The Best Party Wear Sarees Storming The World of Fashion This Wedding Season

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March 22, 2016

The classic ensemble, saree gets a makeover every year, and it never fails to dazzle us with its stunning avatars. The wedding season gives us ample opportunities to put our fashionable foot forward. So, whether it is your best pal’s wedding or your distant cousin is getting hitched, party wear sarees always comes to the rescue and how!

Different Styles of Party Wear Sarees for the Wedding Season

Dressing the part is all too easy when you put on a gorgeous saree. From handloom sarees to luxe embroidered nine yards and eclectic neon prints, the saree game is buzzing with unmatched fashion fervor. If you are looking to take your fashionista vibe a notch higher, check out the saree styles that are doing the rounds this party season. We are hoping that you would do away with every chink in your fashion armor with these glamorous party wear sarees.

The Sheer Drama – The sheer saree was never really out of fashion game. But now it is making its presence felt like no tomorrow. Pastel shades in sheer fabrics can set the temperatures soaring! The peek-a- boo look works great. But remember to pair your saree right.

Any sheer saree with an off shoulder crop top or cold-shoulder blouse can make you look like a complete fashion goddess. All female superstars from Bollywood are flaunting their Designer sarees with elan right from weddings to high profile parties. This is one saree style that is not going in a hurry.

The Quirky Printed Sarees – The printed sarees have undergone a sea change. The pretty floral prints are always a summer favorite but what is working now are quirky prints, right from fans to butterflies to clock prints. What was considered as inane, and out of the box is now finding favor amongst the fashion milieu. Beautiful, irreverent and jazzy, we bet every pair of eyes will be on you when you make a grand entry into a party. Flip your hair back with a new found confidence and strut your stuff like a born fashionista.

The Metallic Stories – The pastels were always in the running, but slowly the gold and the silver is making a strong comeback. Dripping with drama, these sarees are bold and glamorous with a capital G. It dazzles and shines and the rock on your hand is now going to get a stiff competition from your gold or silver saree.

But if you want to really make your gold silver or other metallic shades stand out, make sure you tone down your accessories. Your makeup should be also muted. Highlight one part of your face. Like a gold saree looks great with a Marsala mouth. For this shimmering outfit, you can give your accessories a royal ignores.

The Color Brigade – Are you someone who always bank on black and the red or at the most fuchsia to steer you through the winter weddings? Red and black has been done to death now, time to hail the new color on the block. Well, not exactly new, but gray is back to creating waves. Can gray really steal the thunder of the other more ravishing hues? Yes, absolutely if the trends are anything to go by. Recently, a very popular actress wore the gray saree with a stylish panache! Gray saree offset with silver threads and it turned out to be all kinds of magic. Your chance now to get a gray colored shimmery saree into your wardrobe.

Saree Gown – If you find wearing a saree and managing the pleats too cumbersome, get a saree gown as soon as possible. It looks like a saree because of the drape, but the whole look resembles that of a gown.

Just put it on and you are good to go. Saree gown should be an intrinsic part of party wear saree list. Bold and beautiful, they are structured, form flattering and has a sensuous silhouette. You don’t need much to enhance your outfit, as the outfit itself is so glamorous, it can shine and make a statement on its own.

Monochromatic Magic – Monochrome is big, one of the biggest trends in recent years. Black and white together weaves enigma! Bold and dramatic it immediately catches your eye amongst a host of other Indian sarees. Be it in cotton, silk, net or organza, you can seldom commit a fashion faux pas with black and white saree.

Dhoti Saree – One of the emerging trends that spell quirky, fun, and fashion in one single breath. A fashion winner, it is creating a fashion storm right from the ramp to the streets. It looks like a saree and yet it has the convenience of a dhoti. We are still crushing on this trend and hope it does not go all too soon.

Celebrities are flaunting this with a lot of chutzpah and we are visibly impressed. Time to drape one at the next happening party. Make sure you pair it with an interesting blouse, all your off shoulder crop tops or crop tops with dramatic ruffled sleeves are going to be useful here. Making a fashion statement with a saree like this is ever so easy.

Evergreen Traditional Sarees – Last but not the least, Traditional sarees always stand tall among all the modern frivolous garments. Be it your south silks, or your Bengal cotton, there’s nothing more organic, more innate and more gorgeous than our traditional weaves.

Wear it with a gajra and traditional intricate gold jewelry and you are sure to be a sight for sore eyes! A universal trend, that would never go out of style, how comforting is to wear your grandmother or mother’s hand- me –downs! It should definitely be counted among your most precious possessions.

If you are wondering where would you buy all these party wear sarees, well, you can buy branded sarees online. You can procure your sarees right at your doorstep, which is so much more hassle-free than threading across a teeming crowd to buy your favorite ensemble. So bring out your sky-high heels, your choicest baubles, don’t forget your fancy clutch and you surely would have arrived at the fashion scene with a bang!

Image Source – https://www.lashkaraa.com

9 Best Places to Visit in Nainital to Rejoice in the Nature

By

Pranjali Rautela

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March 21, 2016

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When was the last time you felt the whiff of fresh air? The air that rejuvenates your heart and soul! Fortunately, I had that experience during my trip to Nainital, a hill station in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, which is also popularly known as the lake district of India. Known for its pristine lakes and majestic hills, Nainital is serene and draws a contrast to the ‘hurly-burly’ of the town.

Every year, hundreds of tourists throng this place which is surrounded by lakes and is blessed with a beautiful landscape. Once a British hill station, Nainital serves as an excellent example of European architect as it proudly houses buildings that belong the Victorian period. I was also surprised to find the district so unperturbed by the outer world. Diversity flourishes here and people of all kinds can be found. There are foreigners from all races, mostly Tibetans refugees, who have set up their own businesses.

While the place offers many sightseeing options, here is a list of best places to visit in Nainital and enjoy the majestic view of the Himalayas and the lakes:

1. Naina Devi Temple

I began my trip with Naina Devi Temple, for my mother feels that it is a good omen. The temple, located at the northern end of the Naini Lake, was built in 15 AD and is mentioned in the Kushan period. It is one of the fifty one Shakti peeths and is of great importance to the Hindus. The devotees worship a pair of eyes in this temple and it is believed that when Lord Shiva was carrying the burnt body of Goddess Sati, one of her eyes fell at this place. Therefore, Goddess is worshipped here in the form of eyes. People from all over the world come and visit this temple.

I would suggest you to visit the temple after dusk as it is all lit up with bright lights and it’s reflection in the Lake is mesmerizing. Amidst the loud chants of mantras and the

ringing of the bells you might just discover your spiritual self and leave with a content heart.

2. Tiffin Top

I am an acrophobic who takes the stairs instead of a lift, so when I chose a place as high as 2290 metres, I was sure I was never coming back. But there was something about the snow covered mountains that made me leave my fear behind. Tiffin top, which is also known as Dorothy’s Seat, was built by a British army officer, Col J.P Kellett, in the memory of his wife, Dorothy, who died while sailing on an England- bound ship. Located at an altitude of 2,290 metres on Ayarpaata hill it will give you an eagle view of the entire town. Tiffin top is called so because people go here for family picnics carrying their ‘Tiffins’. You can enjoy trekking to the top if you are healthy otherwise hiring a pony is the best alternative.

The orange tinge that you witness around the white snow makes you feel drunk with the beauty of nature. If you look below, you would notice the fog playing hide and seek with you by revealing just what needs to be seen.

3. Naini Lake

Nainital is synonymous with Naini Lake. It cannot be called as a tourist spot because no matter where you stand in Nainital the lake comes with you. I went boating quite a few times actually. There are so many colorful boats that it almost looks like Gondola. You can paddle your own boats or hire a rower.

My oarsman told me that the lake was in the shape of an ‘eye’ and that it was believed to be the emerald green eyes of Goddess Sati. You can see the entire town looking down at the lake as if owing its existence to it. There are ducks all over the southern part of the lake and you can even feed them.

4. China Peak

China peak or Naina peak is the highest peak of the town and stands high at an altitude of 2,611 metres. Again, if you can you can trek or you can hire a pony if you have become a couch potato like me! The way up to the China peak is beautifully adorned with deodar and oak trees. The peak commands an entrancing view of sparkling snow laden Himalayas from Bandarpunch in west to Api and Nari peaks of Nepal in the east.

5. Governor’s House

More commonly known as the ‘Raj Bhawan’ it is the place that is meant for photographers and the history buffs. Built in the ‘Victorian-style,’ the Gothic mansion stretches over 220 acres. Constructed in 1899, it was the summer home of the British governor and is now used by the governor of Uttarakhand. It has all the luxuries including a golf course, ball room and a swimming pool.

There are a lot of minor tourist spots that can also be visited like ARIES, the zoo, churches and Kilbury. The surrounding areas like Naukuchiatal , Bhimtal and Sattal are also very good and can be visited if you have the time. Even if you were to go for a shopping spree then the Tibetan market offers unique souvenirs and the best prices. The finest time to visit Nainital is during the winters and if you are lucky enough then you might get to witness a white Christmas.

6. Bhimtal

Bhimtal is a lakeside town named after Bhima, Mahabharat’s fascinating mythological figure. Bhimtal is proudly located at 1,370 metres above sea level and is appreciated for its aesthetic charm. This lake town is becoming increasingly popular with everyone because it is located near Nainital and has some of the most prestigious hotels that are considerably cheaper than Nainital’s.

The lake Bhimtal sits in the centre of the picturesque place with a tiny island, where there is a lovely enormous aquarium. Bhimtal provides magnificent views of the grandeur of nature and visual landscapes. Bhimtal is well linked by roadways and is an excellent tourist destination at all times as the climate is beautiful: gorgeous spring and autumn; comfortable summer, and sunny and sweet winter. Even the monsoons are ideal— misty and emerald-hued.

7. ARIES

ARIES, which is a leading astronomical institute in India, stands for Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences. After independence, in 1955, the ARIES observer was established but was afterwards moved to the more convenient Manora Peak in Nainital. If you are travelling with children you must visit the Observatory.

With one of the most advanced technology telescopes in the country, one can see the moon and the stars and other celestial bodies which are otherwise blocked to normal eyes. During a few days around the full moon, night visits are usually possible.

8. Naukuchiatal

The depths of peace and serenity are found in one of the Nainital district’s popular lake towns, Naukuchiatal or the Nine cornering lakes. Situated in the Kumaon Himalayas and regarded to be among the deepest of the lakes in the Nainital District, this little hill station is the perfect holiday resort in the Uttarakhand region. The lake sits at a height of 1220m and is 53 m deep in a beautiful valley, extending to 983 m. Once here, you will get the opportunity to pick up your picnic baskets and simply relax and take part in activities like bird viewing, fishing & fishing, para-gliding, and rowing. Naukuchiatal is also recognised for its Escape Festival held each year in May which is known for its extravagance and is frequently visited by people on family holidays, honeymoons and individuals.

9. Mukteshwar

Mukteshwar is a pleasant location in the district of Uttarakhand, 2.285 metres above sea level. The name comes from the temple of Mukteshwer Dham which is 350 years old with Lord Shiva as its resident deity. An amazing and wonderful view of the impressive Himalayan range is found on the top of the mountain on which Mukteshwar Temple stands. Mukteshwar is a destination to plan your honeymoon and also family holidays while being surrounded by the sky-kissing undulating mountains.

Mukteshwar is surrounded by British houses with red roofs, picket barriers and antique wooden window frames, and is teeming with colonial charm. The whole area has a profound silence and is a wonderful natural retreat. In addition, tourists can also make a trip to a campus of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute founded in 1893. Another remarkable site is the Energy and Resources Institute’s Renewable Park that uses solar energy to satisfy its needs in energy.

Image courtesy: Pradeep Pande

Factfile: http://www.euttaranchal.com

Historic Trail in Hyderabad: Charminar to Badshahi Ashurkhana

By

Aditi Patnaik

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March 18, 2016

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Author: Aditi Das Patnaik

heritage walk in Hyderabad-1 — Charminar

Andhra Pradesh tourism organizes a series of heritage walks around the old city of Hyderabad and I happened to catch the second in the series, which covers the monuments from Charminar (literally meaning four minar or turrets) up to the Badshahi Ashurkhana.

We arrive at Charminar a little ahead of time in a bid to catch the early morning tea at Nimrah café. At half past six in the morning, the area around Charminar is just about waking up. There are barely any people or vehicles

on the road, which is otherwise bustling with activity through the day. But Nimrah café is another story altogether, it is chock-full of people and we have to wait for our turn to order tea and tie biscuits. The tea turns out to be sugary and the biscuit is delightful, shaped in the form of a bow tie. It is much like the places around this area – welcoming and quite a delightful find each time.

heritage walk in Hyderabad — scores of Idols of Ganesha

Finally, we head back and find other members present for the walk. The organisers appear shortly even before the round of introductions are done, unassuming and humble. They guide us into the enclosure of the Charminar, where Raeesa, our guide, begins to speak. Her voice is soft and rising just enough to reach us. There is a humility she exudes as if in quiet reverence to the monument in whose shade we stand.

The Charminar is a magnificent monument & mosque and is perhaps the icon of Hyderabad. It plays a rich prelude to the rest of the walk consisting mostly of 15^th century buildings depicting an era long gone, but glimpses of its splendor still visible through the architecture. Raeesa breathes life into the monuments with her description of a time when Qutb Shah built it to commemorate the eradication of plague, which had ravaged the city.

The Badshahi Ashurkhana, a place for mourning of the Shiya sect of muslims, comes with elaborate motifs made from colorful tiles

The monument is a four storeysquare structure with four grand arches and four exquisitely carved minarets. A mosque is located at the western side of the top floor. Folklore has it that this was built without any scaffoldings and a ramp was built to support the opulent arches. There is also a legend around the existence of a secret tunnel linking the Charminar to the Golkunda Fort for an escape in case of a siege. There is more that Raeesa reveals about the Nawabs, their wealth and opulent lifestyles. The last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan is the fifth richest man ever, with an estimated worth of US$210.8 billion. (Source: Forbes).

We then move along the path, north of Charminar and pass by the Jama Masjid, and walk under a number of arches known as ‘kaman’. The four kamans face the four cardinal directions – Machli Kaman faces the north from where most of the visitors enter the Charminar area. The eastern arch is the Kali Kaman, the western is the Sehr-e-batilki Kaman and finally the southern arch is the Charkaman and is now a flourishing fruit market, also known as Mewewalonki Kaman. These are fine pieces of architecture of the QutbShahi era.

The Charminar area has over time developed as a huge trading outpost and the Patherghatti houses a market that sells jewelry, clothes, perfumes and footwear to name a few. It has elegant archways and in the present day, has a number of jewellery shops primarily selling the famous Hyderabad pearls.

Finally, the walk culminates at the Badshahi Ashurkhana, which was the ‘house of mourning’ and one of oldest Imambaras (religious place of Muslims associated with Muharram) in the country. Following the Shia (a sect in the Islam religion) tradition, the Ashurkhana was built for mourning during the Muharram celebrations. It has walls decorated with colorful enamel-tiled mosaic in a Persian style. Its exquisite beauty inspires much awe and joy and doesn’t quite seem a place of mourning. However, as Raeesa points out the ‘serai’ built for the mourners, the two-storied place for the dholakis (drum players) and many such markers of history, the aura of mourning sets in.

It is here that we gather for a South Indian breakfast and beneath the lovely motifs of flowers, leaves & vines and brilliant calligraphy, we try to imagine, what had been here four hundred years ago.

Images – Aditi Das Patnaik

Heritage walk in Hyderabad
Time & Day: 0730 hrs – 0930 hrs.
Every Sunday of the month
Venue: Charminar
Cost: INR 50 (including breakfast)
Details: www.aptdc.in

AoL’s World Cultural Festival: Was it really worth it?

By

Trisha De Niyogi

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March 14, 2016

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Author – Trisha De Niyogi

Three years ago, at the inaugural World Culture Forum in Bali, Indonesia, the Nobel laureate Amartya Sen delivered an inspirational speech, emphasising on the plurality of cultural identity, which is the key to the growth of the human race. Three years hence, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s World Cultural Festival, which celebrated the Art of Living’s 35 years of service to mankind, attempted to showcase the plurality and diversity of the Indian culture as well as world culture as well highlight the unity as one big family.

The three-day mega event held in New Delhi was estimated to have assembled around 3.5 million people. The Art of Living Foundation (AoL) claims to be the world’s biggest volunteer based, spiritual and humanitarian non-governmental organization. Its festival was also aimed to rejuvenate the ancient values & traditions of India that are disappearing with the adoption of modern culture.

The World Cultural Festival boasted of performances from all across the world including ensembles from Africa, dancers from Bulgaria, Hungary, singers from China as well as speeches by eminent leaders and politicians. In fact, 37,000 artistes from over 155 countries participated in this event, 40 different musical instruments were played as a part of the AoL Orchestra on the banks of the river Yamuna.

Being a dancer myself, the scale of these performances caught my attention. 1,700 dancers simultaneously performed the choreographies of eminent dance gurus, while 1,000 singers matched their rhythm and melody with one another as they sang the tunes of Rabindra Sangeet. This was truly a herculean task considering the complexity involved. Even in smaller groups and regular performances, achieving perfection is a difficult task, but these performances looked stunning. This dazzling event went ahead despite hurdles like murky pathway to the entrance and dysfunctional lights and sound systems that created inconvenience to the participants.

But, in my view, the sheer size of the stage does not easily impress the current generation easily. They are more impressed by the intricacy, grace and creative choreography, which didn’t seem to be the biggest priority of the event. Moreover, the pre-recorded and uninspiring music, while the musicians pretended to perform, disgruntled many famous performers and commoners alike.

Global leaders including our Prime Minister, Sri Narendra Modi applauded the event saying “This is a Kumbh Mela of art and culture” and added “If we keep criticizing everything we have and do not take pride in our cultural legacy, why should the world look at us?” Indeed, all of this, definitely leaves a good impression on the world, while introducing us about the diverse cultures around in the world. It is difficult to develop the soft power of a country as compared to the military, economic or political strength. When such an effort is made, we should welcome with an open arm.

In fact, an event of this size, which could be compared to the grandeur of a big fat Indian wedding saw huge investment and attention. But, even the buzz created couldn’t prevent it from getting shrouded by controversies and utter chaos. From temporary structures to pontoon bridges, the use of Indian army to the environmental impact of millions of visitors to available parking space, there were numerous issues that were debated fruitlessly after permissions were granted for AoL’s mega event.

In every wedding, there is one relative who would be a silent spectator during the preparations, but will not leave any stone unturned during the processions. The National Green Tribunal or NGT became that distant relative. The World Culture Festival came under a raging controversy; wherein the organization was accused of flouting environmental norms and causing irreparable damage to the flora and fauna on the floodplains of Yamuna river. However, the point to be noted was that the preparations for the event began in December 2015. The enquiries were raised only in February 2016, when all arrangements were made.

In its defence, AoL said that it had taken all the necessary permissions from all authorities except police and the fire department, which would come after the completion of the stage. What use could those monetary fines possibly have, if it is repeatedly stated that irreversible damage has been caused to the riverbed by the temporary structure erected? As a matter of fact, why weren’t environmental inspections taken more seriously?

Prevention is better than cure; so why was it not implemented by NGT and the other regulators? Even more appalling was Delhi Development Authority’s reply to NGT “Heavens won’t fall if the event is held. We can see what needs to be done to restore the area, but today we are at the threshold of the ceremony,” which yet again begins the vicious cycle of blame game.

There is no denying that their concerns are not important. Their concern for the city and the river concerns us too. In fact it is alarming that many farmers’ livelihood has been lost, the city has been endangered, the river has been further polluted by, the culmination of cultures from all across the globe is a another positive leap towards the goal for a global unity. But, at the end of the day, an intriguing question remains, was the World Cultural Festival or fiasco worth it all?

Image Courtesy
www.artofliving.org
FB/TheWorldCultureFestival

Indian Spices – Zaiyaka Bharat Ka

By

Caleidoscope

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March 9, 2016

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Gunjan Sharma

The Indian Spices Board recently organised the 13th World Spice Congress in Ahmedabad with a theme of ‘Target 2020: clean, safe and sustainable supply chain’. Spices are the main attractions of an Indian market. With a variety of climate in different regions, India produces a range of spices. Most spices are native to the sub-continent and some were imported initially. The main spice producing state is Kerala, which is also known as the ‘Spice Garden of India’.

Spices not only enhance the taste of our food, but also are an important part of our traditional medicine or the Old Naani’s Prescriptions. When most of the world was not even discovered, Indian spices were exported and used to enhance the flavors in different kitchens and were used as medicines worldwide. Spices are now grown and used across the globe in different ways and for various purposes. Here is a list of 10 spices that are a major part of Indian cuisine.

Asafoetida

Hing or devil’s dung is one of the major spices used in almost every Indian dish. This pungent smelling spice is extracted from the dried gum secreted from the Ferula plant’s tap root, which gives a different aroma when used to make dal or rasam. It also acts as a digestive aid and is used as a condiment in food and pickles. This spice travelled to India and other countries from Iran and now holds a pride of place in every kitchen of the sub-continent.

Black pepper

Black pepper is the King of Spices, not because it is used for seasoning but for its medicinal properties. Usually found in South India, it has been a part of Indian cuisine since 2 B.C. It has various anti-oxidant properties and is a source of many usefulvitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C.. It also fights cancer stem cells and stimulates your skin to produce pigments.

Ajwain

Ajwain or Bishop’s seed is often confused with the lovage seed. Ajwain is usually consumed after roasting or frying it in ghee after which it gives a complex aroma to the food. It has medicinal properties and can be taken to cure respiratory problems. This spice is probably a native to Egypt and travelled to India from near East, but is now only cultivated in Northern India and some parts of Iran.

Fenugreek seeds

Fenugreek or Methi seeds are one of the major ingredients of the various sauces and spice mixtures of not only Indian but Persian and Turkish cuisines. Fenugreek leaves are used fresh but its yellow colored-cuboidal seeds that can be preserved for later use. This is one sweet smelling spice with a slight bitter taste. It helps in reduction of body fat and enhances hair growth. Fenugreek seeds can be dried and then crushed for consumption to help women during menopause.

Cloves

Cloves are dry, wood textured, nose-pin shaped spice, and its name is derived from the latine word ‘Clavus.’ This spice is comes from Maluku islands of Indonesia and is often consumed after roasting or frying it in ghee. It is also a major ingredient in the widely used spice mixture called garam masala in curries and is usually take to cure toothaches. Cloves are also considered sacred in Hindu mythology and are burned in pairs with camphor during rituals.

Coriander

Cilantro or coriander or Dhaniya is a native to Southern Europe, North Africa and South Western Asia. It is an essential part of Asian and Russian cuisines. All the parts of the herb are edible. Its leaves are used raw as they can lose their fresh whiff if frozen or cooked. It is also widely used to treat digestive disorders and is highly beneficial in treating nausea and dysentery.

Turmeric

Turmeric is used in all kind of cuisines in India and its bitter taste gives a desired flavor to the food. Leaves of a turmeric plant are used to make different Indian sweets. It contains various types of powerful polyphenol curcumin, which can help in the treatment of all types of cancer with no major side-effects. Turmeric is usually found in India and has been a part of Siddha (Tamil) medicine for thousands of years. Because of its anti fungal and anti-oxidant properties, it helps in treatment of stomach illnesses, skin ailments, liver problems and wounds.

Saffron

Saffron is the most delicate and most expensive of all spices in the world by weight. It originated from Greece and is mainly grown in Kashmir. It is used for seasoning and flavoring purposes in most of the Indian, Persian, European, Arab and Turkish cuisines. Saffron gives a beautiful yellowish-orange color and a fresh fragrance to the food and is obtained by drying the stigma of the flower from the plant saffron-crocus.

Cardamom

Cardamom or elaichi is one of the oldest Indian spices and the third most expensive spice by weight. Daily consumption of some cardamom seeds after meals or with tea can keep cancer away. It is a natural food preservative and helps in the reduction of tumor by blocking the growth of extra blood vessels in the human body. It is a major source of iron and calcium and is widely used to treat glaucoma.

Cumin

Iran gave birth to the most common spice found in India. Today, India is the largest producer as well as consumer of cumin or jeera. It is believed to improve saliva secretion in the mouth and is thus used as a remedy for digestive illnesses and also works as a preservative. Cumin is also a part of traditional Brazilian cuisine and can be found in some types of cheese and home-made French cookies.

Creative Minds Blossom: Indian Women Writers

By

Avuni Ady

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March 7, 2016

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English writing by Indian women has today established itself in the realm of fiction and has earned laurels both at home and abroad. They began their work by questioning the traditional patriarchal domination. In the early days, Indian women writers penned down about their perceptions and experiences within their domestic surroundings, assuming that would fetch them more acceptance from the society. Writings by women gained momentum during the British Raj, although most of these writings were concentrated on the country’s freedom struggle.

By the early 20th century, several Indian women writers started to write in English language. Before the rise of novels, women writers concentrated more on composing songs, short stories and plays. These female writers became a powerful medium for modernism and feminism. The present generation women writers are mostly western educated thus, their work cover the contemporary issues of women and those of the problems lingering in the society for decades, attracting a massive following of readers. Here is a brief list of few well-known women writers in India and their writings in English:

Nayantara Sehgal

Nayantara Sehgal is one of the first Indian writers to be widely recognized in English writing. Born in the Nehru family in 1927, her stories mostly depict the politics and history of India’s elite during the independence movement. Apart from political issues, she is a writer with feminist concerns and seeks independent existence of women. Her discontentment with patriarchal treatment towards women in the Indian society is quite evident in her novel Mistaken Identity (1988), which boldly reflects in her female character, a complete rebel.

Nayantara Sehgal holds prestigious positions as a member of various literary organizations and has won many accolades for her contribution to literature. She won the Commonwealth Writers Award in 1987 for her novel ‘Plans of Departure’. Her fiction work, Rich like Us won the Sinclair Prize in 1985 and the Sahitya Akademi award in 1986. However in 2015, she returned her award to the Sahitya Academi and spearheaded the ‘Award Wapasi’ campaign in view of the growing intolerance on Freedom of Speech across India and the Akademi’s inaction over the killings of rationalist writers.

Anita Desai

Anita Mazumdar Desai is a well-known novelist and author of children’s books. Born to a German father and a Bengali mother in 1937, her family frequent moved across different cities of India, which facilitated her stories to have diverse backdrops. Her writings evoke an excellent character and moods through visual images ranging from the meteorological to the botanical, which meticulously depict the modern Indian life. She is referred by many as the ‘Mother of Indian psychological novel genre’ and was touted as “one of the preeminent contemporary Indian novelists” by British Writer A. Micheal Matin.

Although, Anita Desai does not view herself as a political writer, her stories powerfully and accurately deliver her social commentaries. For instance, suppression and oppression of Indian women were the subjects of her first novel – Cry the Peacock (1963). Her Novel, Fire on the Mountain was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award in 1978. In 1983, she won the British Guardian Prize for The Village by the Sea. She has been shortlisted three times for the Booker Prize for Clear Light of Day (1980), In Custody (1994) and Fasting and Feasting (1999). She is currently Emerita John E. Burchard Professor of Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US.

Shashi Deshpande

Shashi Deshpande, a well known name in the field of Indian literature, is the daughter of the renowned Kannada dramatist and Sanskrit Scholar, Sriranga. She was born in Dharwad, Karnataka in 1938 and was educated in Bangalore and Bombay universities. She wrote her first short story in 1970 while working as a journalist for a magazine. Soon, her short stories were frequently featured in popular magazines. In 1978, she published her first collection of short stories titled ‘Legacy’ and her first novel – The Dark Holds No Terrors in 1980.

Shashi Deshpande’s writing comes out of a deep involvement with the society she lives in, especially among women. Her novels are about women trying to understand themselves, their history, their roles and their place in this society, and above all their relationships with others. The Indian society’s bias attitude towards women, which she views as oppressing, is evident in her writings. Her works have been shortlisted for many literary awards. Her novel titled That Long Silence won the the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990. She is a recipient of the Padma Shri Award in 2009.

Arundhati Roy

Suzanna Arundhati Roy is an internationally acclaimed Indian fiction writer, essayist, actress and an activist. She was born to a Bengali father and a Keralite mother in Shillong in 1961. After her schooling in Kerala, Arundhati proceeded to pursue architecture at the Delhi School of Architecture. Her writings are popular among fiction enthusiasts and political activists.

Arundhati Roy’s critically acclaimed book ‘The God of Small Things’ won the Man Booker Prize in 1997, which is perhaps the first novel she wrote. Since then, she has turned an ardent activist for various political and social issues in India and across the world. She is a figure head of the anti-globalization movement and a vigorous critic of neo-imperialism. She has been acclaimed for her courage and eloquence to fight for social causes.

She has won many accolades for her writings globally, including the Sydney Peace Prize, Lannan Foundation’s Cultural Freedom Award and the Norman Mailer Prize. In 2006, her collection of essays, The Algebra of Infinite Justice was awarded by the Sahitya Akademi. However, she declined the award to protest the Indian government’s policies. She was featured in the Time’s 100 most influential people in 2014.

Anita Nair

Anita Nair is a Bangalore-based writer, who has written novels, short stories, poems, children’s stories, plays, travelogues since 1997. She was born in Shoranur Kerala in 1966 and completed her education in Chennai. While working in an advertising company, Anita wrote her first collection of short stories – Satyr of the Subway (1997), which won her a fellowship from the Virginia Centre for Creative Arts. She has written numerous novels of which the widely acclaimed and bestselling are: The Better Man, Ladies Coupé and Mistress that are translated into 25 languages.

Anita Nair’s collection of poems tiled ‘Malabar Mind’ was published in 2002. These poems portray ordinary things with extraordinary dimensions, where metaphors capture the strength and resilience of life. Her collections of essays, ‘Goodnight and God Bless’ describes the many flavors of happiness presented as chapters in a book. Her books on children are about change, friendship and bravery with a touch of humor. Many of her works were shortlisted for literary awards nationally and internationally. She was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2012 for her contribution to literature and culture.

Factfile –
https://www.loc.gov
http://indianexpress.com
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
http://www.britannica.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com
http://biography.jrank.org
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
wiki/Arundhati_Roy
http://anitanair.net/novels
http://www.selfgrowth.com

Image sources –
Nayantara Sahgal – https://www.goodreads.com
http://thewire.in
Anita Desai – https://www.goodreads.com
Shashi Despandhe – https://www.goodreads.com
http://archive.indianexpress.com
Arundhati Roy – wiki/Arundhati_Roy
https://www.goodreads.com
Anita Nair – https://www.goodreads.com
http://www.repubblica.it

Enchanting Tamil Nadu: of Temples, Art and Diverse Landscape

By

Neeraja Sundar

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March 2, 2016

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Tamil Nadu for me is the land of the malli poo (jasmine), pavadai-dhavani (half-saree with skirt) and idli-sambar. Dindugal pootu (locks), Sivakasi pattasu (crackers), Chettinad kara kozhambu (spicy gravy), Madurai malli and Kumbakonam degree coffee are some of the other things that are famous. In fact, the state you see today might be very similar to the one that Marco Polo had seen with nary a change in culture. There are a variety of things in Tamil Nadu which have celebrated their millennium with pomp and splendour.

Marina Beach – Darshan Simha

Some of the oldest and largest temples reside here. The sculptures, inscriptions and paintings on their walls and ceilings remain proof of their antiquity. Every generation that followed has played a part in preserving the culture. For instance, the year 2014 marked the 1000th year of King Rajendra Chola’s coronation. Considered the greatest Tamil king ever, his kingdom extended from the plains of the Ganga in the north to Srilanka in the south. His famed navy conquered several south-east Asian kingdoms in Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. To commemorate the anniversary, the Tamil Nadu government joined hands with the Indian Navy and National Maritime Foundation to launch the training ship INS Sudarshini on a cruise from Chennai to Nagapattinam, which was an important naval base.

The Chidambaram Temple – David

Any discussion on Tamil Nadu would be incomplete without the four feuding kingdoms of the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas who ruled over the land. Despite their internal conflicts, they enriched the art, architecture, literature and culture of the region. Cities like Madurai, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli and the Chettinad region have felt the influence of the Cholas and Pandyas in one aspect or another. Similarly the northern parts like Chennai, Kanchipuram and Vellore show significant Pallava influences, just as areas along the west bear the stamp of the Cheras. These dynasties, along with the Vijayanagara, Hoysala and Nayak rulers, have left their mark all over the state.

Tamil Nadu as a whole is synonymous with its many temples. Religion and spirituality are very much a part of life. Temple visits are a daily activity, for divine blessings certainly but also for the equally divine prasad. A scoop of piping hot pongal, a dollop of panchamritam, a glass of Amman koozh or kanji, flavourful sundal or that evergreen Vishnu temple staple – the puliyodharai (Tamarind rice), have people (including me) waiting in long queues.

Source: factsdose.com

Rice is the staple food here and Tamilians indulge in its varieties and different forms. The batter for idlis and dosas is made of rice. Pongal, upma, idiyappam, sweet meats, vadams (spicy sundried crisps) and appalams are all made from rice. The Tamil culture strongly believes in treating guests with great honour and pampering them. A delicious spread is laid on a banana leaf and the meal begins with payasam (kheer). Appalam, vadai, pickles and sweets join in. To paraphrase the Thirukkural- Fortune smiles on those who host their guests with a smile. I guess that’s why the land and culture of the Tamils have prospered.

Present-day Tamil Nadu can be broadly divided into four regions, more or less similar to those in ancient times.

Kongu Nadu

Marudhamalai Murugan Temple, Coimbatore – Kamesh kumar

Kongu Nadu consists of the areas in the west around the Nilgiri hills and cities of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Salem. The region shares geographical features with parts of Kerala and Karnataka, with which it shares borders. Textiles, mining, and agriculture are the main industries here. Coimbatore is known as the ‘Manchester of the South,’ for its flourishing textile industry. Tirupur ‘banyan’ or vest is a famous product. Knitwear garments from Tirupur are popular everywhere and exported worldwide. Salem, famous for its lip-smacking local variety Malgova, generates a huge income to the state through its extensive handloom industry. It is also the steel city as the home of a SAIL steel plant.

The Kongu region sees the convergence of the western and eastern ghats. Therefore, there is no dearth of picturesque locales. Apart from Ooty and Kodaikanal, there are Yercaud, Hogenakkal and Kolli Hills that are popular as summer getaways. The invigorating air pervading the lush tea plantations and the scenic surroundings interspersed with waterfalls and lakes make these places ideal vacation spots. Kollywood loves to shoot its movies in Pollachi and other locations nearby.

Natives of Kongu Nadu are traditionally tradesmen and landowners. They speak a distinct dialect of Tamil called Kongu Tamil. Several ancient tribes such as Todas, Irulas and Badugas inhabit the hills and even now retain their culture and way of life.

South Tamil Nadu

Meenakshi Temple – cotaro70s

Madurai, Tirunelveli, Theni, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram form the core areas of the Pandya empire.The Pandya identity continues to define this area. In later years, the Nayaks and several minor dynasties dominated this region.

The Meenakshi Temple, which is the honour of Madurai, stands majestically wearing its age with pride. Tamil literature has mentioned the temple since antiquity. The old temple was destroyed when Malik Kafur invaded the south. Later, the Nayak rulers rebuilt and restored it in the 1620s.

‘Elei! alwa thinutu po lei!’ (hey eat some halwa and go). This dialect of Tirunelveli has a distinct ring to it. The halwa is a delicious secret of the city. It melts in your mouth. Its other name Irutukadai (dark shop) Halwa came about because it was popularised by a dimly-lit shop. Further, the waters of the river Thamirabharani is believed to give the halwa its divine taste.

Tirunelveli halwa – Source

Tirunelveli also gave Tamil Nadu some of its most famous cultural icons such as freedom fighters Kattabomman, V OChidambaranar and the poet Subramania Bharathi.

While speaking of Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram, home to Chettiyars, I can only think of the famed Tamil traders whose palatial Chettinad mansions and unique cuisine have charmed visitors. When in Chettinad, don’t miss their kuzhambus and paniyarams accompanied by spicy chutneys.

Marienbasilika Von Velankanni – Wikimedia

Next comes the Coromandel Coast, which begins in Andhra moves over to Tamil Nadu where it settles in a long curve. The name ‘Coromandel’ is a Portuguese adaptation of the word ‘Cholamandalam (Realm of the Cholas). It stretches from Tiruvallur and Chennai in the north and runs along Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), and Rameswaram before ending in Kanyakumari.

For fish lovers, there is the Mannar Biosphere Reserve near the Gulf of Mannar with its teeming aquatic life. Coromandel coast experiences the showers of the North-East monsoon, providing relief from the scorching heat but also bringing several cyclonic storms. The ghost village of Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram was destroyed by a cyclone in 1964, but its ravaged remains provide glimpses of what life was like before. The 2004 tsunami is still recalled with horror by the residents of the coast. The famous church of Velankanni and the Nagoor Dargah, both near Nagapattinam are revered, too. The Church was one of the few places the destructive waters could not touch. It is not uncommon for non-Christians and non-Muslims to visit these shrines.

Sunrise in Kanyakumari – Mehul Antani

Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India, is where the mighty Indian Ocean washes the feet of the young Goddess. Watching the sunrise and sunset over the horizon where the three seas meet is a mesmerising experience. No wonder Swami Vivekananda chose this place to meditate and reflect.

Cauvery Delta

The river Cauvery and its distributaries create a delta-shaped region in central Tamil Nadu. The fertile Cauvery Delta formed the Chola heartland in ancient times.

Brihadishwara Temple, Thanjavur – Adam Jones

Thanjavur (Tanjore) is known as the ‘Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu,’ as it is the top producer of rice in the state. The famous Big Temple in Thanjavur is a UNESCO world heritage site and carries paintings of the Chola, Nayak and Vijayanagara period on its walls. Vegetable dyes were used to bring out a palette of colours, which have stood the test of time. The famed Tanjore painting traces its origins to the Maratha rulers of Thanjavur in the 17^th century. It is also famous for one of traditional toys of India – bobble head toys (thalai aatu bommai).

Kumbakonam is another small town famous for its temples. Temples for the Navagrahas (nine planets) are here, besides hundreds of other temples, big and small. Like the Kumbh Mela in North India, Kumbakonam hosts the sacred ‘Maha magam’ once in twelve years. Millions of devotees take a dip in the holy ‘Maha magam tank.’ Kumbakonam is also famous for its betel leaves and vessels made of brass and copper.

Mahamaham, Kumbakonam – Source

Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) serves as the centre-point of Tamil Nadu. Lord Ganesha blesses the city from his abode atop the Rockfort temple, which provides a stunning view of the city, the Cauvery and the Srirangam temple complex. Trichy is an educational and industrial hub. The birthplace of Sir CV Raman has produced eminent personalities including Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and several famous writers, poets, musicians and actors.

Chola Nadu is full of lush green fields, where most of the state’s food crops grow. Sweltering heat in summer can sap one’s energy, but a gulp of panneer soda (soda infused with rose essence) is refreshing.

North Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Villupuram and Thiruvannamalai districts in the northern- most part of the state constitute Tondai Nadu. The cultural stamp of the Pallavas is visible throughout this region.

Tamil Nadu’s coast is rich in biodiversity, with migratory birds flocking to lagoons, wetlands and marshes. Pulicat lake, Pichavaram Mangrove Forest, and Vedanthangal bird sanctuary are the best places to spot a rare bird.

The coastal towns were the entry points for European invaders on Indian soil. They have all left behind impressive monuments in many coastal towns such as Tharangambadi. Coromandel has several magnificent temples, such as the famous Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram and the Pallava era temples of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram.

Kanchipuram Sarees – Kamal Venkit

Kanjivaram silk sarees which are popular all over the country owe their name and origin to Kanchipuram. The small town is an important pilgrimage site. It is synonymous with the Goddess Kamakshi. Kanchipuram idli is an interesting variation of its popular cousin, the regular idli. It is mildly spiced, cylindrical in shape and is the prasad given at the Varadharaja Perumal Temple. The sprawling temple at Tiruvannamalai is a prominent pilgrimage site for Saivites. They pour into the town in millions for ‘Karthigai Deepam’ (celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai) to see the sacred lamp being lit on top of the hill.

Chennai – Wikimedia

Last but not the least, Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is the land of IT parks, coffee days, and malls on the one hand and Kollywood, Carnatic kutcheris (concerts), and Bharatanatyam on the other. The city owes its origins to the British, who bought land from the Nayak king in 1639 and established the first British settlement in India around it. Along with the change of name from Madras to Chennai in 1996, the state capital has evolved into a vibrant cosmopolitan city, while seamlessly assimilating the simplicity of its past. Mornings and evenings spent at the Marina beach or the Besant Nagar beach are Chennaites’ favourite mode of escape from the daily grind.

Factfile:
http://www.jagranjosh.com
http://www.business-standard.com
http://en.wikipedia.org

Is JNU Grappling with Right-wing Politics?

By

Shirish Shinde

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February 29, 2016

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‘Politics is a murky field. You should stay away from it.’ I remember this advice my father had given me during my college days. Later, I joined the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and stuck to his advice. During my stay in the university, my friends with political leanings used to mock me for not having aligned with any of the students’ unions. Even to this day, some of my colleagues wonder why I didn’t join politics, because that is what the varsity has been known for. It is supposed to groom future leaders.

There was another reason why I didn’t have the time for activism on the campus. My father used to send me Rs 600 per month. However, the minimum expenses for a hostelite were around Rs 1,200. I had to work as a part-time private tutor to fill that gap. I thank my star that some of my fellow student friends had helped me in getting such assignments. There was no time for ‘politics’ in my daily university life. Later, I didn’t wait to get a UGC fellowship, as I knew my fate: Whether I do MA or complete a doctorate, at the end of any such degree, one has to search for a job. I started searching for one after finishing my MA successfully.

Though I have kept aloof from politics even after being 20 odd years in the field of journalism, I realize the importance politics plays in our lives. Hence, I write on the ‘murky field’ only when the urge is compelling.

Looking at the happenings at the national level, particularly in Delhi regarding the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president’s arrest, a train of thoughts came across my mind. Campus politics in the university, during those days and I believe to a certain extent even today, has always been peaceful. Participants in debates sharing varying ideologies take criticism by opponents in the right spirit and refute their claims in a logical manner. Though I was not much interested in political debates, I used to watch what was happening around me. It was a healthy atmosphere, in which I unknowingly learnt many things.

However, today’s scene is far from a healthy debate and has taken an ugly turn. I don’t want to comment on any particular party or group. However, it is painful that things have deteriorated so much. It also reflects on the kind of politics being pursued by parties at the national level.

The alleged anti-national activities in the varsity and the arrest of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar has brought in focus the functioning of the institution of higher learning, which is funded and established by the Government of India.

According to the JNU’s website, the bill to set up the university was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on September 1, 1965 by the then Education Minister M C Chagla. It was okayed in the Lok Sabha on November 16, 1966 and the JNU act was implemented on April 22, 1969.It is not a coincidence that the varsity was established in 1969, when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of India. Our first Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru had Left leanings. India, though not part of any international bloc, was close to Russia, the then USSR and a communist country. Being , the father of modern India, Nehru led the establishment of military, academic, cultural, and other institutions of national and international repute during his term as the PM. He also fashioned the country’s development after the USSR’s five-year plans. Going by the political environment of his era, when half of the countries in the world had communist governments, Nehru was educated in the left liberal traditions of the West.

It is in this backdrop that Indira established the JNU, which also proved to be a sanctuary for all intellectuals, radicals, artists and thinkers having leanings towards the Left. The university has produced stalwarts including diplomat Abhay Kumar, , Ford Foundation Professor at MIT, US Abhijit Banerjee, Canadian entrepreneur; philanthropist and philosopher Aditya Jha, Indian Civil Servant Ajit Seth, PM of Libya Ali Zeidan, Indian Civil Servant Amitabh Rajan, Foreign Secretary of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, senior Congress leader Ashok Tanwar, former PM of Nepal Baburam Bhattarai, senior NCP leader DP Tripathi, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, deputy governor of RBI Harun Rashid Khan, Lalit Mansingh, Muzaffar Alam, George V. Bobrinsky, Nirmala Sitaraman, P. Sainath, Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury, Umesh Upadhyay, Yogendra Yadav, and Udit Raj. There are many such prominent JNU alumni working in various walks of life across the globe.

Among the university’s illustrious past and present faculty are Abhijit Sen, Amitabh Mattoo, BS Chimni, Baburam Bhattarai, Bipan Chandra, HS Shivaprakash, Jayati Ghosh, KN Panikkar, Kanti Bajpai, Lalit Mansingh, Madhavan K. Palat, Muchkund Dubey, Naman Ahuja, Romila Thapar, Sarvepalli Gopal, and Satish Chandra.

However, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in Delhi with a historic landslide victory, it was obvious for them to dismantle the Leftist symbols, replacing them with their own. The new government started glorifying Netaji Subhashchandra Bose, Madan Mohan Malviya, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, and Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar with a renewed vigour. The Planning Commission was replaced with Niti Ayog. Major national schemes are also named after their heroes. In this process, it was difficult for JNU to remain untouched.

The present row should be seen in this context. The right-wing government wants to root out any Left-wing symbol of prominence so that their ideology makes deep inroads into national institutions.

In this age of globalization and liberlisation, education, particularly higher education is becoming expensive, at least for youths from the middle and lower-middle classes. The JNU gives them opportunity to educate and rise in life. After studying in the university, many students from such socio-economic background have become civil servants, scientists, researchers and professors. The university with its peaceful and intellectual campus politics grooms future politicians as is evident from the names in the list given above.

The syllabus and teaching methods of the university are flexible and give students a good scope to study their topics from various angles. Hence, it attracts talent from every nook and corner of India.

ABVP candidates affter the JNUSU elections Resulton Sunday. Express photo by Amit Mehra . 13 September 2015 — Source: Indian Express

A day in the life of a JNU student starts with lectures, interactions, presentations. Then a lot of time is spent in the library searching for references. Experts from various fields keep on visiting the campus. There are lectures, cultural programmes, and debates in the evening. All this is carried out peacefully while certain decency and decorum is maintained. Opinions of opponents are respected and dissent is tolerated. The student union elections are an annual spectacle, in which students wings of all major parties dominated by SFI, AISF, NSUI, and AISA among others, take active part. The ABVP, the students’ union representing the BJP, didn’t have presence on the campus for a long time. However, it has now got a foothold, reflecting the national political scenario. It is trying to consolidate its position by raking up issues. The latest among these is playing out and has grabbed attention at the national and international levels. The Congress and the Left have also indulged in politics of suppression when in power. So, it is really difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.

It is early to predict whether the right-wing politicians will be able to get hold over the prestigious institution. However, going by the current course of events, one could say that it is a major development, which will have far-reaching effects over students’ politics in the JNU and in India.

In the meantime, chew over this quote of Jawaharlal Nehru, which is posted on the university’s website: “A University stands for humanism. For tolerance, for reason, for the adventure of ideas and for the search of truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race towards ever higher objectives. If the Universities discharge their duties adequately, then it is well with the Nation and the People.”

Voyaging into the blue – Scuba diving at Kavaratti

By

Shristi Rai

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February 25, 2016

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Kavaratti Beach. Pic: Sankara Subramania

Ever wondered what the world would be like without a sound? Like watching a silent movie, perhaps? Not even the sound of the wind or a rustle. Now imagine yourself in the movie, and water around you. That my friend is the experience of scuba diving!

The Indian coastline has a proud length of 7,500 km, majority of which is uninhabited except the metros and the ports. Of this, 1,400 km belongs to the Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which thankfully have not been exploited yet to such an extent commercially. The major source of livelihood in the cluster of islands is fishing in Lakshdweep and tourism in the Andamans. A few years ago, I came across an opening for a certified scuba diving course to be conducted at Kavaratti, the capital of Lakshadweep.

Scuba-diving-at-Kavaratti — Image – Thejas

Dizzy with ecstasy, I went for the basic swimming and medical test which I cleared. To check your ear pressure, they create underwater conditions in a chamber and give your body a real life experience of adjusting to the pressure below sea level. Passing that, the routine for the next 15 days comprised rigorous work out and stamina building, starting from running at 6 am, followed by jogging, PT exercises, stretching, push -ups and then swimming in the pool. They taught us to stay suspended on the surface using only our legs to float to make us stronger. They asked us to jump off the 5m board to get rid of our fears. They introduced us to all the gear we were to use including snorkels, fins, scuba masks, cylinders, ropes.

Scuba-diving-at-lakshadweep — Image – Thejas

After training with the equipment, we would have theory sessions on how to make dive tables, physics of water forces, coral and wildlife study, evolution of diving etc. By the end of this training, we were all quite trained, aware and tanned, ready for our adventure.

We also had the good fortune of travelling to Kavaratti on a ship as a part of the Navy family welfare society. The ship experience is a tale in itself, but it would be incorrect to not mention the beautiful dolphins and aqua blue water we saw gushing from the propellers deep in the middle of the ocean. After many hours of being surrounded by only water, we came face to face with a tiny strip of carrot shaped land covered with coconut trees from north to south and a light house at one end.

While looking at that place, I wondered why Bollywood films like Kaho Na Pyaar Hai or Dhoom2 weren’t shot here? The sand as white as it gets, the ocean floor visible from the surface even 20 m deep, the virgin beach, and the glistening sun was breathtaking.

We hopped on to a barge to take us to the small and only jetty in Kavaratti, and soon enough we were fascinated by the huge fish, prawns, sharks they had caught to be sold at Kochi and the local market. We then checked into our PWD guesthouses, spic and span, amidst a banana orchid and reported back to our base camp.

We were introduced to the senior instructors of LacaDives, the diving company, who would be giving us our international diving licenses on successful completion of the course. They explained to us our schedule for the next 10 days, the actual diving routine and the theory lecture plan. We were then asked to change into swim gear and were finally allowed to explore the long awaited Lakshadweep waters. If you have ever been to beach anywhere else in India, apart from these islands, you would know how it is hardly ever clean. On the contrary, these beaches were nothing short of the picturesque Maldives, Seychelles or any other photograph you would have seen on a postcard. We kayaked, canoed and swam the first day, taking it all in, until dusk and waited for our chance with deep sea diving.

The next few days, we would all embark on a small boat and venture into the ocean where the depth would be about 20 m and anchor ourselves. We would spend the entire day sunbathing and taking turns to dive with the instructor. We had trained so much in the pool that there wasn’t a hint of fear in any of us.

The first time I jumped into the ocean with my scuba gear, I felt reborn. Underwater, there is pin drop silence. The splashing, gurgling, bubbling sounds are only on the surface. When a foot artist trains himself to use his feet due to lack of his upper limbs, it is no coincidence, it is science at work, enhancing your other senses to make up for loses. The exact theory works underwater, when the hearing and speaking is cut off.

Things to do in Lakshadweep — Source: travel.india.com

The scene ahead of you is a plethora of colours with fish and coral of all sizes and shapes passing you by. If you go to touch them, they will run away and what you thought was stationary will come to life. You feel weightless, suspended in time, wishing the time to stand still, enjoying the sand under your feet as you look up to see the sun enter the surface of the water to give life to the entire ecosystem existing here. Few steps away is a submerged valley. You simply marvel at the wonder of science and the beauty of nature, enjoy a few moments of pure solitude in another world.

We did our underwater drill for ten days, loving every moment of it. Studied and understood the importance of the coral and the dangers to them by our rapid industrialization, collected shells only to put them back on to the beach. Finally, we passed our tests and with a heavy heart got on board to go back home, carrying with us memories for a lifetime!

Ashwin Sanghi – India’s Dan Brown?

By

Pooja Wanpal

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February 22, 2016

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Author: Pooja Wanpal

From high-adrenaline chases to scientific jargons, The Krishna Key has it all. Ravi Saini, a historian, embarks on an epic quest after he is framed for the murder of his best friend and the theft of a precious artefact. His journey takes him across India – from the famed Taj Mahal in Agra to Dwarka in the Gulf of Cambay, the submerged city of Lord Krishna. If not for the generous peppering of references to the Mahabharata and other Indian mythological texts, it could almost be a Dan Brown novel. Is it any wonder that Ashwin Sanghi’s novels, which have the same fast-paced action sequences and copious references to history as Dan Brown’s, have topped the charts of Indian bestsellers?

A businessman by day and writer by night, Ashwin Sanghi has reached the pinnacle of fame through sheer determination and hard work. Born in 1969 in Mumbai, the youngest of the three children, Sanghi had a quiet childhood. His family had business interests in various fields like automobile dealerships, plant and equipment engineering and real estate. From a very early age, he started showing interest in the family business and by the time he was 16, he had started putting in long hours into it. After graduating in Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Sanghi studied at the prestigious Yale School of Management.

In the family of number crunchers, Sanghi fell in love with words. His maternal grandfather would send him a book every week, on the condition that he write him a letter telling him what he thought of the book. This tradition continued for more than a decade. When Cosmopolitan magazine approached him for a column on the relationship between men and women, Sanghi discovered that he loved writing for pleasure. However, it was the trip to the Rozabal Shrine in Kashmir that truly awakened the dormant writer in him. Believed to be the shrine of a Muslim saint, a popular urban legend claims that it is the tomb of Jesus Christ.

A trip to Goa precipitated the nascent desire, and with his wife’s encouragement, Sanghi began to pen his first work. It was summarily rejected by many publishers but Sanghi persevered. He self-published his first book titled, The Rozabal Line under a pseudonym, Shawn Haigins, an anagram of his own name. He promoted it aggressively, capitalising on social media and spreading the word amongst his friends and acquaintances. Copious research had gone into this novel, and interspersed within the narrative were a lot of historical facts and anecdotes. The book which had first received a tepid response soon became popular by simple word-of-mouth. It was later picked up by Westland and went on to become a bestseller in India.

Readers, who had fallen in love with Dan Brown’s novels, now had an Indian version to look forward to. Thus, Sanghi’s book became a hit. Since then, he has been touted as the Indian Dan Brown. While he accepts the comparison as a compliment, readers have not always been disposed favourably towards him. Sanghi’s novels have been disparaged as poor imitations of the original Dan Brown books. Stilted storyline, an overload of information, characters without much depth, and a preachy style have been the main criticisms levelled against Sanghi.

Sanghi, however, has not allowed the negative reviews to deter him. The Rozabal Line was soon followed by Chanakya’s Chant, a brilliant novel which contains a historical narrative woven into a modern day one. It traces the rise of Chanakya in both the time periods and makes a broad commentary on life and society. Chanakya’s Chant has been appreciated by most readers and has reigned on the bestseller lists.

His third novel, The Krishna Key, was published in 2012 by Westland. It examines the possibility of Krishna being a historical figure, rather than the mythological entity that he is considered to be. The Krishna Key successfully manages to combine a thrilling narrative with historical facts, elevating it and setting it apart from the books that flood the market these days. Sanghi’s books have set the bar high for historical fiction. His prodigious talent, his penchant for detailed research and his lucid language make him a star on the rise in the world of Indian fiction.

The next book by Sanghi will be in collaboration with the giant of the crime fiction world, James Patterson. It will be set in India, within Patterson’s ‘Private series.’ This book promises to be a benchmark as Patterson’s trademark prose and Sanghi’s penchant for history will definitely make it an amazing read. Here is to hoping that it hits the bookshelves soon!

Images – AshwinSanghi