Kohinoor hunt

With the roaring success of The Taj Conspiracy, author Manreet Sodhi is coming up with another thriller, The Hunt For Kohinoor. Rakesh kumar in a chat with the author

The hunt for Kohinoor has begun. And this time Mehrunisa Khosa will have to find it at any cost within 96 hours to know the whereabouts her father. This operation takes her to the world's most dangerous terrain to retrieve the mysterious Kohinoor. She goes through icy Kashmir to the snow-clad Hindukush, from the sinister corridors of a military hospital to the warrens of Peshawar, even as the clock counts down to an impending catastrophe. Author Manreet Sodhi Someshwar talks about her new book, The Hunt for Kohinoor. After the first of the trilogy, The Taj Conspiracy got an overwhelming response the author has come up with the sequel. Published by Westland, the book is the first Indian thriller series to feature a kickass female protagonist. Excerpts:

How did The Hunt for Kohinoor start?
My second published book, A Long Walk Home, took too much time to pen down because it was based on the 20th century history of Punjab pre-Partition and post-Partition. Then I thought of trying my hand at a thriller as it takes less time to write. During that period, we were on visit to the Taj Mahal and there I realised that the guides knew nothing about the Taj besides the legendary love story. Since I am the person, who is very interested in history, I thought why not write a thriller related to the Taj. That was the genesis of the story.

How did the trilogy come into the picture?
While writing my first book, I never had in my mind starting a trilogy. But after completing The Taj Conspiracy, I was so engrossed in their characters and Mehrunisa that I thought giving more space. Moreover, the first part got overwhelming response from all corners, therefore, the idea of a trilogy came into my mind.  
 
The book is based on history. So what was the research you had to do for it?
I had to do lots of things for this book. I had to meet the intelligence officers, journalists and many others. I had to read a lot on this subject and interestingly, foreign writers were more helpful for my story. Though it is a thriller book it will teach you many facts about history also.

Be it The Long Walk Home or The Taj Conspiracy, most of your works are based on history. Any connection?
Yes, there is some connection. I grew up in a small village of Punjab near the border, listening to many (tales of) Partition. I have seen the Khalistan movement too. We used to watch Pakistan TV because signals more clear than Doordarshan. In a word, I would say I saw history unfold.

These days many authors write keeping movies in mind. Do you also come in that league?
I am open for films also. One thing I would like to share here, at Mumbai the book was released by Anubhav Sinha, who made films like Ra One. He loved the book and so we are expecting positive (move).  

You didn't have any connection of writing. How did writing come to you?
I studied engineering and management. I was connected with an MNC also. Then, I thought of taking a break from my hectic life. During that break I started writing from short stories to novels.

Will the readers have to read all the three parts to get the story.
No, not at all. These are all standalone books. The only (thing common) is its protagonist Mehrunisa Khosa and history in the background.

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Beyond fashion

Tins cans and scrap picked by rag pickers from all over the city, have been moulded into fashion outfits by students of Pearl Academy, finds rakesh kumar

Ever thought that the tin or bottles of cold drinks that most of us dump, could be used as a fashion material or that they could enhance the beauty of one’s clothes. Wonder how? The students of Pearl Academy showed this at a fashion show organised by them last week. They used tin as their theme of the fashion show and mesmersised their audience with their creativity. Be it clothes or accessories, the students of fashion institute include the recycled items into their collection. “One must have seen the rag pickers collecting stuff like tin or other waste material, but ever wondered what they are going to do with used tin. I know they can be recycled but can’t be included in fashion,” said Pinki, one of the students of the Pearl Academy, who had designed a t-shirt on which small pieces of tin were embedded. Along with it, she has also designed accessories with two tin cans. “You can see after using tin, the clothes are shining and look better, while in accessories, these two cans  of tin could enhance beauty and at the same time you could carry water or other eatable items,” explained the students. 

 Organised by the Hindustan Tin Works Limited, a can manufacturing company, along with Pearl Academy, the fashion show took place with  the aim of promoting sustainability of metal cans, being modern, trendy, 100 per cent recyclable and environment friendly. The fashion show, titled Spirit of Sustainability, is part of the company’s global “Canvironment” campaign, where they directly speak to the consumers and spread the awareness of metal packaging. “Since fashion has a mass appeal and direct connect with the youth, therefore, we have chosen this medium to project tin in this country. Otherwise can you imagine this sort of response?” said Atit Bhatia, president of Canvironment Week and senior vice-president of Hindustan Tin Works Limited.
 The fashion show had witnessed around 32 designs, all displayed by the graduating fashion students. The best three designs were awarded prize money of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. In a bid to sensitise about the tin among the general public, the Hindustan Tin Works has given these tin and scrap to the students of the fashion institute to give them a proper shape. The event not only witnessed the fashion show but also a music performance by rag pickers and poor kids. “On the sidelines of the fashion show, it was a good opportunity to help the underprivileged rag pickers. Since all these items were picked by rag pickers, if we use the tin more and more then ultimately it is going to help them,” said another student, who also participated in the fashion show.
 Sharad Mehra, CEO, Pearl Academy, said, “The 'Canvironment Week’ is indeed an encouraging and engaging platform for our students, where  they use metal scrap and tin cans to make innovative garments. This experience will also help students devise and implement sustainable businesses in future for a greener earth.” 
 The jury consisted of Ellen Wauters, manager, communications, and national associations coordinator, EMPAC, Brussels; Megan Daum, vice-president, sustainability, Can Manufacturers Institute, US; John Revess, group environment affairs director, UK; Antonio Teixeira, president, International Packaging Association, Brazil; and Darshan Chandrekar, faculty of Pearl Academy.

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Reviving tradition

With his artworks in Delhi, the well-known artist Benoy K Behl tried  to highlight the great culture of Buddhism in Nalanda, finds rakesh kumar
Hundreds of years ago, a small place in eastern Bihar, Nalanda, was abuzz with a vibrant atmosphere of learning. Be it philosophy or science, the University, which is termed as one of the ancient universities of the world was the centre of development of complex theories of logic, philosophy, metaphysics and psychology, as well as studies in astronomy, cosmology, linguistics, medicine and monastic order. This attracted students from many Asian countries, including Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Sumatra, Java and Sri Lanka. Many students carried the knowledge they had gained back to their homelands and the philosophies that were born at these great viharas spread throughout Asia. Thus, the remnants of the scholarly tradition of Nalanda have survived through the ages and been preserved in several Asian countries.
Through hundreds photographs and a documentary, artist Benoy K Behl spoke of this very tradition spread across Asia. His eyes captured the Buddhist heritage, not only from India but also from 17 different countries, including Tibet, Myanmmar, Thailand, China, Japan, Afghanistan and many others. Behl’s work shows the birth and development of different schools of Buddhism in India and their spread to many countries of Asia. “My interest in traditional art is very old, it is not only for Buddhist but for all other religion,” shared the artist. In a two-day event held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Behl with his photo exhibition titled Buddhist Heritage of the World and documentary on the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism, reserved by Tibet, highlighted the great tradition of the Buddhist culture residing in Nalanda. Inaugurated by The Dalai Lama, the exhibition shows the deeply-shared Buddhist traditions of the whole of  Asia and the spread of the Nalanda tradition. It is a journey through Buddhist history and culture, from the time of the life of the Buddha, through the development of Vajrayana and other Buddhist deities in eastern and western India, to the spread of these traditions to distant lands. Impressed by the heritage presented, The Dalai Lama said, “Buildings of the Nalanda University might be in ruins but the knowledge is still alive in the 21st century. We Tibetans for 1,000 years have preserved Nalanda knowledge, through memorising, reading and debate."
 Apart from Buddhism, Behl also stressed on revival of Indian culture. He said, “We have our own culture tradition that needs to be preserved. We should noy follow only western culture.” The filmwas shot extensively by Behl in Tibet, Kalmykia in European Russia, Ladakh, Spiti, Arunachal Pradesh, Nalanda, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Karnataka. “The most difficult to shoot place was in Afghnistan; we worked over there in fear,” shared Behl. The event was graced by Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House, and Dr Kapila Vatsyayan.

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Beyond fashion

 Tins cans and scrap picked by rag pickers from all over the city, have been moulded into fashion outfits by students of Pearl Academy, finds rakesh kumar

Ever thought that the tin or bottles of cold drinks that most of us dump, could be used as a fashion material or that they could enhance the beauty of one’s clothes. Wonder how? The students of Pearl Academy showed this at a fashion show organised by them last week. They used tin as their theme of the fashion show and mesmersised their audience with their creativity. Be it clothes or accessories, the students of fashion institute include the recycled items into their collection. “One must have seen the rag pickers collecting stuff like tin or other waste material, but ever wondered what they are going to do with used tin. I know they can be recycled but can’t be included in fashion,” said Pinki, one of the students of the Pearl Academy, who had designed a t-shirt on which small pieces of tin were embedded. Along with it, she has also designed accessories with two tin cans. “You can see after using tin, the clothes are shining and look better, while in accessories, these two cans  of tin could enhance beauty and at the same time you could carry water or other eatable items,” explained the students. 

 Organised by the Hindustan Tin Works Limited, a can manufacturing company, along with Pearl Academy, the fashion show took place with  the aim of promoting sustainability of metal cans, being modern, trendy, 100 per cent recyclable and environment friendly. The fashion show, titled Spirit of Sustainability, is part of the company’s global “Canvironment” campaign, where they directly speak to the consumers and spread the awareness of metal packaging. “Since fashion has a mass appeal and direct connect with the youth, therefore, we have chosen this medium to project tin in this country. Otherwise can you imagine this sort of response?” said Atit Bhatia, president of Canvironment Week and senior vice-president of Hindustan Tin Works Limited.
 The fashion show had witnessed around 32 designs, all displayed by the graduating fashion students. The best three designs were awarded prize money of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. In a bid to sensitise about the tin among the general public, the Hindustan Tin Works has given these tin and scrap to the students of the fashion institute to give them a proper shape. The event not only witnessed the fashion show but also a music performance by rag pickers and poor kids. “On the sidelines of the fashion show, it was a good opportunity to help the underprivileged rag pickers. Since all these items were picked by rag pickers, if we use the tin more and more then ultimately it is going to help them,” said another student, who also participated in the fashion show.
 Sharad Mehra, CEO, Pearl Academy, said, “The 'Canvironment Week’ is indeed an encouraging and engaging platform for our students, where  they use metal scrap and tin cans to make innovative garments. This experience will also help students devise and implement sustainable businesses in future for a greener earth.”

 The jury consisted of Ellen Wauters, manager, communications, and national associations coordinator, EMPAC, Brussels; Megan Daum, vice-president, sustainability, Can Manufacturers Institute, US; John Revess, group environment affairs director, UK; Antonio Teixeira, president, International Packaging Association, Brazil; and Darshan Chandrekar, faculty of Pearl Academy.

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Love in horror

To know more about a mentally deranged man, who collects body parts of various women to create his dream girl, read The Other Side, suggests Rakesh Kumar

Talent is visible right from childhood, is a saying that fits young writer Faraz Kazi, who started writing at the tender age of seven. Now, at 26, there were various achievements that have been added to Kazi’s bio-data, such as the YCOF National Excellence Award and the National Debut Youth Fiction Award 2013. He is also a member Film Writers Association of India and his debut Truly Madly Deeply earned him laurels from all over the country. He has come up with a horror novel, The Other Side. A mentally deranged man, who collects body parts of various women to form his dream girl, to a skeptic who enters a mansion of horrors to win a bet and much more, this is what The Other Side talks of. Excerpts from an interaction with the author:

What are we going to find in The Other Side?
The Other Side is a combination of 13 paranormal stories. And each story has a unique flavour like a raw horror that no other writer has written so far. Most of the stories are based on shock. For instance, the last story about a guy, who vows to create his own dream girl with the best skeletons of others because the woman in actual (life) discarded him. So, how he does that is the story. 

Any connection with the reality?
Yes...Some of the stories are inspired by reality. For instance, Rukan Dekh’s story is based on Lake of Skeleton, which is actually in the Himalyas. Hundreds of skeletons are lying there. Whose skeleton are those is still mystery. 

How come the idea struck your mind for this horror genre?
Our rich tradition, mythology, folklore, big history and culture are the sources of my ideas. But these days, we are so engrossed in our work that we tend to forget our own history, own legend and fear factor. In the West, however, they write about their mythology and they are read by not their people but by our people. While in India nobody does, therefore, I thought that I should be the first one to introduce the hardcore horror novel in India 

Many writers these days write keeping a movie’s script in their mind. Do you also think so?
No, I never write keeping a movie in mind. I write for myself and if it has to happen for a movie it would happen. To earn millions is not my target. 

Any personal experience of yours? Do you believe in spirits?
I did have some (experience) of it, which I have mentioned in the prologue. Do read the book even though we have fabricated a bit to give a human touch. And yes, I believe … there are good and bad sprit as well.

Your preparations for this book?
I have done three years of research on this subject. In India, hardly any writer (touches) upon this genre. Therefore, I had to bank on foreign writers. I have also gone through many research articles, watched footages to get the feel of it. At the same time, I had to
visit places like Bhangrah and graveyard.

 Movies and novels based on horror get a poor response. Reason?
The same question I have asked director Vikram Bhatt at Mumbai’s launch event. He replied that there were lots of misconceptions about this paranormal subject. We are missing good writers, scripts and director, who could infuse the essence of the horror on their part to convince the Indian audience. 

Your first book was a love story and this one is horror. Which genre did you enjoy most?
I avoid this part where people tag you with a certain genre. Therefore, I won’t be happy to be called a romance brand. I believe a true writer could adapt to anything. If there are stories he could write about anything, not necessarily only romance. Romance can be part of suspense story too and it is up to a writer how he moulds it. 

The book, The Other Side, was launched at Landmark store, Ambience Mall, Vasantkunj, on 21 November.

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Readers' choice

A resurgence in reading habit has been accompanied by improved gadgets that allow online reading as well as purchase of books, both print and electronic versions. Rakesh kumar trawls through the e-landscape to learn more

A series of advertisement clips, accompanied by the jingle "Pocket me TV"(TV in the pocket), for an application that is available on a mobile phone, has brought home the extent of revolution that gadgets have made, shrinking several activities such as watching television, listening to music, playing games like chess or cards as well choosing from a library of books. Indeed, a plethora of applications are available for entertainment as well as work on a mobile phone. A list of negative fall-outs of too much time spent on the phone notwithstanding, several good have emerged as well. Even if it was unconsciously done, people picked up their reading habits, thanks to the digital availability of books. Six year ago, Amazon released its first e-reader Kindle, hooking on an increasing number of readers on the move. And Kindle has seen several innovations since (See Box: Chronology of Kindle). Moreover, the smartphone has made it more facile as it allows a reader to download an entire book and peruse it as on a computer desktop or laptop. Not just for an avid reader, but the application is a boon for students, who are no more dependent on heavy books.

Reading habits
Down the ages reading has been termed as next to religion in India. In ancient days, a person who knew how to read was termed as equivalent to God. But reading today has taken a new meaning, quite different from the traditional one. With education made universal, almost everyone, cutting across class and creed can now read. Students are forced to read textbooks but that does not lead to reading habit. In fact, educators say, it's reading as a hobby that makes the cut. Reading a novel, poetry, biography or books on travel, gardening, health or entertainment, all would come under the ambit of reading habit. "Reading habit is the art of personal investigation and self-study. It should be followed by self-thinking and only this kind of self-study on one's own accord, can develop into good reading habit," said a Delhi University professor.
Unfortunately, down the years, due to several reasons, slowly but steadily, this reading habit has changed a lot across the country. There are millions of avid readers in India and abroad. But most have limited access to the printed version of their favourite books. The scene gets worse in even major Indian languages. For these readers, other modes, including online, came as a boon. Coming to the online culture, it has sparked off a drastic change in reading habits. In fact, online studying has become the most preferred mode among a majority of students.

Dying interest
According to a survey by the National Book Trust last year, three fourths of the total number of literate youth in the country do not read anything other than their textbooks. And the proportion of leisure readers among the youth is higher in urban India at 31.2 per cent, as compared to the rural youth. Only one fifth of the youth from the country's rural areas  read books other than their textbooks. Moreover, the rising disinterest in reading books can also be attributed to TV and Internet. People are spending much more time watching television than reading books. "Though one enjoys reading a book, there is more enjoyment watching things live. Therefore, watching television has become a greater source of entertainment for people," saidVishal Bhandari, a student of Delhi University.  Tulsi Jha, who works in a multinational company has a different reason: "After returning from a hectic day in the office, I would rather avoid reading, which requires a great deal of attention." However, for a bookworm, they can never be far from a book. But even they admit that the Internet and 24-hour TV are impacting their reading habits.
According to academicians, a good reading habit is based on five stages: exploring, vocabulary, analysing, synthesising and understanding.

Tech matters
With deepening penetration of desktops, laptops, tablet PCs and net-enabled mobile phones technology is opening up more choices for people hungry for information. Moreover, with prices of paperbacks and hardcover books going up, readers are increasingly taking to digital textbooks and e-books. In fact, digital reading does not stop at computer or laptops, mobile phones and tablets are a rage when it comes to e-reading and more and more youngsters are drifting towards e-books. Be it in the Metro or car, people could be spotted reading online newspapers or books on their gadgets.  "The major advantages of digital reading is that most publications are easily available on the Internet and can be downloaded for free. They are more viable whereas it's not possible to buy every book one would like to read," argued Saurav Singh, a young entrepreneur.

Several options
With a simple click, there are thousands of options available on the net, making it simpler, quicker and more fun to choose. Be it Indian tales, comics, graphic novels, poetry, ancient ballads, autobiographies, literature, fiction or kids specials ~ anyone can enjoy reading them in their regional Indian languages and in English, anytime from any place. Name any author, publisher or the book you want to download and read at your convenience ~ it is all possible with a perfect eBook gallery. Even some of the rare books, which are forgotten, are available on Internet. Now you can download and read on your iOS, Android, Windows or Mac system. You can also find eBooks on any popular subjects such as fiction, travel, biography, comic, literature, history, religion, society, nature and more. Books in digital format have a global reach. One can own them anytime from any part of the world at one's discretion. There is no long wait for a book to get released, ordered and then read. eBooks are instantly available worldwide. Having an universal appeal, there is no age bar or geographical restrictions. Whether it is a book on fiction, travel, society, history, literature, biography or any subject you need, there are collections according to one's tastes and preferences.

Paradigm shift
Ever since online reading has become available, reading habits across the globe have witnessed a critical change. This trend of reading books online is playing a vital role in changing the reading habits of the Indian society as well. Since it is more accessible and interesting, it has changed the tradition of reading paper books. Thanks to free books available online, these days, it is very easy to develop a reading habit. All kinds of books are available on the online bookstores and in online book fairs, where a user can shop for their selected books. "Gone are the days when people used to walk down to the crowded book stores and purchase the desired reading material," said a book seller. "It is the era of online book shopping in India and it is rapidly taking over the purchase of physical books." Agrees Ravi Khera, a voracious reader: "Why hunt in different places when I can find books online sitting at home." Moreover, with the online shopping websites and bookstores offering discounts, combo gifts and home delivery services, offline stores are finding it difficult to match and keep pace.

Online benefits
Online shopping of books has not only carved a niche in its own sector but has immensely garnished the reading habits in students, working professionals, teachers and parents. "Online shopping websites get books at subsidised rates from the US and the UK because of which they are able to offer huge discounts," said a book seller.  "Why would a reader burn fuel and pay parking tickets to reach a bookstore when a book of his choice can be delivered on his doorstep at a lesser price."  The other factor is cost. The printed versions usually come in the higher price range and passionate readers may not find it easy or cost-effective to feed their addiction.

Digital fairs
These days, even book fairs are devoting more and more space to the online or digital books. For instance, at the 19th edition of the Delhi Book Fair this year, every other shop was focusing more on digitising of books. As everyone is moving fast towards digitization and e-books, the role of libraries is increasingly under focus for a shift in mode. If one does not want to buy a book, one can always rent it for a specific period of time from online websites or libraries. Online book rental is gaining popularity in India, with a number of websites offering free doorstep delivery for a small monthly fee. Users can browse for books online and have their choice home-delivered, rather than physically visiting a library to borrow a book. The popularity of such websites can be attributed to increasing Internet usage in the country. India is expected to have the third largest number of Internet users in the world by 2013.  Some online libraries (like [INDIAreads.com]), however, have a national presence and are trying to reach other smaller cities by using courier companies and postal service to deliver books.

Gadgets only
Unlike earlier, when one had to track down from a collection of books in a library, e-books are just a click away. The entire book of one's choice can be downloaded within 3-4 minutes for an average size novel. Moreover, there are gadgets which are reader-friendly, such as PC, Mac, laptop, eReader, Tablet, iPad, iPhone, Android, PDA or any Smartphone device one has. Apart from this, there are many websites where e-books or PDF files can be shared for free, such as, Scribd, BookYards, SnipFiles, EBook Lobby and, whereas all or part of an e-book(s) can also be bought on payment from popular websites such as Amazon, Google eBooks or Flipkart.

Last mile
However, there are several factors, which hinder a reader from reaching online bookstores. Many observers have found that due to the low literacy level of merely 65 per cent in India, the country's publishing houses or online bookstores are not making much business. According to one report, only seven per cent Indians surf the web on a regular basis. The digital technology has thus very little chance of running down the country's print industry. The other factor is connectivity. A large segment of the readers in India are not well connected to the Internet.
Then there are those who are difficult to convert. They are more open to classroom books, exam papers, course materials than the history of great Indian literature. Conventional education system does not allow them to read famous authors and their life-time publications. However, the good news is that readers are now more comfortable with modern computing devices. These people prefer reading books online and on their handheld devices.
"Nothing can match the thrill of holding a novel in your hands. But, I would rather read an e-book than not read at all," said Sangeeta Kumari, a Bihar-based student, when asked to if e-reading had the same charm as that of holding, possessing and reading a book. "I am not in a habit of reading e-books right now. But, it is easier to download e-books as many things are available at one place," said Puneet Yadav, a medical aspirant, summing up where e-books and online reading stands in our country. There is indeed a lot of potential and much more needs to be done to nurture that reading habit.

Box item

Chronology of Kindle
A favourite e-reader, Kindle has engrossed the Indian reader since its launch in 2007. The latest version, Kindle Paperwhite, was launched this year but is yet to reach India. Here's a chronology of Kindle:

2007: Kindle
It was a revolution of sorts. The wedge-shaped device, with a grainy black and white e-ink display and an oddly split keyboard sporting diagonal keys, was an instant hit. Though steeply priced at 399 dollars, it was soon sold out.

2009: Kindle 2
With a streamlined design, the new Kindle was slightly lighter and slimmer. Its capacity increased from 200 books to 1,500 and the price dropped to 259 dollars.

2009: Kindle DX
An improvement on Kindle 2, this version could sense when a user changed orientation and adjusted text to flow in landscape or portrait mode.

2010: Kindle Keyboard
Armed with a sleek graphite body, this version used the e-ink "Pearl" display, which had a higher contrast than the previous Kindle, making the text much easier on the eyes. It was slightly smaller and had built-in speakers for audio-books. The price started at 139 dollars.

2011: Kindle 4
Its price starting at 79 dollars, this was the first Kindle to sport a touchscreen, removing the keyboard. The device was, however, ugly with a grey bezel.

2012: Kindle Paperwhite
This Kindle had a gorgeous screen that was lit from "within" by a unique grid-lighting technology that does not shine into the eyes like an LCD screen. The screen looked almost like real paper, with black text on a bright white background. It was priced at 119 dollars.

2013: Kindle Paperwhite
Available at the same price as its earlier version, this Kindle is more evenly lit and has faster page turns. But the two versions are nearly the same.

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Swiss touch

On touching the half-century mark the Swiss Embassy opened their premises to the public. Rakesh kumar takes a walk

On completion of 50 years in Delhi, the Swiss Embassy organised a curated walk through its building and the Ambassador’s residence. As part of the Open House Day, on the year of Swiss Architecture, Design and Engineering in India, the celebration was organised jointly by the Embassy of Swiss in India and Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council in India.
 For the first time, the Swiss Ambassador opened the newly refurbished residence to visitors on 16 November. During the guided walk, the embassy officials shared some of the secrets of their architecture with the general public. Located in the Diplomatic Enclave in Chanakyapuri, the building symbolises and stands for the strong bond that India and Switzerland have shared through these years. 
 “Instantly after Independence, Switzerland was among those countries that took initiative to start a good relationship and came up with an embassy,” the guide explained. “It was inaugurated in the presence of the then Prime Minister of India Pt Jawaharlal Nehru on 4th July 1963.”
 Starting from the office, showing the embassy’s work culture, the walk took visitors to the guesthouse and the residence of Ambassador, ending at the staff quarters. After taking a look at the architecture, one would found that most part of the building was designed to keep make it climate friendly. “It was designed by Swiss architect Hans Hofmann and realised posthumously by his young collaborator Walter Rüegg. You will hardly see any construction that have been done for decoration and every bit of construction has its own importance,” informed the guide.
The wonderful evening at the embassy concluded with Sound Reasons, a contemporary jazz and electronic music by Andy Guhl, Jasch (Switzerland) and Ish Sherawat (India).

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Canada beckons

The Canadian Tourism Commission is eyeing middle class Indian tourists, reports rakesh kumar

In a bid to woo more tourists from India, the India office of the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has officially launched the Canadian Signature Experiences (CSE) collection in the giant South Asian market. At the launch on 26 November at Canada House in the Capital, CTC shared their new and unexplored tourist destinations. Coinciding with the launch was the news of new members being added to the collection.
 “Not only Niagara or C N Tower, Canada has so many places to explore like The Butchart Gardens, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Calgary Stampede, Frontier North’s polar bear and many others,” said Siobhan Chretien, regional managing director of CTC.
 During the launch, CTC underlined that their focus area will now be more on middle class tourists. As per the data released, Indian consumers spent 173 million dollars on Canada travels last year, a 6.4 per cent increase. Looking ahead at 2014, the growing Indian middle class means CTC-India is now targeting cities such as Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore in marketing and sales activities, in addition to Mumbai and New Delhi. “The  rapidly expanding affluent middle-class population is expected to cross the 500-million mark by 2025. That segment will then hold 60 per cent of the country’s purchasing power,” added Chretien.
The Canadian Tourism is leaving no stone unturned to promote their tourism in India, they are all set to do meetings, conferences, road show, media exposure, website (corporate website, Facebook, Twitter) updates and many others things. At the same time, by next year, around 50 other Canadian organisations seeking to expand their business network are expected to come to India.

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Centenary celebration

Cambridge English celebrates its centenary year in India, reports rakesh kumar

Cambridge English Language Assessment, the not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge, is organising celebrations to mark its anniversary at offices across the world, including India. As part of the celebrations, Dr Michael Milanovic, chief executive of Cambridge English Language Assessment launched “Cambridge English ~ The India Connection”, a chronicle of case studies from Cambridge English Language Assessment’s partners in India. The celebration took place from 26-28 November, in which they focused on a series of special centenary events in Chennai and New Delhi. The main objective of the school is to support state governments, educational institutions, and corporate houses in developing and assessing English language proficiency level of students and employees. “Today over 4 million candidates a year take Cambridge English exams to prove they have the English language skills needed for immigration, study and workplace,” said Dr Michael Milanovic.
 The other highlights of the anniversary year included the publication of two books on the history of the Cambridge English exams. On 26 November, vice-chancellors of leading universities across India attended a roundtable conference on Strategies for Developing English Language Skills to Enhance Graduates Employability in Chennai. “I am looking forward to participating in a series of centenary discussions and roundtables with heads of institutions, thought leaders and policy makers to examine new horizons in teaching, learning and assessing the English language. We have been at the forefront of English language assessment for 100 years and our work in India continues to be very important to us,” said Milanovic. The roundtable also discussed development of a Special Interest Group of vice-chancellors and / or heads of departments of English to develop policies and plans for English learning and teaching.

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Interactive art

The National Museum is abuzz with musical instruments from India and abroad, reports rakesh kumar

Usually the ambience of the National Museum sports pin drop silence but from November 26, the sound of Indian Sitar, Burmese Saung and many more musical instruments lent their notes to the museum, with their soothing sounds echoing around. The innovation was courtesy Ranjit Makkuni, an internationally acclaimed multimedia designer and accomplished musician and his exhibition, Musical Landscapes and the Goddesses of Music. The exhibition presents advances in interactive art through an exploration of the science, art and spirituality of music and its reflections in the images of goddesses across Asian cultures.
 “Through my work, I have tried to demonstrate that it is possible to develop culture-friendly technologies, which can become a vehicle for preserving cultural identity, not replacing it, and how the wisdom of the past can be made accessible to people,” said Makkuni, Makkuni, an alumnus of IIT, Kharagpur.
The exhibition will be on display till 15 January and by that time, the museum is all set to give a different experience to their visitors with their interactive musical instruments. In his work, the artist has embedded new instruments with computation, allowing viewers to interact through gesture, touch, pull, movement and gaze in the exhibition environment. For instance, there is a sculpture, Abstract Woman. Embedded in the waist of the sculpture is a representation of Sri Yantra, which, upon touch, plays back the 1000 names of Goddess Lalita. Also, there is a section on Goddess Sarasvati, the goddess of wisdom and music; Kinayi, the Angels of Music, from Burma; and The Compassionate figure of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara from Japan. There is also a section on Breath, Voice and Healing, which explores the healing properties of singing and its relationship to breath. “It took me two years to work on this exhibition, and the only idea behind this is to create interest in our classical musical forms among the young generation. Technology has been used to forge a connection with the youth,” explained Makkuni.
 For the first time, the National Museum has witnessed such exhibition showcasing both traditional and new instruments based on Indian Sitar, Burmese Saung Harp, Thai Xylophone, Korean Kayagum, Chinese Guzheng and Pipa, Vietnamese Dan Tranh, Javanese, Balinese Gamelan and many others. “A museum is not merely a place for the exhibit of ancient  artefacts; it has to be interactive also,” said Dr Karan Singh, Rajya Sabha member and ICCR president, who inaugurated the exhibition.

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Puja's fervour

Benoy K Behl’s documentary Triumph of Knowledge: Durga Puja in Kolkata, focused on the minute details of Durga Puja, reports Rakesh Kumar

Talk about festivals of India and Durga Puja of West Bengal may well top the list. During 10 days the whole city of Kolkata wears a festive look and it is very hard to overlook the citizens’ fervour. Moreover, the last four days, marked as a holiday in the state, brings everything other than Puja celebrations to a complete halt. This imagery is what the eye of artist Benoy K Behl has captured in his documentary titled Triumph of Knowledge: Durga Puja in Kolkata. 
 The 25-minute documentary of Benoy K Behl featured the craziness of the people for the Puja ~ how they are fully and deeply immersed in the adulation of Durga, as well as the social events, which are held alongside the celebrations. And how in Kolkata alone, more than 2,000 pandals, or platforms on which the image of Durga is placed, are set up. "It is a great festival, where each night hundreds of thousands of people go from one pandal to another. Friends and family come together for the occasion. There is much shopping. Roads are over crowded and traffic comes to a standstill. Yet everyone is happy. That is the spirit of Durga Puja," shared Behl during the screening of the documentary at India Habitat Centre.
 Started from the big pandal, his documentary goes on to give a history of the Puja ~ how the Puja culture started in Bengal and the first family that housed the first Durga pandal. Behl's documentary traces the history of the Durga Puja from medieval period. It was a group of elite NRIs from London who started this celebration in Kolkata. Ever since, it has become an inseparable tradition of West Bengal.  The main Puja is on the seventh, eight and ninth days. On the tenth day, Vijaya Dashmi, Durga is taken in a procession to be immersed in the water, which is symbolic of her departure to her husband’s home in the Himalayas. "It is believed that Shiva allowed his spouse Durga to visit her parent's home for nine days every year. The festival of
Durga Puja marks this visit of Durga. On the last day Vijaya Dashmi, she leaves the parental home for Shiva's abode Mt Kailash," explained Behl in his documentary. Apart from this, the documentary also explained that the traditional image of Durga in Bengal following a pan-Indian iconography. One could see her in this form in sculpture in the rock-cut caves at Mamallapuram and Aihole, of the 7th and the 8th centuries. This is Durga as Mahishasurmardini, when she spears and slays the buffalo demon of our ignorance. Durga Puja is observed in her honour, to celebrate her victory over the evil of ignorance. Durga Puja is also widely celebrated in Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand and Orissa.

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Sparkling life

Ontario, Canada, has much to offer its visitors, be it adventure, food or shopping. Rakesh kumar treks through the region to get a feel of the cosmopolitan province

There were four wine glasses of different sizes on each table. We expected four different wines to go with our lunch but were surprised as the same wine was poured into two of the glasses. The host explained that the wine changed its taste with the glass and asked us to check it out. No wine connoisseurs, we sipped each glass but the subtle difference missed us. Yet we sagely nodded as the host launched into an explanation of wine tasting. Thus began our tour of the Inniskillin Winery, one of the most sought after wineries of the Niagara region in Ontario, Canada.

 Inniskillin Winery is famed for its Ice Wine and Table Wine. Here wine is served as a dessert not as a drink. And going by its taste, the Ice Wine can challenge a dessert in terms of sweetness. And the sweet taste lasted through our sojourn at Niagara,
which is described as a place where one can enjoy more as they explore more. Take for instance, having dinner at the world's highest restaurant or the awesome sight of the Niagara falls.
In fact, the entire Ontario region, where we spent a week, is a discovery at every turn. Whether one cycles around the serene island of Toronto or treks, one can see why a diverse population chose to make this place their home.
Perfect timing
Pleasant weather was the first thing that welcomed us as we landed at the Pearson Airport of Toronto. Summer is considered the ideal
time to visit the city because it offers ample chances to explore. For instance, summer is perfect for outdoor activities and there are many opportunities for wildlife viewing. The province also hosts an array of popular festivals. Therefore, what could be more perfect timing than mid-June to arrive at Toronto. 
Multicultural Toronto
Taking a round of the city one could hardly overlook the towering buildings. At first look, Toronto resembles any other North American city but after a close look one realises it houses the most diverse population from all around the world ~ more than 80 ethnic communities from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Therefore, Toronto prides itself on earning the name of being the world's most multi-cultural city, as it caters to a wide range of cultures, languages, food and art. Almost half of its population comprises immigrants. Therefore, Toronto's motto is “Diversity Our Strength”.
This diversity was all the more evident as we walked down the lanes of Toronto. We encountered different ethnic groups residing in different parts of city. This cultural melange was reflected in the different types of food and traditional attire.
What to do in Toronto
An interesting arts scene, numerous sporting events, a vibrant nightlife and restaurants, bistros and eateries describe Toronto. One could enjoy an incredible view from atop the CN Tower or explore a remarkable array of attractions, including the Art Gallery of Ontario and Casa Loma. Or if you are a shopping freak and want shop for latest trends then Eaton Center will be your halt and for luxury labels Bloor Yorkville will be a better option. For a break from urban life take a 10 minute ride to the idyllic Toronto Island. There are so many options and we had only a week's time to get to know Ontario! 
C N Tower
This is one place that no one can give a miss ~ every tourist has to see it as it is visible from everywhere in Toronto. It is the second largest building

of the world after Burj Khalifa, having 147 floors. We zipped up to the 115th floor to dine at 360 Degree Restaurant. As we had prior booking we escaped the huge wait to get in. The moment we entered the tower, we were welcomed by a cameraman who clicked our group. We also learnt that the elevators were the world fastest and it took only 58 seconds to reach the 114th floor, where we got off. This floor is 1,122 feet above the ground and its glass floor made it the best place to have a panoramic view of the entire city. Of course, it was the best place to click  pictures also. The “360 Degree” is the tower's revolving restaurant, which offers a fine dining experience and a view of the city that is second to none. Apart from it, the C N Tower also offers an edge walk ~ the world's highest full-circle, hands-free-walk. Adrenaline seekers stroll at the edge of the CN Tower's main pod, just above 360 Degree restaurant, along a ledge that's only 1.5 metre wide, 116 storeys above Toronto.  However, it was  a bit expensive at around 200 dollars. 
Fashion
Being cosmopolitan in nature, Toronto has every type of cuisine and fashion. One can seek one's fill with the variety of foods available there. There is a huge choice for shoppers. For instance, if you want to shop for designer clothes then you can walk in the lanes of Toronto Yorkville. This is the place where A-listers have an array of stores. In terms of malls, Toronto has them in every size. One can wander around the perennial downtown favourite, the Eaton Centre ~ it is popular among buyers because of its comparatively low price. Others malls are in north ~ chic Yorkdale or the open-air shops at Don Mills and many more.
Markets
There are numerous street shopping option available here, for instance, China Town or Kensington Market. Kensington Market is often ranked as one of the best street markets in North Markets. It has the dense cultural labyrinth of narrow streets houses, portraying a mix of Caribbean, Latin American, European and Middle Eastern shops and restaurants. One can find here second hand vintage clothing stores too. It is the place where graffiti is legal ~ people can be seen painting the walls all the time. The other street market is China Town. A walk in this part of the city will give a feeling of walking in any city of China. It is the place where crowds come to for authentic Asian stuff. Souvenir shopping is an adventure here, with imported goods from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and beyond. Take a place at one of the traditional Asian restaurant dishing out plates of fine (budget friendly) food.
Underground city

This is a labyrinth of 28 kilometres of interconnecting passageway known as the Path (the world's most extensive underground network). It links most parts of the city be it office towers, stores, hotel, bus terminal, railway terminal and restaurants. Inside this market one could find budget friendly restaurants, bookstores, quaint cafes and bars.
Food
Because of Toronto's cultural diversity, it allows a person to eat one's way around the world via its ethnic neighbourhoods. From Butter Chicken to grilled Souvlaki and Saganki, one can sample a variety of cuisine. One can have a brunch at Dimsum during a visit to Chinatown or in St Lawrence market, one can try peameal-bacon sandwich from Carousel bakery or choose mouthwatering mustard from the 30 award-wining varieties available. Or if one is fond of beer then one can indulge in several terrific wine bars or take a brewery tour at Mill Street Brewery, Steam Whistle Brewing and Amsterdam Brewery.
Toronto Island
Fed up with the urban life and want to spend some leisure time amid peaceful greenery? Then Toronto Islands are where you should head. A 15-minute ferry ride from the mainland will bring one to the island, which has a small amusement park, a residential community and yes Toronto clothing optional beach too. The best option is to explore the whole island on cycle.
Winery
Along with the Niagara Falls, Niagara region is known for
another thing ~ wine. In the entire Ontario region, there are 140 licensed wineries, including grape and fruit wineries. We halted at the Inniskillin Winery, Canada's premier estate winery, which was established in 1975 by co founders Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser. This winery is known for its Ice Wine, which is made from grapes that are left to freeze on the vine over the winter. Once temperatures drop to -8 degrees Celsius (about 18 degrees Fahrenheit), the grapes are collected and allowed to thaw, a process that helps intensify their flavour. 
 Heavenly!

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History comes alive

The findings of the last 50 years by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are on display for the first time under one roof at the National Museum, reports rakesh kumar

Stone tools, artefacts, pottery, ornaments and maps are just ordinary things that hardly catch anyone’s attentions but when these belong to prehistoric era, they will turn into priceless articles and will become centre of attraction for all. It is no less thrilling even for those who have the least interest in history. But it is a piece of history that has come alive at an ongoing exhibition at the National
Museum in the Capital.
 From priceless tools to ornaments and inscriptions, all the major finds since 1961 to 2011 are on display for the first time under one roof at the museum. “The exhibition has been organised to showcase the achievements and landmark findings of ASI in the last 50 years. The exhibition is on for general public till 31 January,” informed Daljit Singh, deputy superintendent of ASI.
The exhibition is showcasing around 307 selected objects from all the major eras of Indian history that were recovered during exploration and excavation in the last 50 years.
The exhibits have been displayed in a chronological manner, right from prehistoric period to modern times. For instance, starting with the tools from Harappa Civilisation the exhibition goes on to talk about metal tools, small paintings and inscriptions. “All the items are on display was excavated by archaeological from places like Bhimbetka and Sirpur (Madhya Pradesh), Burzhom and Gufkral in the Kashmir Valley, Harappan sites at Dholavira (Gujarat) and Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Mathura and Vaishali (Bihar), besides many other places,” explained Singh.
 The exhibition, titled Rediscovering India, was organised by ASI to mark its 150th year and has housed an array of priceless tools, seals, implements, artefacts, pottery, figurines, sculptures, ornaments and inscriptions unearthed from all over India. Apart from this, there are maps, photographs and other textual panels to support the objects on display and to help visitors appreciate the significance of these objects and their relevance to the understanding of India’s past. “We have gathered all the finds from 66 different sites of the country. We have also used four replicas as the original were fragile,” informed Daljeet Singh.
Going by their age, the exhibition has stone tools 1.5 million years old, the only portrait of emperor Ashoka ever excavated, a 6th century stone image of Lord Vishnu, a 4th century stone statue of
Mahishasuramardini, and an elegant 13-14th century Garuda in bronze, Standing Buddha of 9-10 century, rusting iron implements of 1000 BC and many others. “The Standing Buddha that was discovered in Bodh Gaya had been illegally exported to the USA, where it was confiscated and
sent back to India,” informed Singh.
 The other attractions at the exhibition include Chinese porcelain of the Sultanate period (1206-1526), discovered in the Feroz Shah Kotla area of Delhi, the earliest ploughed field, the dockyard at Lothal,
gold ornaments in Gujarat as well as Uttar Pradesh, and a Harappan water harvesting system.  “These excavations make us think how our culture evolved over time,” underlined Singh.

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Basking in glory

Kunal Kapoor’s striking performance in Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana has fetched him many more offers. As told to rakesh kumar

The 35-year-old actor, Kunal Kapoor, who became an overnight sensation with Rang De Basanti, is quite excited these days. After a brief lull, the actor is finally basking in the glory of his last flick Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. The film might not have performed exceptionally well at the box office, but has certainly brought him accolades. He is busy reading as well as writing scripts, shooting his next film, endorsing products and also, doing a little of theatre work.  
“As perceived, I don’t think Chicken Khurana bombed at the box office. Not only did it draw profits for the producers but also, my character was widely appreciated,” he said, claiming that his performance had got him many film offers. “I have been offered many movies and endorsement deals. In the past two months, I happened to read many more scripts than I have read in the last two years,” shared the actor. 
When asked about the script he himself is working on, the actor explained, “I am not writing the script, I am just developing it. It all started on the sets of my last movie, where I met some people and shared my ideas. They liked three of them. These are of different genres like action and comedy.” 
Are you choosy? “No! You can’t say I am choosy but I always look for good scripts. I don’t believe doing all the films coming my way,” said the actor, who is also doing theatre in Delhi.  
On marriage, Kapoor excused himself from the question. “I have not thought about it and whenever I plan to marry, you will be the first one to be informed,” he quipped.  

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