Need Speed Breakers in Life?

December 4, 2013

Imagine a girl in her early twenties, or just imagine yourself in your early twenties. Do you recall living in your head? Speaking and debating with yourself before either giving up or making a proud decision? It’s the time when you can’t seem to stop planning your life out; all those advices from everyone around seem so outdated and unnecessary!

The protagonist in this ‘hard-to-put-down’ book is just that. “SPEED Breakers” is set in the city that defines India – Delhi. Being a typical Delhiite, Tamanna is supremely confident that she has her life figured out. Tucked away in her huge mansion, Tamanna is a smart ‘dilli-ki-kudi’ living with her big joint family. The book begins with Tamanna and her kid sister Natasha bickering and talking about boys late into the night. As with any patriarchal family, Tamanna’s family isn’t very fond of girls talking to boys; her dad loves to flaunt his daughters to the world, but only in his own way. Love marriages are a taboo and 23 is the right age for a girl to get married.

However, all this doesn’t matter to Tamanna. She knows she is going to be married soon, surely to a rich guy that her family can find. She also knows that she isn’t the prettiest one around, right from acne to weight issues, she was battling it all. And yet she is the life of the family, a master storyteller and a super duper nautanki (drama-queen), this girl knows how to get her way with everyone. However, there is this one thing that plagues her. That one thing that is forever looming over head since she was kid, the one statement that she heard so often in the house that she didn’t even know what lies beyond those words. In fact you’ve heard these words a million times in your childhood too and yet, they send shivers down your spine every single time.

Girls need to have some fun | Courtesy: Photochiel

Life was chugging along as usual for Tamanna – dramatic stories, annoying little sister and those rigorous workouts; and then almost out of nowhere something unthinkable happened. In a flash, Tamanna finds herself obsessing about this guy, a handsome chatterbox who lives in the UK. Friendly banter and an unexplainable attraction have both of them longing for each other every day. Stuck in her traditional society, Tamanna knows that ‘love marriage’ is an unknown concept in her family. Can her decisions overcome years of belief and strict traditions? Will she stand up to her family or will she meekly surrender just like all her sisters did? Will the family realize that with the children being educated and getting familiar with a modern culture, its best to let them take their own decisions?

Simple English and an exciting narration hook you to this book. Tamanna’s affable character is very easy to identify with and you can easily imagine her home and her life with all its absurdities. This book makes no pretense; it’s a simple story that you would want to read. Apart from Tamanna and Ankit, there are several more characters that seem so alive: the cool friendly Chachu, the gossiping aunts and of course the crazy best friend. If you love chick flicks, then SPEED Breakers is certainly a book that you should get your hands on. After all who doesn’t love a good rom-com?

SPEED Breakers has been co-authored by Devangini M Chauhan and Akanksha Madan. By launching this book, our in-house author, infopreneur and army wife, Devangini has entered the adventurous world of book publishing! She has self-published this book through her own publishing house ‘And All’. Despite being novice writer, she has managed to achieve a lot of firsts with her very first book. The semi-biographical story of Speed Breakers comes from Akanksha Madan, a psychotherapist and tarot card reader. Click here to read more about the book –

http://amzn.to/1dAlf54

Await Comet Ison’s Sky Spectacle!

Levine Lawrence

November 28, 2013

Comet Ison on November 21 | Courtesy: EarthSky.org

General elections are just a few months away; Iran signs nuclear deal to end sanctions; Cyclone Helen passes through with minimal damage; Typhoon Haiyan wrecks havoc in the Philippines… While we are more bothered about such earthly events, there is something spectacular happening in the skies. A heavenly object’s visit to the sun could become the most spectacular event of the year. Comet Ison is about to undertake its closest approach to the sun during this weekend.

Many comets have the orbited the sun in the past few decades – Halley’s Comet in 1986, Comet Hale Bopp in 1997. So what’s the big deal this time I wondered! I do remember that during Hale Bopp’s visit in 1997, I had been to the planetarium in Bangalore where the Association of Bangalore Amateur Astronomers (ABAA) had organised a comet viewing session. In those days when the internet was virtually non-existent, such activities were the only way to understand the bigger events happening in the universe!

An asteroid passing by is a common occurrence, but a comet’s visit is a rare event. Scientists have counted 4,894 known comets till July 2013, but this number is steadily increasing every year. It is surprising to know that nearly 80% of the visible tail of a comet is all water vapour and dust. Due to their low mass, comet nuclei do not become spherical under their own gravity and therefore have irregular shapes.

Is Comet Ison different from other comets?

Images of C/2012 S1 display a greenish tint due to cyanogen and diatomic carbon | NASA

ABAA’s President Jayanth Basavarajaiah clarified in this manner – “To begin with, Comet Ison is not a typical elliptical periodic comet that orbits the sun regularly. It is a hyperbolic sungrazing comet that means it would go too close to the sun and the solar tidal forces could tear it apart during its perihelion (passage around the sun). The sheer size of the comet of around 4-5 kilometres in diameter has allowed it to survive a lot longer than most other comets that travel so close to the Sun’s surface. Additionally, since the comet may be making its very first pass by the Sun in its lifetime, it is believed that the material ejected in the tail of the comet will be primordial material dating back to the formation of our Solar System!”

Further, Jayanth stated that due to the debris and material ejected from the comet as it melts near the Sun, scientists are able to get measurable information about the Sun’s magnetic fields, its solar wind, and other interesting information that otherwise would be rarely possible. Since Earth will pass near the comet’s orbit on 14–15 January 2014, tiny dust particles blown by the Sun’s radiation may cause a meteor shower.

Formally designated as “C/2012 S1”, the comet was named “ISON” after the organization that discovered it in September 2012, the Russia-based “International Scientific Optical Network”. Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok discovered it using the 0.4-meter (16 in) reflector of the ISON located near Kislovodsk, Russia. The initial report given to the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams identified the object as an asteroid, but follow-up observations by independent teams reported its cometary features. Therefore, as per the International Astronomical Union’s comet-naming guidelines, the comet was named after the team that discovered it, rather than the individual discoverers.

Best time to watch

Amazing flash animation created by Khagol Vishwa — Amazing flash animation by Khagol Vishwa

Typically, whenever astronomers report about a celestial event like this, there is media hype about an event of a lifetime. So I asked Jayanth if there is a possibility that Comet Ison will become a great comet as bright as moon. Jayanth stated that from 14 November 2013, Comet Ison became visible to the naked eye for experienced observers located at dark sites. However, due to the full moon and glow of twilight, the comet has not become bright enough to be seen without an optical aid. After it reaches perihelion on 28 November, Comet Ison may become extremely bright if it remains intact.

Predicting the brightness of a comet is difficult, especially one that will pass so close to the Sun and be affected by the forward scattering of light. Originally, media sources predicted it might become brighter than the full moon, but based on recent observations, it is only expected to reach around −3 to −5 apparent magnitude, which is about the same brightness as Venus. If Comet Ison survives its sungrazing passage, then it promises to be a dazzling heavenly display with a long bright tail.

Comet Ison is now heading for its close encounter with the sun and its visibility in the morning sky is low, since the twilight haze obscures it. On its return path (if at all the comet survives) the comet will be again visible to the naked eye in the eastern sky from December 3rd until early January 2014 on both the hemispheres of Earth. Hopefully, Cyclones Helen and Lehar will dissipate by then and the sky will be clear for this spectacle!

In Bangalore, Association of Bangalore Amateur Astronomers will be organising a comet gazing session, while Khagol Vishwa – the Organization of Amateur Astronomers is organising one in Pune. Don’t miss this lifetime event!

Factfile –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet

The Scent of a Horse!

Mamta Naidu

November 26, 2013

I strived for many years to attain transcendental consciousness through meditation but in vain. However, ever since I started riding horses, transcendental consciousness came to me naturally. And then I wondered how I lived all these years without these beautiful beasts in my life!

Every time I rode a horse ‘feel good hormones’ obediently kicked in, as if their lives depended on it. After every ride I went through feelings that ranged from “I want to do something heroic” to “God is in his heaven and all’s right with the world”. Magical happiness takes over my entire existence. In my opinion, the scent of a horse is better than the best perfume. Sometimes it provides oxygen to a needy soul.

While riding a horse you are too busy observing your horse’s body language and communicating to the horse through your own body language. Therefore, you do not have time or space in your mind to process other thoughts. That state of thoughtlessness is what most people try to achieve through meditation. In addition, there is physical exertion. Every riding session feels like a spa session, except that it’s sweaty.

Now, my favorite language is ‘Horse’. It’s very interesting and you don’t have to worry about correct usage of grammar. For example, the position of a horse’s ears indicates his mood.

Pricked ears: he’s curious;
Pinned back ears: he’s angry;
Ears back but not pinned: he’s listening to you;
Ears forward: listening to something else.

They also talk with the other parts of their body… Swishing tail: sign of agitation or warning the other horses to keep their distance. Flattened tail: fear.
They communicate through sounds too…

Sigh followed by a shudder: relaxed or bored
Nickering: seeking attention or they recognize you
Groaning: pain or just a plain habit
Snorting: excitement. It is as simple as that.

Most of us consider horses as dangerous animals and horse riding as a dangerous sport. You’ll be surprised to know that horses are flight animals and not fight animals. This means, they choose to flee at the first opportunity than to fight. However, like any other sport, accidents happen while riding a horse too.

Horses are more like children: innocent, mischievous, and sometimes temperamental and want to be free to do what they want to do. Of course, they are powerful and elegant at the same time. Just by watching their beautiful gait, shiny, swaying mane and tail, your heart will be filled with joy. All you have to do is to look into their large brown glassy eyes and you will be transformed to their world. Besides, horses have the largest eyes among the land mammals and there is absolutely no way you can ignore them. Horses can sleep both standing as well as lying down. They sleep better when they are in a group as some horses stand guard, while the others are sleeping. Horses are herd bound and when isolated they would rather to live with a human than in solitude.

In the world of horses, it’s always about horses. I find it very fascinating when someone says, “Did you ride Starlite before? She’s jumping today;” “Zamindar was fabulous in today’s shows;” “Kalina as always did a great job.” I would be forced to ask who was riding these horses; otherwise there is absolutely no mention of the person in the discussion. It is absolutely thrilling to know that it is not human but another animal that is being treated as a superior creature and without the animal demanding it.

Horses and humans have been working together since time immemorial. Horses have been used in wars, as porters by gypsies, in agriculture to till fields, for entertainment in shows and races, for meat consumption, and in the medical field to make anti-venom. Evidently, horses are viewed as status symbols.

One day in Bangalore, I was riding a horse named Donald – an old one with a “been there done that” attitude. When I was trying to hug him, I saw some white flakes on his crest, closer to the mane. Worried, I asked my instructor, if Donald had some problem. My instructor casually shrugged and said he has hair so he will have dandruff too, just like us. Horses have graying hair, thinning hair, dandruff and other hair-related problems!

Horses are not much different from us humans. Some horses are fearful and some are bold. Some have strong work ethics and some are utterly lazy. Some are competitive in nature and some couldn’t care less about winning. Some are truly amiable and some are outright hostile. So understanding a horse’s nature is much like understanding a human being’s nature.

Horses can be great teachers of tolerance, obedience, hard work, and friendship among other things. Horse riding to me has been very therapeutic and my life would have been incomplete without these magnificent, mystical, life-altering creatures. Surprisingly, I found that therapeutic riding or “Hippotherapy” is used to treat mentally and physically disabled persons to help them improve balance and coordination, increase self-confidence, and get a greater feeling of freedom!

Factfile –
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.wikihow.com
http://www.equineline.com

Revolution 2020 or Desperation 2020?

Pooja Wanpal

November 21, 2013

Chetan Bhagat has to be one of the most controversial literary figures in India right now. His books have attracted both bouquets and brickbats, and there is nothing more people love than venerating him, and vilifying him in turn. I am also in two minds about Bhagat. His books generally have the emotional maturity of a preteen, but they hold up a mirror, albeit rather inelegantly, to the face of today’s society. The characters in Bhagat’s books are familiar, and hence, relatable, which is what makes Chetan Bhagat popular.

A friend of mine had lent his copy of “Revolution 2020” to me. Although I don’t veer down the CB-inspired path, I picked up this book because, hey, everyone needs some lad lit now and then!

Remember the moment that comes in almost every book – the moment when you go ‘aaaah’ when you get the part where the title starts making sense? Fair warning – it does not come in this book. Alright, you stumble on the reference to the title somewhere in the novel, but for all its worth, it could have been called ‘Desperation 2020’ and it would not have mattered. The message of the book is quite grand – it tries to question the true meaning of success and sacrifice. It also tries to weave politics, corruption, the rat race of education, and love into a grand tapestry of the spiritual, chaotic backdrop of Varanasi, the holiest place in India. However, the book fails miserably.

Revolution 2020 narrates the tale of three friends – Gopal, Aarti, and Raghav, who predictably form a love triangle. The language of the novel is similar to a Bollywood potboiler, with awkward hindi phrases and stilted english sentences. Text messages and online chats make up a major part of the prose, leading to severe disenchantment on my part.

It is neither the language nor the treatment of the subject that ensures the downfall of this novel. The biggest drawback of ‘Revolution 2020’ is the characters. None of them are likeable. They fail to display a certain depth, which is a trademark of an excellent character. Their actions are befuddling, their motives even more puzzling, and they end up more as cardboard caricatures than creatures of flesh and blood.

Meet vertice A – Gopal – the son of an impoverished teacher, who fails to clear the IIT-JEE, wastes a year and drains his father’s meager savings, while idling away for an year in Kota. Later, he becomes immensely wealthy despite his lack of a degree, by building a college on his plot of land with the blessings of the local goon and politician. Aphorisms about girls and men constitute a great deal of Gopal’s thoughts. While some of them are really pithy, others begin to grate on the nerves soon. The story has been narrated from his point of view. Apart from the listlessness that permeates his entire being, Gopal’s thoughts have more to deal with Aarti than anything else.

His polar opposite is Raghav, smart, good-looking and the resident genius, who gets a great score in the JEE and enrolls in Banaras Hindu University. His inclination is more towards the pen. He morphs into a fiery, passionate scribe who cares more about justice than moolah, forsaking a promising future in Infosys by taking up a job in the local newspaper. He later starts printing his own newsletter, “Revolution 2020”, after he is fired from his job, when he kicks up a storm about the legalities of Gopal’s college.

The beautiful vertice C is Aarti, a girl who dreams of escape. She has both the guys falling for her. She is earlier in a relationship with vertice B, but later becomes entangled with our hero, Gopal. She is the most puzzling of the three. Apart from her incredible beauty, her lure is mystifying, and her behaviour is baffling. She oscillates between Gopal and Raghav, till Gopal casts the final die, and ties up the future of all three characters in a single afternoon.

Despite its inability to put forth the thought across, Revolution 2020 raised some thoughts to ponder. What exactly counts as an achievement? Is education an indispensable part of being successful? Is corruption the right way to garner wealth when faced with dire penury? and will India ever be free of this malaise? But the question that plagued me the most was, “When would Chetan Bhagat finally get over his fascination of the IITs?” Really, I have been burning the midnight oil trying to find an answer to this, but the end is definitely not in sight. I think I will have to pin my hopes on Chetan Bhagat’s next book, and discover if his limerence has finally been extinguished.

To conclude, there is a remarkable similarity between the movies of Salman Khan and Chetan Bhagat’s books. Revolution 2020 topped the best selling list in 2011. It’s obvious – elitists may rage and storm, but the public has spoken!

This is a guest post by Pooja Wanpal | Picture courtesy: Rupa Publications, Goodreads Inc

Factfile –

Book review – Revolution 2020 | Chetan Bhagat | Rupa & Co. | 296 pages
Chetan Bhagat’s Books –
http://www.goodreads.com
Lad lit – http://www.britishcouncil.org
http://www.rupapublications.co.in

Talking To Your Kids – And Listening Too!

Devangini

November 13, 2013

https://caleidoscope.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Communicating-kids-02.jpg — Communicating with kids | Courtesy: Ajay Kamble & Family

Communicating with kids… Is it an urban phenomenon or the new reality of our times? To begin with, let’s ask a simple question. Why do we communicate? To be able to express… To be able to understand… And to create a platform where ideas are shared and shared ideals are shaped. That is the beauty of communication.

Well, in the present times of rapid fast communication and even ever faster processing speed, it is all the more important to keep the human touch alive. If that is not reason enough, look around you. The world seems so bereft of its very breath – almost as if it is labouring over its very existence, labouring over each footstep that it has to take towards still more advancement. Violence, terrorism and crass politics are all we seem to read about; are these the things that are going to shape our children? Do we need to live in fear?

As the mother of a three year old child, I can give you the answer to that in a heartbeat. The answer is No! The solution is to have a proper communication with our children, through which we can open their minds and give wings to hope. We need to pass on the values that have brought us thus far. It is time to switch off the TV and really listen, because communication is not just about talking; it is as much about listening.
And listen we must…

To the heartbeat of the new born, looking expectantly at the world outside…

To the flapping wings of birds in flight, fearless and graceful…
To the song of the crickets, chattering away at night blissfully…
To the sound of your children growing up…
To the sound of the old embracing the new.

For children, the essence of listening lies in being able to imbibe ground realities and the values to tackle the same. For parents and teachers, listening necessarily means being able to alter to the child’s senses, latent energies and wants.

Communicating with kids | Courtesy: Ajay Kamble & Family

The instinct of a parent comes into play during communication. This is also paramount in setting boundaries even as you teach your child to trust you completely. It is not just a matter of speaking and conveying things effectively; it is a matter of creating a basis for moderation in behaviour and giving the child more options. When I say options, I mean options in terms of what a child may perceive as right and wrong. It is important to understand here that this must necessarily come from the child’s instinct and by our prompting. Gone are those times when we were told what is right and what is wrong. The child must decide now, and the best we can do is to lay out a well-thought-out plan for communication, so that they can develop the values as well as the instincts to be able to judge or come to us when they are not able to do so themselves. The role of communication here comes into play in terms of values, career paths, marriage, and even day-to-day decisions.

According to conventional wisdom, a child needs your attention and patience the most when he or she is busy trying your patience. When you listen to a child, you are not encouraging laziness or bad behaviour; you are actually engaging the child and teaching vital communication skills in the process. Today, to be able to express your feeling, and get your ideas down is not just a matter of releasing pent-up stress; it also helps you home onto the talent you may have and the ideas that can generate a future Sachin Tendulkar or Kiran Bedi. With the help of right communication at the right time, we will be able to effectively do the following:

Introduce the child to various kinds of activities, hobbies and groups of people
Find out which activity the child takes to best
Help the child develop this particular aspect (like painting, cycling, etc.)

A hands-on parent will be able to instantly pick up on signals like sensitivity, particular character traits as well as signs of abuse (God forbid!). It is more necessary now than ever to be well tuned into such signals given the reality of a nuclear family structure where we don’t have much support. In such a structure, it is extremely rare to find any support where a sibling, cousin, aunt or grandparent may be able to pick up on something that you might have missed out on.

So this Children’s Day, let’s take up the challenge to keep talking, keep listening and keep emoting. The human touch is most vital element for all us now and we need to take care so that this chain does not break.

Turn Over a New Leaf: Upgrade to e-books

Anubhav Sharma

November 11, 2013

Shelf display in e-book readers | WinePress Publishing

Reading is a fascinating pastime. While reading a book you enter a completely different world. I must confess that I was never an avid reader since books did not attract me much. Despite being a writer, I avoided holding onto a book until I completely read it till the end. Maybe I am impatient. However, my mindset completely changed when someone introduced me to a new concept called “e-book”. Since then, I just can’t get over it! Today, there is a raging debate about the utility of traditional printed books and e-books. People are extremely divided about which is the best medium that conveys the message across effectively. I feel the e-book appeals to me due to its simplicity, which has made me an avid reader. The biggest advantage of an e-book is that one doesn’t need to be a tech-savvy person. Anyone can operate it and it can be read just like any other physical book. A variety of e-book readers (affiliate link) and tablets are available in the market with a wide range of features. To begin with, you don’t have to carry a heavy book with you and strain your fingers for holding it. Instead, carry just an e-book reader and read wherever or whenever you want. When I am reading a large novel, I often forgot which page I was on, but with an e-book reader, I don’t have to worry since it remembers the page! Second, more physical books mean more papers used for printing them, which in turn means chopping down more trees. By opting for an e-book, I am not only having a comfortable reading experience, but also helping in tree conservation.

books vs ebooks — Click on image to zoOM

A friend of mine, Pranav Shah has been an avid reader since his childhood. With the arrival of e-books, reading has become so much more convenient that he is now addicted to it. Earlier, while purchasing a book, Pranav had to ensure that the copy is original or not. Even after buying a good copy, sometimes the prints were so small in size or smudgy, that he faced difficulty in reading them. But with e-books, he is relaxed. Pranav says, “Buying books has become so easy on the web. When I used to purchase printed versions, I had to visit a few shops until I found that particular book. This was not only a wasteful exercise, but I also used to end up wasting petrol. In contrast, purchasing an e-book is simple… Just log on to a website, select a book, see the contents and purchase it on spot. I get the book instantly without any problem and that too at a reasonable price. I don’t have to wait for the book to be available in the market or posted directly to me. The easy accessibility to e-books has made it easy for avid readers like us to select them.

Using eReader on commute | The Guardian — Using eReader (affiliate link) on commute | The Guardian

Another friend of mine, Eduardo Ferrera loves e-books for their extended features. Since Eduardo travels in public transport, reading a printed book becomes troublesome sometimes. However, he finds it very easy to hold an e-book reader device in one hand, while managing his bag on another. Further, when he is travelling long distance, he carries his e-book reader. He says, “There are few passengers who sleep early while travelling long distance. When I used to carry a printed book, I used to face difficulty as the lights go off soon. But, e-book devices have a feature wherein I can read book in low light, without disturbing my fellow passengers.” Meanwhile, a rational friend of mine, Levine Lawrence has a different take on it. Levine says “I really can’t understand the logic given by some people in favour of real books. They say…

It feels so nice to touch and feel a paperback…
That amazing smell of old books is so endearing
The anticipation while opening a crisp new book
The memories of the person who gifted you the book
Real book with an actual signature of the author

E-book vs. printed books | Courtesy: CBC

Are these logical explanations for using a particular medium or just mushy feelings? he asks. Yes, I agree there is tactile pleasure of holding a real book, but let’s understand the real purpose of printing a book; it is to tell a story in the most appealing manner and convey the message to its reader. Any media can be used to tell a story… Take the classical example of mythological epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. They were passed onto the next generation through the oral tradition of storytelling and folk theatre. Then these epics were written on palm-leaf manuscripts and papyrus scrolls. Printed books came much later in the 15th Century. So in the recorded history of human civilisation right from the first clay tablets in 2000 BC till today, stories have been told without printed books!

Printed paperbacks have served their purpose during the last few centuries and now it’s time for them to fade into the pages of history. Was there any hullabaloo about the death of gramophones? Did anyone mourn the phase out of the Morse code and the telegram? The digital technology has taken over every aspect of our lives, so why will the print media be spared? While reading books is important, it is necessary to evolve with time and opt for e-books so that reading will turn into a nice experience. I am definitely an e-book reader, are you?

Factfile –
http://www.digitaltrends.com
http://blog.winepresspublishing.com
http://www.theguardian.com
http://content.time.com
http://en.wikipedia.org

Happiness is a Good Book and a Hot Cup of Coffee!

Rashmi Raj

November 7, 2013

Books & coffee | Courtesy: xRrinei Deviantart

I read recently that book café culture is taking root in India. This is wonderful news for both book lovers and coffee lovers alike. As someone who is fond of that amazing smell of old books, I feel that while it is coffee that makes it possible to get out of bed in the morning, it is books that make it worthwhile. So a book café would be a wonderful place to browse through books and meet up with fellow bookworms over a hot cup of coffee!

What can I say about books that has not been said already? Books are our best friends in the quest for knowledge and our loyal companions in the journey of life. They take us places when we are stuck in the rut and help us expand our imagination. From a sassy beach read to vast academic tomes, books can cater to any mood, any whim and fancy of the reader! Books are a must for developing one’s language and learning skills right from early childhood. Reading is an activity that helps you bond with your child, spend some quiet time by yourself, know more about a given subject, connect with like-minded people and do so much more….

I would choose reading a book over watching TV or a movie any day! When we read, the story unravels in our head – in our imagination. This is probably the reason why most of us find the book is always better than its movie adaptation. Take the case of “The Godfather”. The Hollywood movie was a classic in its own right, but even then we said “not bad, but the book was better!” Or look at the movie adaptation of John Grisham’s “The Firm”. Although Tom Cruise did justice to Mitchell McDeere, we came out thinking that the book won hands down!

I can give you an endless list beginning with Pride & Prejudice and going on to The Devil Wears Prada, Water for Elephants, Eat, Pray, Love, The Twilight Saga, The Confessions of a Shopaholic; and of course, the much acclaimed Harry Potter series! The actors do their bit, no doubt, but what I am impressed with is the thought process of the characters and their feelings that is better conveyed by a book.

Today we live in an age where digital technology has taken over every aspect of our lives. Right from daily news to dinner recipes, we are increasingly depending on it so much that even books have not been spared. Today, like everything else is ‘e’, so we have “e-books”. With a variety of e-Readers and numerous software apps available across mobile platforms to download and read ebooks, today’s younger generation doesn’t even read the real thing. Some also argue that ebooks are easier and much lighter to carry with you when you are travelling or shifting homes. Be that as it may, but print books are here to stay!

Way back in 1920s, audio books were first introduced in the UK in the form of gramophone discs to help the blind. Since then they were subsequently available in the form of audio cassettes, CDs, and in MP3 formats. These audio books caught on like fire as it was far easier to listen to a book while driving or performing some mundane activity than actually read a book. So, there was talk that audio books will take over the market, but printed books braved this onslaught and stood tall.

Later with the advent of the internet, they were threatened once again by e-books. Although the Sony Librie was the first ebook reader in 2004 using electronic paper, their popularity soared when Amazon introduced its ebook reader Kindle in 2007. These eReaders validated ebooks and people began to think once again that this was the end of the line for print books. However, printed books stand strong even today and here’s why:

You can never match the tactile pleasure of a real book with an electronic version. You can curl up on a big rocker and cosy up with a book…well even with an e-book, but then, a book will not run out of battery or ask you for an upgrade! It will also not ask you to be downloaded separately for each different platform on which you intend to read it (eReader, phone, laptop, etc); and pay for each download separately.

Books & coffee Cha Bar in Oxford Bookstores — Cha Bar in Oxford Bookstores

The real book will let you take it out on a vacation and it would be okay if you left it behind or spilled your drink on it. A real book will give you the pleasure of seeing it on your shelf once in a while, and reminding about the story, when you read it and who gave it to you. A real book will not have to be switched off during take-off and landing on an airplane! And finally, the one thing that really goes in favour of a physical book is that you can own a real book signed by its author! So, e-books, much like audio books, are more of a compliment than a substitute to real books.

There is something about the smell, the feel of books, and the anticipation when you open a new book, which keeps pulling me to the library, book cafés and book stores again and again. So, let’s bring on more such book cafés. Be it the Oxford Bookstore’s Cha Bar with its branches all over India or be it the local circulating library adorned with book shelves, just give me a good book and a cosy nook and all will be right with the world again!

Factfile –

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://tokao.com
http://www.silksoundbooks.com
http://www.goodreads.com

5 Genres Bollywood needs to try out more often

Caleidoscope

November 2, 2013

Bollywood and formulas have had a very long history. Starting with Manmohan Desai’s Amar Akbar Anthony, which brought to Bollywood the superhit theme of lost & found family that gets reunited, we have now evolved to the formula of big stars, minimal story, some gags and huge marketing budgets. It is of course admirable that Bollywood movies continue to entertain us month after month and are great business enterprises supporting people interested in art, but it’s time Bollywood tried something different. This is where we would like to help them! Presenting the 5 genres Bollywood needs to try out:

Genres based on true stories

5 Genres Bollywood needs to try — No One Killed Jessica | Courtesy: TheHindu.com

Yes. Don’t just let the Tigmanshu Dhulia’s of the world make a Paan Singh Tomar, but find those stories with a human touch. We are a nation of a billion people, surely there are some stories worth telling? If Bollywood doesn’t have any ideas, we would be glad to chip in. Take the story of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, a businesswoman at the helm of one of the biggest biotech companies in India, who gives the nation’s women something to aspire for. Or perhaps bring out the battle to get the RTI bill passed and give us the details of it. There are countless stories of brave kids and people who change the system for the better for Bollywood to still only focus on dreamy remakes of 80s movies.

Sports Genres

It is surprising that for a country that is so crazy about cricket, there is barely any mention for the sport in Bollywood. Leaving aside Lagaan and Iqbal for cricket, Chak De India for hockey and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag for athletics, there is nothing to really show our fervour for sports. How about giving Dhyan Chand, India’s legendary hockey player a tribute on celluloid? Or showing the passion felt by football fans across the country?

If Bollywood is worried that they will not make money, then surely they only have to look at Hollywood’s pantheon of successful and heartwarming sports movies to get encouragement. From Tom Cruise to Brad Pitt, every Hollywood actor wants to do a sports movie because sport is the only arena where humanity can actually identify heroes. It is this retelling of a heroic moment that makes sports movies so special and so timeless.

The North East

The North East, the neglected corner of India. It exists only when we hear of some calamity but this does not mean this region is devoid of stories and talent. Bollywood has a moral responsibility to bring out stories from this region and present them before the rest of the country. We are a nation of so many differences that often the only thing that binds us is Bollywood. If Bollywood embraces the various subcultures that make up the North East and brings to the rest of the country warm stories from these hills, it will go a long way in promoting brotherhood and cultural sensitivity.

Movies with REAL villains

We miss Gabbar Singh and Mogambo. It goes to show how iconic these villains were that decades later, we still remember them. Villains these days are just plain boring. No menace, no punchlines and waiting to fall down with the hero’s first punch. Give us a villain who inspired mothers to tell their kids, “Soja beta, varna Gabbar aa jayega.” The closest we’ve come in a while is Rishi Kapoor’s human trafficking character, Rauf Lala in Agneepath. Everyone else, from the villainous robot in Ra.One to all the villains in the sundry Rs. 100 crore grossers acted by Salman Khan have been forgettable. It is time Bollywood decides to scare the pants off the audience with a creepy villain’s smile.

Genres Bollywood Should Try — Krrish 3 | Courtesy: Indianexpress.com

Sci-fi themes

Krrish is back, but besides Hrithik Roshan’s turn in an eye mask, is there any other superhero movie on the horizon? Imagine a story where a superhero who can sing, dance, and fly, also saves us from an asteroid headed straight for Mumbai. Keep the story simple, Indianise it a bit and voila, you’ll have packed theaters for weeks! Ra.One, though a flop, was a step in the right direction. If only the focus had been on telling the superhero story rather than trying to offer as much entertainment as possible, this movie would have fared much better.

Animation for kids and adults

India has some of the best animation studios in the world who work for leading Hollywood movies, and yet we rarely see any Bollywood movies that use computer graphics. Animation gives film studios the ability to create stories that mainstream actors may not try for, but which will be loved by people across ages. Through animation, Munshi Premchand’s popular stories could be retold or Panchatantra tales can be brought to life along with a modern, entertaining twists that would give audiences the variety they have been craving for.
Neharika writes for Bollywood Celebden, a leading provider of Bollywood news and gossip. She can be found most weekends in a theater, with a tub of popcorn and eyes glued to Bollywood latest movie.

Prom Makeup Looks that are Perfect for Your Dress

Caleidoscope

November 1, 2013

Prom Makeup — Photo by Omar Tursić on Unsplash

Prom season is always an exciting time for teenage girls especially, the hunt for the perfect look. Everybody knows that prom is all about the dress, but you will need to complete the look with the right hair and makeup. This can be overwhelming if dressing up for parties is a new thing for you. Fear not though. We have come up with some inspired ideas to help you coordinate your hair, makeup and prom dress for a dashing look.

Gradient Ombre dress – Smokey eyes sparkle makeup

If you are looking for a cross between formal and official, a gradient ombre dress is a right fit for you. Ombre dresses are known for their colors that blend seamlessly to create a unique gradient effect.

These dresses go well with a combination of Smokey eyes and glitter for a sparkly finish. For your Smokey eyes, blend the colors to suit the shape of your eyes, and you will have everyone at your prom staring, mesmerized.

Floral dress – Dark berry lips

Floral dresses are undeniably pretty. If you like long prom dresses, florals will give you versatility.

Complement the light tone of the floral print of your dress with a darker shade of lipstick. The purplish-red color of the dark berry lipstick is perfect for the job. It creates a sharp, bold and dark look that contrasts perfectly with your dress. Balance your face with a lighter tone of eyeliner and mascara.

Applying dark lipstick can be somewhat tricky. Line your lips to prevent creating a mess and apply a similar tone of lip liner. Make sure that none gets to your teeth and stands in the way of your gorgeous smile.

Black dress – Red bold lip + Neutral eye makeup

Most girls prefer wearing bright and shiny princess dresses to their prom, and this is understandable since it is a night of joy and partying. This does not mean that you have to compromise your look if you are into darker shades. Stand out from the crowd with a figure-flattering black dress. You could choose a knee-length mini or a mermaid long prom dress.

To complete the look, add some shine to your look with bold red lips. Matte red lipstick creates a classic look that is both alluring and elegant. To keep your red lips in the limelight, go with neutral tones for eye makeup and apply a few coats of mascara.

Soft pastel dress – Pretty Barbie makeup

Every teenage girl wants to be a princess and prom provides the perfect opportunity to live out your fantasy. If you dream it, you can be it. If this is your vibe, a bubbly and iridescent appearance is the perfect look for you. Start by hunting for a soft pastel prom dress. Soft pastel prom dresses come in a wide selection of designs and colors all designed to bring out a fairytale princess look.

Complete your look with a Barbie makeup look. This involves contrasting sharp Smokey eyes with glossy blush lipstick. For the Smokey eye look, touch up your lower eyelid with a glimpse of shimmer and top it up with mascara and dark eyelashes.

Famous Treasure Hunts in Indian History – Part II

Levine Lawrence

October 29, 2013

Continued from “Famous treasure hunts in Indian history – Part 1

1739 AD – Diamonds of Golconda

Famous treasure hunts in Indian history - Darya ye Noor — Darya-ye Noor – a Golconda diamond | 25karats.com

Since times immemorial, India has been known for precious gems such as diamonds, which were prized for their size and beauty. India’s most prized diamonds were known as the “Golconda diamonds”, which were mined in the Hyderabad region ruled by the Qutub Shahi Dynasty.

Actually, Golkonda was the market city for diamond trade, where gems were brought from a number of mines to be sold. These diamond mines were located in Kollur (Guntur district) and Paritala (Krishna district) in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Some of the most famous Golconda gems are:

Koh-i-Noor Diamond (186 carat) – part of the British Crown Jewels, London
Darya-ye Noor (182 carat) – part of the Iranian Crown Jewels, Tehran
The Hope Diamond (46 carat) – displayed in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington
The Great Moghul Diamond (787 carat) – Lost during Nādir Shāh’s invasion of Delhi
The Pitt or Regent Diamond (410 carat) – displayed in the Louvre Museum, Paris
The Orloff Diamond (300 carat) – displayed in the Diamond Treasury, Kremlin, Moscow
Nizām Diamond (340 carat) – part of the Nizām’s Treasury, Hyderabad
Jacob Diamond (186 carat) – part of the Indian government treasury

Sadly, out of these diamonds, only two remain in India. The rest were all looted during the Iranian king Nader Shah’s invasion of Delhi in 1739 AD. After the death of Emperor Aurangzeb, the Mughal Empire was crumbling with its nobles asserting their independence and the Marathas attacking from the south. At this opportune moment, Nader Shah attacked the empire and defeated the forces led by Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal in February 1739 AD. Soon, Delhi was plundered and Nadir Shah left with the famous diamonds and the Peacock Throne or Takht-e-Taus.

1967 AD – Nizam’s Jewels

Famous treasure hunts in Indian history - Nizam's sarpench — Nizam’s sarpench

It is ironical that the fate that befell the Mughal Empire due to an invasion happened to its tributary state as well. Incidentally, this time the treasure hunt was carried out by the relatives of the king himself. Hyderabad ruled by the Nizams was the largest princely state during the British Raj before it was merged into the Indian union in 1948. Carving their kingdom in South India from the ruins of the Mughal Empire, the Nizams amassed such wealth in seven generations that the last Nizam was titled as the richest man in the world.

The last and seventh ruler of Asaf Jah dynasty, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was known for his stunning collection of jewellery. Mir Osman Ali Khan’s collection included 25,000 diamonds, turban ornaments, necklaces, earrings, armbands, bracelets, belts, cuff links, anklets, rings, pearls the size of quail eggs and the famed Jacob’s Diamond.

In 1967, Mir Osman Ali Khan died and immediately a feud over his vast property ensued among his 149 descendants. The Government of India stepped in when things went out of control. However, much of the Nizam’s jewellery collection was already looted by the time. It is stated that the aged Nizam never allowed any audit of his jewellery collection and ensured that the dust settled on his collection is not cleaned, so that the glitter never hits anyone’s eyes! The total worth of 173 jewellery pieces (a fraction acquired by Government of India) is worth Rs 5,000 crore today!

15th Century AD – Sunken Portuguese treasures

Famous treasure hunts in Indian history - Sunken treasure | National Geographic — Sunken treasure | National Geographic

The Portuguese came to India in search of spices and precious gems in early 15th Century and settled in Goa. Soon, Goa grew into a large trading centre, and a diamond-trading route was established from Goa to Lisbon, Portugal. Many ships stopped over in Goa on their way to other Portuguese colonies such as Malacca (Malaysia) and East Indies (Indonesia). Between 1497 AD and 1650 AD, there were 1,033 departures of “Portuguese India armadas” from Lisbon for the Carreira da Índia (“India Run”). Organized by the Portuguese crown, these armadas were fleets of ships that were dispatched on an annual basis from Portugal to India.

Around 66 ships of Portuguese India armadas were lost in ship wrecks during between 1497 AD and 1612 AD. One of them was the Sao Jose, which was on a King’s mission to transport royal treasure to Goa. Travelling with the fleet was Francisco da Gama, the great grandson of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, en route to Goa, to reign as the Viceroy. Attacked at sea by English and Dutch ships, the Sao Jose and da Gama’s royal treasure were lost off the Mozambique coast.

Another famous ship was the Flor do Mar, which was, at 400 tons size, the largest carrack built of its time. It was built for the Portuguese India run in 1502. Under the leadership of the great Portuguese general, Afonso de Albuquerque, the Flor do Mar supported the conquest of Goa in 1510 and Malacca in 1511. However, while returning from the conquest of Malacca, laden with a large treasure trove of around 60 tons of gold, the ship was lost off the coast of Sumatra. Although these ships have not been found, the National Institute of Oceanography has found a similar sunken Portuguese ship off the coast of Goa laden with ivory and gold.

Factfile –

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