I’m seeing, it’s nothing serious
T
his quote from The Ugly Truth perfectly nails what it means to casually date someone. Ten or fifteen years ago, the concept of dating was not so commonplace. Two people seeing each other would immediately be assumed to be seriously committed. Today, however, casual dating has been incorporated into our lives. In our country, where even today most marriages are arranged, it has become
54 Youth Incorporated JANUARY 2015
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RELATIONSHIP
increasingly common to see people go on informal dates. In our busy, fastpaced world, it is sometimes easier to maintain a less serious commitment, be it emotional or physical. People prefer to meet someone in a relaxed setting. Popular television shows such as “How I Met Your Mother” have made it a trend of sorts to pursue a relationship without any strings attached and to let things take their own course.
The Commitment Confrontation
“Face your fear. In this case, you have a fear of commitment. So I say you go in there and be the most committed guy there ever was,” is a quote by the character Joey in the popular television show Friends. It is with reference to the phase which goes from dating to something more serious. In the modern world, the laid back approach to meeting others allows for people to focus on themselves and to decide with time how seriously they wish to pursue their relationship. It gives a sense of freedom whilst maintaining the comfort of being with someone. This has reached out and changed how our society views commitment and dating as well too. Popular movies such as Salaam Namaste have toyed with the idea of non-conventional relationships, which are now not so uncommon. In Shuddh Desi Romance we were introduced to a fierce, open minded young couple who valued
commitment in a relationship, but feared marriage. The popularity of the movie shows that our society as a whole has slowly started making room for such liberal ideas of a relationship. Despite the strong influence of western media, we’ve managed to hold onto certain core beliefs pertaining to relationships. Relationships are hard work and sometimes certain adjustments are required to be made to maintain one. ‘Relationship todna bahut aasan hai, lekin usko banaye rakhne ke liye adjustments karni padti hai, nurture karna padta hai’, is what Sidharth Malhotra’s character Nikhil in Hasee Toh Phasee replies when asked why he works so hard in his relationship.
All The Single Ladies
With a modern outlook of relationships becoming increasingly accepted in our society, some young men and women are now growing open to the idea of enjoying being single. The character of Carrie Bradshaw from the television show Sex and the City states it best, ‘being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty, confident and that you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with’. Women are taking single time in their stride, while valuing the freedom which comes with being single. Men are increasingly using this time to explore activities to their interest. Exploring a passion and taking risks at a time when there are no commitments to someone is something which seems to be
appealing to the younger generation these days.
Where Do We Go From Here?
For a culture that has largely been obsessed with its orthodox views of relationships, ours is slowly opening up to the modern day ideas of what forms a relationship. It is easy to see how the Western culture has impacted our society. Parents, who still hold a strong influence over their children’s significant others, are being eased into a less traditional idea of relationships. Younger men and women are taking more responsibility and effort into maintaining a commitment. The Western impact has been such that, we, as the younger generation are able to take the best of both worlds and create a society which makes room for both contemporary values as well as conventional ones. yi
JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 55
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WWW.NEW.SOLDSIE.COM
WWW.TARINGA.NETCOM
WWW.LOCALFITNESS.COM.AUCOM
If you thought you needed to put in hours at the gym to get in shape, then think again. Manil S Dodani suggests you try out Tabata – the four minute miracle workout that will ensure you bid farewell to all those extra calories
GSL,COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG
s s e n t i f o t s e t u m in
FITNESS
56 Youth Incorporated JANUARY 2015
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G
one are the days when one needed 60 minutes at the gym or the copious amounts of liquids and diet khakra for snacking for a lean and mean body. What if someone was to tell you, you need only four minutes to get in shape? Four minutes to a fit body – sounds like a sham? People describe a Tabata workout at the end of four minutes, as ‘I could see light at the end of a tunnel’ or ‘I thought I was going to die’ – just a hint of what the next four minutes of your workout are going to look like. Tabata workouts are a form of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) founded by Professor Izumi Tabata. Originally the applications of Tabata workouts were intended for Japanese athletes, Olympic speed skaters to be precise.
What is Tabata?
Tabata and his team at the National Institute of Sports and Fitness in Tokyo carried out research on two groups of athletes – one group trained at moderate intensity exercises five times a week for about six weeks whereas the other group performed four minutes of Tabata high intensity workouts nearly four times per week coupled with a day of cardio in the same week. The results of this study evidently proved the efficacy and effectiveness of a high-intensity workout; the latter group displayed higher fitness levels, especially anaerobic benefits and had higher VO2 max intake (maximum oxygen consumption during exercise) which leads to higher calorie burning and fat reductions. An independent research that used Tabata training with jump squats has shown that a Tabata workout can burn about 13.5 calories every minute (which is an extremely high-level of calorie burn rate), not to mention a doubled metabolic rate.
Shoes? Check. Determination? Double check!
What follows from this point on is
going to leave you panting for breath, make you see stars in broad daylight, or make you feel like you’ve just run the last lap of the Mumbai marathon. It is recommended that you consult your fitness trainers and instructors who can monitor you before you try out this seemingly short, but incredibly intense workout. A four minute Tabata workout involves eight 30 second cycles (30 seconds x 8 = 240 seconds i.e. 4 minutes). These cycles are split in a 20:10 ratio, the first 20 seconds of every cycle are spent performing exercises to your maximum intensity and then resting for 10 seconds, thereby allowing the body to recover completely. Repeat the same again: 20 seconds of exercise, followed by 10 seconds of rest – the same for 8 cycles will let you complete one ‘Tabata’. So, basically each cycle involves you maxing out completely for 20 seconds and then resting for 10 seconds. Tabata workouts can be performed with an array of exercises, most people prefer sprinting on the treadmill however, for those accustomed to skipping, jump rope exercises will do just fine! For seasoned gym-goers, Tabata can also be incorporated into your bodyweight training regime. Choose any four barbell exercises that you like (and can switch between easily without exerting too much; remember you have only 10 seconds to recover from each cycle!) and perform the first exercise as intensely as you can, the second one as fast as you can; repeating the same for the remaining cycles. The same regime can be applied to dumbbell workouts, owing to the flexibility a Tabata workout offers. If you are an inhabitant of a metro city, or prey to an unforgiving daily schedule, Tabata is just the thing for you. Please be advised that a Tabata exercise is a high intensity workout and if you suffer from heart conditions or blood pressure issues it would be advisable to check with your medical practitioner before you start. Additionally, a 30 minute rest period would be advisable after this workout
as your body would need to cool down, as well as restore your heart rate to a normal level. Four minutes a day can keep all your health and fitness woes away! yi
Dumbbell sample
workout
1.Bicep Curls 2. Incline Fly 3. Arnold Shoulder Press 4. Lateral Raise 2
1
3
4
Simple Tabata
Workout
1. Pushups 3. Rows 2. Squats 4. Sit ups
1 2 3
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COUNTDOWN
2015’s
Youth Inc’s interns take a humorous look at the top 10 New Year’s resolutions that will make you ROTFL!
FIT OR GET 10 GET POOR TRYING!
Haven’t all of us have at some point in our lives said something along the lines of ‘I’ll stay fit by going to gym this year onwards and look slim and gorgeous’. Probably, that’s the only reason gyms make so much money. You pay for a service that you never end up using!
STOP USING 9 I’LL MONTHLY FREE
TRIAL VERSIONS OF SOFTWARES TILL THE 29TH DAY; DELETE IT AND DOWNLOAD IT AGAIN ON THE 30TH DAY!
TRY NOT TO 7 I’LL FAKE HOW COOL MY
FRIEND’S PARTY WAS!
Just because you uploaded some glamorous pictures on Instagram and added an irrelevant string of hash tags, it doesn’t make it the coolest party of the year. Although, it might be the best way to flaunt your social life and make your friends jealous, it really isn’t all that cool if you think about it.
Haven’t we all done this? We all confess that we have done this at some point in our lives as well. But, this year there’s a voice in the back of our heads saying, ‘I promise to actually purchase the software from this year onwards, NOT!’
AVOID USING 8 I’LL FACEBOOK AND
WHATSAPP TO COMMUNICATE WITH MY PARENTS AND TALK TO THEM INSTEAD! BIRGERKING, FLICKR
I
t’s that time of the year again when we all draw up a long and arduous list of New Year’s resolutions. Each and every one of us has some resolutions set for the upcoming year, but fulfilling them is a whole other matter. We hate to be the ones to burst your bubble, but a New Year's resolution is just an excuse to say you’ll do something in the coming year so that you can make yourself feel better for a short while. After all, New Year’s is the ultimate Monday for the procrastinating ‘I'll start from Monday’ crowd. Reality check: If you actually want something, you don’t wait till eternity for it; you go ahead and do it! So, we have resolved to come up with a list of the wackiest resolutions for 2015 that you can LOL at all year. (Isn’t it high time all of us stop resolving to make lame New Year’s resolutions?)
You’re late? Send a quick text message to mom. Liked that watch at the mall so much that you want to buy it? Snapchat it to your Dad. Why can’t we just spare some time from our laidback lives and spend it with them in person instead?!
WWW.THEGROVELA.COM
SAVE WATER 6 I’LL AND CONTRIBUTE
TO THE WORLD BY NOT WASHING CLOTHES AND USING MORE DEODORANT! This is one of the laziest resolutions of all. Just because you make it sound like a noble intention, doesn’t actually mean that it is one. One can’t help but admit that this is the lamest thing one can ever resolve to do. (Fun Fact: Did you know that the presence of chloro-flouro carbons in the environment is more detrimental to it than scarcity of water? Yes. Get your facts right, cartoon!)
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wackiest resolutions! WILL STOP 5 ITAGGING MY
You get a notification from Facebook and open it only to find a picture you’ve been tagged in. That’s when you find yet another string of irrelevant hash tags (just like in the previous resolution). But, what’s ironic is that you weren’t in the picture in the first place! It makes you wonder when people will finally realise that it's actually irritating to get tagged in somebody else’s selfie!
4
I’LL ENJOY MY MEALS WITHOUT POSTING A LIVE FEED ON INSTAGRAM!
You visited a coffee shop and a picture of your cold coffee goes up on Instagram the moment it arrives at your table. Some people just can’t start their meal unless they take a picture of their food to make it known to the world that they have been to the fanciest restaurants and bars in the city. Pause, take a deep breath and savour the moment with your loved ones instead of giving fodder to stalkers by only adding to your digital footprint.
CHRISTINA_NOVELLI, WIKIMEDIACOMMONS
FRIENDS IN MY SELFIES!
WILL LEARN NEW 2 ILANGUAGES... (TO
IMPRESS THE OPPOSITE SEX)! Gone are the days when we learnt new languages so that we could explore new cultures or get into a top foreign university. Nowadays, we learn new languages only to impress people in our social circles. It’s high time we get our priorities straight, no?
THINK OF I’LL ENJOY MY 3 I’LL BETTER EXCUSES TO 4 MEALS WITHOUT GIVE TO MY BOSS FOR LEAVES!
This is the one resolution that all employees and interns can relate to! When you’re coming up with an excuse to give to your boss, you also prepare yourself for all the questions he is going to shoot at you. But you do realise that your boss sees right through you when you give those excuses, right? That’s because your colleagues have probably ended up giving the same excuses that you did. It’s time to get creative with your excuses this year!
POSTING A LIVE FEED ON INSTAGRAM! WILL NOT FORGET 1 IMY NEW YEAR
RESOLUTIONS BY THE END OF JANUARY!
A new resolution for the New Year sounds perfect, right? But how many of us get down to really fulfilling our New Year’s resolutions? So why come up with impractical ones in the first place? The best New Year’s resolutions are the ones that are aligned with the changes you truly want to make in your life. So get your thinking cap on, and make some positive changes in your life instead. Have a wacky and happy new year! yi JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 59
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29-12-2014 11:45:55
POINT OF VIEW
d e h c a t t A s g n i r t S o N
ay’s d to n I
n li lio em h t ses o lp a Vw all’? m Ja k at a h s wor i s, N nds p i sh t-sta n tio nigh a l re ne l a er ‘do o m he n – p e of estio e ag r qu d an dolla y da
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R
ecently, I was invited to speak to students at a prestigious college on college life, survival and life issues. In the course of the session, the obvious subject that came to the fore was sex and I was asked for my viewpoint on one night stands. What made it even more difficult was that it was a mixed audience of boys and girls. These days with boys and girls aged nineteen going on twenty nine, it becomes a little obsolete to begin with views on safe sex in relation to birds and bees. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Victorian but on a lighter note, I do believe that especially for a girl it can be an experience that leaves her feeling ravaged and unfulfilled. No, I’m not from the age of the dinosaurs when I say that women are more emotional, get more attached and are hurt easier than men. This is of course not rule of thumb. Today’s metrosexual man is also capable of much depth and attachment to his woman, but biologically a woman tends to get attached and feel clingy especially when her hormones act up.
Bollywood’s famous one night stands
Like it or not, many Indian men enjoy the chemistry and the physicality but when it comes to marriage, they still prefer to go with the conservative type of girl. It’ll take some time to change that mindset definitely. You still have the guys who’ve studied and lived abroad that are broad minded. As hinted by Akshay Kumar in the film Holiday, guys are often even averse to the very virginal inexperienced variety of women when it comes to marriage. They often seek an equal partner who walks shoulder to shoulder with her man, is great in bed and fun to converse with. This got me thinking beyond the obvious thoughts that I’ve stated earlier. The downside I realised, beside the fear that a girl may get attached or the guy may talk post the experience - is that one night stands may give you a certain reputation at office or
where you live, and unless you are thick skinned you may get hurt. The other problem you might face is in the morning after and depends on how you deal with the situation. In Band Baja Barat, Anushka Sharma, deals with the morning after happily, but Ranveer Singh is the one who is uncomfortable and feels that he will be trapped into dating her. He can’t seem to deal with the baggage and they go into a cold war situation.
One more night?
Research suggests that the relationship quality of partners who wait to jump into bed until they get serious have a higher chance of survival and are of a better fabric. Nothing suggests that indulging in the physical romp early in the game is to be blamed for discord. Dating and waiting just ensures that you haven’t jumped the gun and that you actually have the connection for the longer term. There is also evidence to suggest that people who frequently get into short term trysts or one night stands do not have the interest or mindset to work at developing a
relationship and nurturing a rapport and the ability to create long term ties. This type of partner is also viewed as somewhat flighty and not dependable in the long term. While it sounds archaic to play the ‘hard to get’ game and while many dislike ceremony in this day and age, the fact that human beings value something after a chase is an age old truth. Nothing is more lacking in value than something easy to get. You must remember that to work to get anything, be it a book, a car, a girl or a guy, it gains in value and preciousness when you get it after some work that goes into acquiring it. After all, man is a hunter in his primordial coding. That said, I’d stick to my initial belief, that one must take time, build something with more value to enjoy a more meaningful relationship. It’s healthier, safer and kinder to yourself and the investments you make in terms of time, effort and feelings.. yi Tweet Me at @nishjamvwal blog nishajamvwal.blogspot.in nishajamvwal@gmail.com JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 61
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G-SPOT the
Gadgets Gizmos Geeks
IOS V/S ANDROID | ELEGANCE V/S POWER
Manil S Dodani attempts to decode who really is the king of the OS jungle. In 2015, should you bite the apple or is it time to sweeten your senses with Android’s latest Lollipop START SMALL: FINISH UNFORGETTABLE? Once upon a time, a middle aged man, 6 feet two inches tall, wearing a full sleeved black t-shirt, coupled with a pair of jeans and Harry Potter inspired spectacles, holding a small black remote, with a glint of nervousness in his eyes and a little jilt in his walk, stood quietly in an area bustling with people. The crowd was just like it would’ve been on any other day, some of them laughing, others talking and the rest were simply staring at a blank space. That day, in 2007, the crowd fell silent at the Moscone centre in San Francisco, when Steve Jobs said, “Today, Apple will reinvent the phone”. That day marked history in the world of technology. The first IPhone was
launched. A year later, another phone, much humbler and unattractive by all means, namely the HTC Dream was launched. This phone was the first ever Android operating smartphone. But despite all the hype, Android failed to impress the smartphone community. This article attempts to referee the war between two Goliaths of the OS world - the elegant and powerful iOS and the powerful and redefined Android. The latest updates to these operating systems have been taken into account namely the iOS 8.1 and Android Lollipop 5.0.1 WHEN LOOKS ARE EVERYTHING | DESIGN Design has become a word synonymous with Apple’s OS X, which features the principles of
skeuomorphism (making things look like real world counterparts) for eg, a button on a smartphone screen appears to be ‘pressed’ when touched by the human finger. Apple has always strived to make iOS extremely minimalistic and purified in its design and has hence done way with drop shadows and detailing and embraced bold color palettes (as seen in iOS 7), it is hard to deny that iOS 8 looks classy. Featuring a Flat Design – everything looks flatter and cooler, need we say more? ‘Time saving’ design features like interactive notifications and mailbox access even when using another app to make user experience friendly and minimize effort to harness critical phone features. Compared to the uber-cool iOS at an earlier point in time, Google, which now houses Android development, had what magicians like to call “nothing up their sleeves”. However, with the coming of 2014, Google gave the world what they refer to as ‘Material Design’. Material Design is simple and bold. Featuring a host of new features like lockscreen notifications, 3D-multitasking and high performing graphics, Lollipop took the world by storm backed by new Material design therapy and frankly, we’re loving it too.
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PERFORMANCE PRESSURE | LOCK AND LOAD ‘It isn’t about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s about the size of the fight in the dog’. Apple with iOS has always followed closed system architecture, i.e. Apple controls, both the software and hardware compared to Android which harnesses third-party hardware with its open source software to build extremely powerful smartphones. But, team iOS argues that this level of Apple’s software restrictions would outperform Android devices during hard testing or at times when the phone would be forced to tap into all its processing power. CUSTOMISATION Android gives iOS a run for its money in this arena. iOS, even with multiple updates features certain bloatware in the form of stock apps, these apps cannot be uninstalled, thereby taking space in the already limited phone storage. iOS users have limited options when it comes to ringtones and wallpapers. Android is friendlier in this sense, offering almost an infinite amount of options where users can customize ringtones, wallpapers, the way information appears and much more.
IF GAMES ARE YOUR FIRST GIRLFRIENDS, READ ON: GAMING ‘This is what happens, when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object’. This is like a Vishwanathan Anand v/s Magnus Carlsen chess game that never happened. iOS being Vishy, the tiger and Android being Magnus. Both operating systems offer tough competition, with plenty in their armour. Feedback from regular mobile gamers suggests that both systems support smooth gaming even with high-end games like Asphalt 8 and Dead Trigger running with negligible or minimal lag.
Differences that are not apps, but are clones of each other on iOS and Android Apple Pay & Google Wallet Apple HealthKit & Google Fit Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Apple has introduced METAL a new game API for developers offering environment upgrades for better development whereas Android Lollipop 5.0 brings with it the OpenGL ES 3.1 which is as usual multi-platform based programming interface. PHONE JUICE | BATTERY LIFE ‘You’re only as good as your gear’ Android users have enjoyed long battery lives even with mobile data being constantly on. Lollipop 5.0 has borrowed extensively from Motorola in introducing the new ‘battery saver mode’. Titled Project Volta, a Lollipop user now enjoys roughly 33% longer battery life. The phone allows you to activate battery saving technology at times when phone battery reaches critical levels. Most Android smartphones come with high-capacity batteries (The Google Nexus 5 features a 2300 mAh battery; pretty darn huge.) iOS still proves to be a battery hungry software. All that glossy brightness doesn’t go easy on the battery. However, it is too early in the absence of a battery test to estimate the iOS 8.1 battery life. yi JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 65
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PS FREE AP
TOP CROSS PLATFORM GAMES OF 2014
of the
MONTH
As 2014 comes to an end, we list some of the best multiplayer games available on the app stores of your favourite devices.
CHESS TIME The best cross platform competitive chess game there is. It features online multiplayer gaming capability allowing you to play with your friends or just ask for a random matchup. Making Chess interactive is what this app does best!
CLASH OF CLANS POOL BREAK LITE
One of the world’s most popular multiplayer strategy games ever. The game features an open environment where players have to forage for resources and build structures/ buy powerups with those (a la Age of Empires). Players can attack each other using their battalions of mini sized armies. Players can also join to form clans and compete with larger clans around the world. This one's officially our design team's favourite!
For all those pool league aficionados, this is your chance to sharpen your skills or test them with random opponents all across the world. The game also features snooker, carom, billiards etc for some off time from hardcore pool. With intense physics and geometry inspired design, this one is extremely accurate and a joy to play!
OVERKILL Kill or get killed is the mantra of the game. Kill your enemies, rack up points and cash and upgrade your gun to kill some more. Multiplayer shooting at its best. This is a game that will help you de-stress and unwind after a hard day’s night. Shoot away!
REAL RACING 3 Probably the game with the best graphics on a mobile platform, Real Racing 3 puts you behind the steering wheel of the world’s most powerful cars. Whether it is the Bugatti Veyron or the Mclaren F1, race with players from around the world with the fascinating multiplayer ‘ghost’ mode.
FUN RUN Our personal favourite. A cutesy design featuring animals, a racing game allowing for some real time matchup against opponents. Players can race with up to four players simultaneously, or add your friends to race against them!
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TV SHOWS RELEASING TV SHOWS RELEASING
BEST OF
M o v i e s
/
T V
/
M u s i c
/
B o o k s
TV SHOWS RELEASING NEW SEASONS THIS MONTH With January being the month of new beginnings, let’s not forget about our favourites from the past. Here are some TV shows coming back with enticing new seasons this month. From horrors to musicals to sitcoms and drama, there’s something new for all of you! AMERICAN HORROR STORY
With ghosts and gory murder, this is the perfect show for the adrenaline junky. There’s a new story line every season, so you are guaranteed no repetition or boredom, with the over-arching theme consistent. There is also the recurring character of Jessica Lange, a strong, intimidating badass! We're waiting for: Season 5
SUITS
PARKS AND RECREATION
Harvey Specter and Mike Ross return this month with some edgy clients. After working for an investment banker, Mike returns to Pearson Hardman at the end of season 4. Louis Litt threatens to expose Mike and put the firm in jeopardy. The new season will unfold with a chain of events where Harvey will hopefully save Mike again. We're waiting for: Season 4
Amy Poehler is the rib-tickling and perfect protagonist working as a city bureaucrat, this show being a comedy shot in the style of a documentary. It follows by current events, incorporating them into their seasons. It is the rare combination of politics and satire at the same time; a light and entertaining watch. We're waiting for: Season 7
DOWNTOWN ABBEY
It is a British period drama set in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey. This show follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants through historic events like sinking of the Titanic, the First World War, the Teapot Dome scandal, the Spanish influenza pandemic and the formation of the Irish Free State. We're waiting for: Season 5
THE AMERICANS
This show is simultaneously a family drama and a historic show. A couple who are undercover Soviet agents and are posing as an American family; this show is set during the cold war. It’s created by a former CIA officer and has a lot of narratives that are based on true stories. An interesting amalgamation of personal and dangerous professional life, it makes for an intense and compelling watch. We're waiting for: Season 3
GLEE
This American musical comedy-drama is set in the fictitious William McKinley High School. It focuses on the new directions and choir competitions of the glee club whose members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues while trying to work together. Matthew Morrison has put up a stunning performance. We're waiting for: Season 6
TV SHOWS RELEASING TV SHOWS RELEASING
iMHO
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Fall Out Boy releasing their new album American Beauty/ BANDS THAT BROKE With American Psycho on 20th January, we are grateful they fell back after their three year hiatus from 2009 to 2012. In celebration UP AND THEN GOT inof their undying rock and roll spirit, here are some other bands BACK TOGETHER that broke up but got back together
SEX PISTOLS
THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
With electronic and gothic rock, they established their own style within this genre. Fighting and drugs led to their breakup. Two members, Corgan and Chamberlin reunited, and the members of the rest of the band kept changing. Corgan and Schroeder are the only members of the original band remaining. With members leaving and joining, their music style is indefinable but still gracefully under their alternative rock umbrella. Yay or Nay: Corgan has announced a new album for 2015; their coming together mainly means the continuing of their music composition, and for that we are all smiles.
The band that challenged social convention and commented on the Crown with their music; the band that termed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ‘a piss stain’; the band with only one recorded album to their credit, they were legends. The initiators of the punk movement, they heavily influenced the direction that punk and alternative rock music took. They broke up for almost twenty years but eventually, thankfully, reunited, with the return of Johnny Rotten to the scene. Yay or Nay?: Yay! We are immensely thankful for the unison of this legendary band; every moment they spend together is celebrated rock history.
THE PIXIES
In a dramatic breakup with one member flinging his guitar at another member, and then leaving the band by sending a fax, this band needed the break they got. The reuniting was in the form of a live performance for a world tour after eleven years. With music styles ranging from alternative rock and hard rock to psychedelic, they were the influence for future legends like Nirvana. Although they didn’t get much commercial success, their influence is wide-spread and irreversible. Yay or Nay: With 2013 finally being their time to release new music, their getting back together and sticking it out was worth it, without a doubt.
MEGADETH
One of the ‘big four’ along with Slayer, Anthrax and Metallica of the thrash metal genre, their work goes a long way in influencing and promoting thrash metal. Their work consists of rushed rhythmic occurrences and their lyrics focus on themes like war, politics and death. With legal fallouts and court issues, they got back and hit their commercial high rise. Yay or Nay: Hell yeah. Their uniting even lead to them starting their own music festival Gigantour, promoting their mascot Vic Rattlehead and selling more than 40 million copies worldwide.
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE (RATM)
RATM is a rap metal band with a strong focus on hard rock with succinct bass. They emphasise strong leftist political tendencies, being supplicants of social equality and advertising the Anarchist Cookbook on their website. They broke up in 2000 when Zack de la Rocha left the band over directional disputes regarding their future, only to join back in 2007. Although, they have no plans of future recordings or live performances, their coming back together was still a big relief to the metal scene. Yay or Nay: Well, theoretically they’re back. But there’s to be no more music from them. We’re neutral on this one. At least the RATM head-bangers can die knowing their beloved band is united. JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 69
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PROUD TO BE INDIAN
With January 26 being Republic Day – the day we all head for a flag hoisting ceremony and the day that makes you feel proud to be Indian, we present to you a very handy patriotic movie list. SARKAR
Politics is shown as a game of personality; one persona overpowering the ongoing scene. With inspiration drawn partly from a political family and partly from The Godfather, this one amplifies the lone icon as the sole saviour. Meting out justice where the corrupt and ignorant government has failed? It’s a story of righteousness and blood.
RAAJNEETI
A modern spin on the Mahabharata, Prakash Jha contrived audiences who wanted nothing to do with politics on screen to devour this politico-romantic thriller. Stunning performances and hefty dialogues, it’s a glimpse into the seriously dirty politics and bloodshed behind the composed smiles and speeches.
BORDER
A commercial hit and one you should watch for the sheer pride it inspires in every Indian, this is based on the true events of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. A handful of soldiers holding off the entire tank regime of the opponents, it makes you realise and respect the silent warriors at the border. A special mention to the enormously famous track ‘Sandese Aatein Hain’ seems necessary.
LAGAAN
RANG DE BASANTI
Released nine years ago on 26th January itself, this Aamir Khan starrer is one we are all familiar with. With a transparency inducing agenda, it focuses on the corruption rampant in the government and the country. It is the voice of the youth and a tribute to the youth of the past – the valiant freedom-fighters. It’s a constant reminder of the fact that even one individual can bring about a definite change.
Giving a synopsis for this is like telling you how the back of your hand looks. If you’re Indian, you know all about this one. It inspired love, pride, patriotism – and cricket. The story of the defeat of the British in what was their strong sport, the unity of the villagers, their belief in each other, the passion to win, the reverence for the country. With beautiful music and the perfect cast, this movie is the light and fun end to a patriotic movie marathon.
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B O O K S T H AT F I C T I O N A L C H A R A C T E R S W O U L D E N J OY
One evening, an adolescent girl meets a boy, decides to marry him that night and eventually dies for him. She would assuredly be blown away by the whirlwind and unlikely romance of Bella and Edward who like each other only because of their looks and who also, mind you, offer to die for each other. The difference here is that while Meyer offers a happy ending, Shakespeare is not so kind. Sappy romantics like the Mills & Boon series would also work for her, helping to fuel the flamboyant and frivolous storm, that is her love.
HAZEL GRACE (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS) DAVID FOSTER WALLACE, PETER DE VRIES
A young girl’s narrative about fighting cancer and dating the charming Mr. Waters. Although, An Imperial Affliction isn’t a real book, these recommendation, which suit Hazel’s taste come straight from John Green himself. Infinite Jest is a concoction of dead-pan humour and subtle jibes which would fit her thinking style perfectly. Discussing it with Augustus would be a ball for her too. The Blood of the Lamb on the other hand is basking in misfortune and grief, lined with minimalistic and quiet humour that might not suit every reader’s style.
PATRICK (THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER) JACK KEROUAC, ALLEN GINSBERG
HERMIONE GRANGER (THE HARRY POTTER SERIES) CHARLOTTE BRONTE
She’s a strong, independent and smart girl, not in the least apologetic for being brilliant and working so hard for all seven years at school that it’s mindboggling and inspiring at the same time. It’s more than a safe bet to assume that she would be able to relate to Jane Eyre, a fellow book lover with a commanding personality and unending strength. With her always coming to the rescue and saving the day in every book, being the smartest young witch, she would also immensely enjoy the suspense and genius of Sherlock Holmes; or any crime fiction for that matter.
Seeming like the perfect happy-go-lucky boy next door, Charlie’s point of view obviously gives us a limited view into Patrick’s mind. He also has a rough break-up to deal with, bullies at school and closet homosexuality. The smile stays though. He would immensely enjoy Jack Kerouac and Allen Gisnberg, pillars of the ‘Beat Generation’. They spoke about homosexuality, drugs, experimentation, but most importantly, freedom of self-expression. Their views were looked down upon and their writing an exhilarating experience. It’s everything Patrick is, and aspires to be.
AMY DUNNE (GONE GIRL) VLADAMIR NOBOKOV, HARUKI MURAKAMI, TAO LIN, CHARLES BUKOWSKI
Being the perfect child and having a book series ‘Amazing Amy’ based on her, puts a lot of pressure on her. With the constant struggle in her head to be a perfectionist, she can’t cope with herself as a normal human being with human flaws. So she gets crazy, ‘very’ crazy; and wants everyone to submit to her, everything should be according to her. With murder, detailed plotting and revenge as her way of life, her books will be captivating choices. Authors that are beyond the norm of acceptability on some level or the other will unmistakably be her favourites. Think controversial Lolita; Murakami, with cats; Tao Lin, with Eeeee Eee Eeee; profane Bukowski. The possibilities are endless here.
B O O K S T H AT F I C T I O N A L C H A R A C T E R S W O U L D E N J OY
JULIET CAPULET (ROMEO AND JULIET) STEPHENIE MEYER, MILLS & BOONS
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_AFTER DARK
hangout
PLACES AND EVENTS FOR THE MONTH
UZO BAR & KITCHEN, MUMBAI
Recently launched Uzo Bar & Kitchen is a few heads coming together with the common goal of giving patrons a wonderful bar, kitchen and music experience. It effortlessly revamps itself into a vibrant energetic place in the evening complemented by the delectable food, eclectic drinks and buzzing conversation. CUISINE: Euro-American and Finger Food VIBE: The interiors are classic and sophisticated. The structured wooden panels playing with lights add warmth to the ambience while subtly indicating details of elegance. Outdoor seating where one can bask in natural light with lots of greenery around. It’s a great place to hang out in the day as well with a very chilled out vibe all day. But as the sun sets, Uzo transcends into a stylish neighbourhood bar. Music: The DJ begins to play in accordance with the tones of dusk, prompting its guests to unwind and revel into the night. The music is a blend of soothing and up-beat genres ranging from Jazz, Blues, Sufi, Retro and House.
`600
n per perso
BITS AND BOOZE: You can try healthy soups and salads or go for the mains, which include scrumptious dishes like Homemade Linguini Olive Tapenade, Sliced Grilled Tenderloin and much more. It also has a special – Steam Bun Sliders with fillings like Barbeque Chicken, Pork Belly, Fried Tofu. They also serve yummy Hot Dog Bun and Frito Pie with a variety of toppings! On the Bar Front, apart from the classic spirits, wines and beers, you will also find the signature Uzo cocktails, which we highly recommend. Order some bar snacks along with them and you are good to go for an absolutely amazing night out! FAB OR DRAB: Overall it’s an awesome place with a fantastic ambience, quality food, interesting drinks and great music. It may give some of the clichéd joints in town a run for their money. So, lunch or dinner, teetotaller or not, this latest addition to Worli’s main road will serve a plateful of delight to one and all. Address: Uzo Bar & Kitchen, Ground Floor, Sunville Building, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai – 400018 –Aayush Ailawadi 72 Youth Incorporated JANUARY 2015
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THE NUTCRACKER, MUMBAI Inspired by American and European culture, The Nutcracker is a perfect all day breakfast café, a perfect place for quick bites too CUISINE: American, European FOOD: The menu consists of a number of dishes which will compel you to step into the café. The food served here, from Black Bean Burgers to Caramel and Peanut Sandwiches, to Salli eggs to Philadelphia Cheese Cake is appetizing. The perfect substitute to a conventional breakfast is ‘breakfast in a bottle’ which is a blend of oats, milk, dates and nuts. The main course dishes you should go for are Cottage Cheese Burger and Chilled Noodle Salad which is a unique preparation. For dessert, the seven layer cookie with Belgian chocolate, butterscotch and almond, and the Salted Caramel and Banana Smoothie are a must have. OVERALL: The restaurant has a matchless appearance and the food served is delicious. The café interior has been designed to give it a midcentury look. It’s a very attractive place to step in for all the hardcore foodies. Modern House, Dr V.B Gandhi Marg, Opposite One Forbes Building, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai –Aditi Dhekle
EVENTS THIS MONTH THE BIG69
The legendary UK Death Metal Band CARCAIS will be playing a headlining set at BIG69 2015! For one weekend in January, the industrial environs of Richardson & Cruddas in Mumbai will become ground zero for metal in India. 23 bands, 3 stages and a whole lot of music, art, food, alcohol and head banging! Mumbai: January 17th 2015 at 2:00pm January 18th 2015 at 10:00pm
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THE KITE FESTIVAL
The most important event in Gujarat tourism calendar is the Kite Festival during Makar Sankranti. Expert kite makers and flyers bring their best collection here. The battle of the kites is something you shouldn’t miss. Ahmedabad : 9th January to 12th January 2015
INTERNATIONAL YOGA FEST
It’s a celebration of wellness, spiritual expansion and conscious living through yoga, spiritual music and healthy food. It’s an optimistic way to start your year! Three full days of yoga & musical kirtans including 20 Yoga styles, 20 Yoga teachers and artists and 50 Yoga Sessions Goa: 9th January to 11th January 2015 JANUARY 2015 Youth Incorporated 73
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GRAFFITI
Trends Of The Month Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year 2014 is Vape! The word means ‘to inhale and
exhale the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device’. Other strong contenders were bae, budtender and slacktivism.
Coldplay announces their last album?
Coldplay’s magic will be coming to an end with their seventh and last album, ‘A head full of dreams’. The band’s lead singer Chris Martin said that the album is like “the last Harry Potter book”, in a radio interview. Leaving us Coldplay fans further confused, Martin said, "Not to say that there might not be another thing one day, but this is the completion of something.”
Shehnaz Treasurywala’s open letter
She wrote an open letter to some of the most influential men of our country that has caused quite a stir. The letter is an enraged response to the Uber rape case in Delhi that calls upon Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan and many others to help protect women from sexual harassment. Publicity stunt, maybe? We'll leave that for you to decide!
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Teaser Trailer The Star Wars sequel is something to look forward
to this year! The film releases on 18 December 2015. Directed by J.J. Abrams, the movie casts characters from previous Star Wars movies as well as some new characters too. Until then, all we can do is repeat what Modiji told the youth of NYC last September, “May the force be with you.”
By Lavanya Karthik
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Quality Notebooks at Amazingly Low Prices!
Now available on
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RNI Number: MAHENG/2011/38909 Postal Regd. No: MCW/293/2015 - 2017 Posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office GPO, Mumbai 400001 on 4th & 5th of every month Date of Publication: 1st of every month
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