Indholdsfortegnelse for April 24, 2017 i India Today

Every year, india today chronicles the high and mighty of this country. These are men and women who influence our lives in ways beyond the most immediate. There are corporate titans who are embracing technology and transforming how we communicate with each other, how we educate our children, how we share resources. There are bankers who are overseeing integration and acquisitions while also welcoming digital innovations. There are technology czars who are changing the definition of ownership of assets, freeing up mindspace to make us acquire less, and perhaps create more. There are cultural icons who impact the brands we buy, the stories we imbibe and the causes we gravitate towards. And there are private citizens, public intellectuals, who are determining the national discourse so essential for the success of…

It was meant to be a rare bit of good news amid increasingly stormy relations: the Indian and Chinese navies, working closely together, had rescued a hijacked Tuvaluan merchant ship near the Gulf of Aden, showing that both neighbours could, at least on the high seas, temporarily forget their long (and growing) list of differences. Responding to a distress call early on April 9, the Indian Navy said the INS Mumbai, INS Tarkash, INS Trishul and INS Aditya, on deployment to the Mediterranean, immediately came to the aid of the hijacked vessel. Working with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel Yulin, a navy Chetak helicopter carried out a reconnaissance of the vessel, before the green light was given for the 18 Chinese personnel to board. The Indian Navy, on…

Eight civilians, including a 15-yearold schoolboy, killed in police firing; at least 300, including a hundred security personnel injured—but perhaps the most ominous signal from the still-to-be-concluded April 9 Lok Sabha byelection in Srinagar is the abysmal 7.1 per cent voter turnout. It’s the lowest since the beginning of the turmoil in Kashmir in 1989, when Mohammad Shafi Bhat of the National Conference took Srinagar without contest, but the alienation of the people across the Valley was writ in the five per cent turnout in neighbouring Anantnag and Baramulla. Apprehensions of even greater violence and a more embarrassing rejection of the poll process forced the Election Commission of India to defer the other J&K byelection slated for April 12 in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency in volatile South Kashmir. Ever…

MUKESH AMBANI Chairman & MD, Reliance Industries RATAN TATA Former chairman, Tata Group K.M. BIRLA Chairman, Aditya Birla Group GAUTAM ADANI Chairman, Adani Group BABA RAMDEV Yoga guru ANAND MAHINDRA Chairman & MD, Mahindra Group UDAY KOTAK Vice-chairman & MD, Kotak Mahindra Bank THE HIGHEST JUMP VIRAT KOHLI from 29 in 2016 to 11 this year THE STEEPEST FALL CYRUS MISTRY from 3rd rank in 2016, he goes out of the list DILIP SHANGHVI Founder & MD, Sun Pharmaceuticals AZIM PREMJI Chairman, Wipro N. CHANDRASEKARAN Chairman, Tata Sons VIRAT KOHLI Captain, Indian cricket team NANDAN NILEKANI Former chairman, UIDAI AMIT AGARWAL Vice-president & Country Manager, Amazon India SUNIL MITTAL Chairman & Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises AMITABH BACHCHAN Actor SHIV NADAR Chairman, HCL RAHUL BHATIA Group MD, Interglobe Enterprises VIJAY SHEKHAR…

For the first volume of a planned five-volume series titled Rethinking Conservation, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture chronicles its efforts to restore Humayun’s tomb and the surrounding Nizamuddin area. While the high standards of the restoration work and the innovations of the Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative have generated a steady flow of headlines since the project began in 2007, this informative and well-illustrated book provides a comprehensive road map of the programme. Released in February this year, it also explains the rationale behind the trust’s urban approach to conservation—which includes health and education programmes for area residents. With India’s rich heritage everywhere under threat—and rarely supported by world-class curation—the book provides a much-needed barometer for other organisations. Sadly, the text does not rise above the standards of an NGO’s…

Film merchandise has been big business for decades. BollyWoo, an e-commerce start-up that sells wardrobe replicas, has taken it to a new level—working with large production houses to sell the outfits, accessories and even the locations featured in their films. For the company’s latest gig, six designers developed ready-to-wear apparel inspired by the costumes used in Baahubali—just in time for the launch of the epic franchise’s second instalment, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion later this month. “I wanted to keep it adventurous. In a way it speaks of my own trekking journeys,” says Delhi-based Mrinalini Gupta, who developed a line of jackets and loose pants with a rustic twist inspired by a scene in which Baahubali scales a mountain. Showcased at a fashion show in Mumbai on April 7, the designers…

ART OF MIX AND MATCH “It’s spring and there is a wonderful vibrancy in nature. Take inspiration from this when doing up your interiors. Colourful digital prints on cotton and poly blends, a bright palette and cheerful designs work well. These are economically priced and have a global appeal. Foliage, stripes and geometrics can be paired together to create an amazing look,” says Ramachandra Shastry, Director, Rumors Fine Furnishings. PRICE `1,500 onwards AT www.rumorsindia.in THE POWER OF FLOWERS There are two parallel trends here; the use of big floral designs and small delicate patterns. “Large floral patterns complement the vibrancy that spring brings. Designs inspired by the vivaciousness of nature create a feeling of freshness making your room look brighter and more spacious. The interplay of fabric and colours adds…

Founder, Tulips, Pune www.tulipsindia.com A POTPOURRI OF COLOURS AND MOTIFS A lively collection comprising the Dala horse appliquéd cushion, Origami art influenced cushion, triangular pillow, striped cushion, and envelope appliquéd cushion lie strewn on a soft bed. A lollipop embroidered blind is flanked by curtains whose borders are brightened using colour pencils on one side and triangular tassels on the other. This colour-filled bedroom setting is perfect for your tween TRADITIONAL TEXTILE ART WITH A TWIST Needle and thread pull off a daring pastiche of brush and paint on a 10 feet by 10 feet white canvas to explore the iconic architecture of Delhi. Sitting in front of it is an indigo cotton velvet couch with cushions reflecting the artisan’s passion and skill, with embroidery techniques like zardozi and aari.…

36,359 CRORE Crop loans UP government has written off in 2017 55,600 CRORE Crop loans in UP in 2015, up from 31,900 crore in 2013 38.8 MILLION People, or 59% of UP’s workforce, employed in agriculture, says 2011 census 22.2% Share of UP’s GSDP generated by agriculture, down from 29.7% a decade ago 8.6 MILLION Farmers expected to benefit from debt relief, out of UP’s 23 million farmers 85% Of UP farmers have marginal or small landholdings of below 2 hectares (less than 5 acres) 42% Increase in farmer suicides across the country in 2014 and 2015 80% Of these suicides in 2015 were due to bank debts, according to NCRB data…

@ShougatDasgupta Don’t Block Social Media The recent violence in Bhadrak, Odisha, was communal, but appeared mostly directed at property rather than people. Dozens of shops were burned down and a curfew was ordered as the Centre rushed paramilitary forces to the town. Reports suggest the trouble started when Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists demanded the arrest of three Muslims who were accused of making insulting remarks about Ram and Sita on a Facebook thread. All social media platforms were blocked for 48 hours. It is a common response to unrest, as Kashmiris know all too well. But if social media can be a means of fomenting unrest, it is also a means of countering false narratives and communicating emergency information. Are virtual curfews ever necessary? Or are they…

These are not definitions you will find in the dictionary. Power is possibility. The possibility that allows a petrochemical giant like Reliance to bet big on technology that will control the way we communicate with each other and entertain ourselves Power is the courage to take risks. The risk that allows another head of a conglomerate like the Aditya Birla Group to acquire a mobile giant and hunker down for a battle for the hearts and minds of the New Indian. Power is in big ideas. The idea of Aadhaar, of skill development, of transparency in public life that has made private citizens such as Nandan Nilekani, Manish Sabharwal and Vinod Rai such an integral part of public policy. Power is in telling a good story. The story that makes…

The limits of power are defined by the individuals who wield it. The 10 politicians in our list, recognised as the most powerful in the country, certainly derive their authority from the positions they hold—but that is not the sole source of their power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for example, has mastered silence and secrecy, craftily combining it with an element of surprise to add an aura to his constitutional authority. From the surgical strike to demonetisation, disruption is the new language of power. And as he constructs his vision of New India, his two major force multipliers—BJP president Amit Shah and RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat—have been redefining India’s electoral politics and seeking to re-engineer its social discourse. At the same time, Modi’s core agenda of development is served by…

Ratish Nanda grew up, like so many others, on stories of the Persian influence on Mughal architecture. Then, about a decade ago, the conservation architect got the chance to visit Iran. “I travelled around for a month, looking for structures that influenced Humayun’s tomb, the first grand example of Mughal architecture. I found nothing,” says Nanda, whose work led UNESCO to dramatically expand the area of Nizamuddin classified as a World Heritage Site in November. The grand scale, the site plan, the material used, the four-dome layout—it was all unprecedented, he says. There are some influences from Central Asia and Iran, but there’s evidence of Mughal influence on Iran, too: “Not too many places other than India have deposits of red sandstone and marble in the same region. What we…

When Rajshri Deshpande auditioned for the role of a maid in Angry Indian Goddesses (2015), her resume had barely four lines worth of work experience. But it was enough to convince filmmaker Pan Nalin. That role changed her life. Deshpande will next be seen in Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s Sexy Durga, the Malayalam film which recently won a prize at the Rotterdam Film Festival. It follows a frightful night in the life of a young couple after they hitch a ride. Filming was anything but easy. “It was hectic, shooting 12-14 hours a day. Every day I had to go through the harassment,” says Deshpande. “You know it’s just a film but you end up feeling it. I would return home and cry every single night.” Born in Aurangabad, Deshpande is…

Q: You recently met the great Nadia Comaneci. Tell us about it. A: My body was shaking. I thought I was dreaming, sitting next to her and giving an interview. It was a wonderful experience. There won’t be another like her. Q: Who is your favourite male gymnast? And who is your favourite sportsperson? A: Kenzo Shirai. He has introduced so many new elements at such a young age. His moves are clean. When he fumbled on the floor exercise at Rio, I felt really bad he didn’t win a medal. I don’t follow other sports much. By far the best is Usain Bolt. To win backto- back Olympic medals and be that consistent is just amazing. Q: One thing you can’t do without while training? A: My coach, Bisweshwar…

Founder and Principal Designer, Earthly Creations, Delhi earthly-creations.weebly.com If there is sunshine on your shoulder, scent of fresh flowers in the air and it’s green as far as the eye can see, a spring gardener knows it’s time to get busy. In India this season starts around March, when the sun starts warming up, days become longer and nights shorter. Old leaves fall and new sprouts make everything green and fresh. So, if you want to make the most of it, this is what you need to do Proper care should be taken of late winter annuals, which may still be in bloom. Pick off the faded flowers to extend their display. Those past their prime should be removed and a few kept aside for seed-making. • Complete sowing of…

Peek of Laughter April 29 World renowned funny man Nitin Mirani is back with the best of the best of his comedy called Lets Talk About them—a show about everyone. This act gives you the front row seat to his life, where he takes you on a hilarious 60-minute ride around the globe. So buckle down and meet the people he has met, listen to the conversations he has had, experience every awkward, embarrassing, bizarre experience he has encountered. TIME 9.30 p.m. TICKETS Rs 500 AT Canvas Laugh Club at The People Co, Gurgaon; DETAILS eventshigh.com Want to tell us about an event? A new store? A restaurant? People doing interesting things? Anything newsworthy? Please email us at: simplydelhi@intoday.com…

Get Grubbed April 22 and 23 Get ready for an unforgettable food experience with great music and good vibes.The Grub Fest makes its way into the the city for the first time and apart from trying out interesting cuisines and indulging your sweet tooth in mouth-watering desserts, you get to take home some unique gourmet products. At Leisure Valley, Sector-10, Chandigarh Tickets From Rs 250 Want to tell us about an event? A new store? A restaurant? People doing interesting things? Anything newsworthy? Please email us at: simplypunjabi@intoday.com…

He enters quietly and takes a table at the café. This is our maiden meeting. A hello is mumbled. Coffees are ordered. He never finishes his. After a comfortable silence straight out of a Beckettian play, in the perfect setting of a small café lit up by balmy yellow light, this 47-year-old director, son of a police constable from a Mullanpur Dakha, a small village in Punjab, admits that things changed drastically after he won the National Award for his film Nabar in 2014. “And it’s not just about how people started looking at me but also the expectations. The latter shot up drastically, it was almost scary,” he remembers. Not that all career decisions he made after the award were great. After all, there was the very forgettable film…

He says he is constantly looking for greys. Roles that that are not linear and provide enough space for exploring spaces between black and white. “That’s what drives me. Straight line can be so boring,” says 30-year-old Dheeraj Kumar from Fazilka in Punjab who has been part of several Punjabi films like Tarn Mann’s Rupinder Gandhi The Gangster and Qissa Panjab. Currently shooting for Rocky Mental, a Punjabi film on sports, directed by debutant Parmish Verma, Kumar’s career trajectory has not really been simple. He wanted to be a cricketer but took up music after his father exhorted him to. “After graduating with an MA in Music from Panjab University in Chandigarh in 2009, I thought theatre music is my true calling. I was fascinated with the stage. I tried…

The Chinese authorities made their displeasure over the Dalai Lama’s visit to Tawang, in Arunachal Pradesh, clear to India, only to receive a terse response from the state’s chief minister, Pema Khandu. “China has no business telling us what to do,” said Khandu, who at 38 is India’s youngest CM and whose constituency is Tawang. Speaking to Kaushik Deka, Khandu reiterates that Arunachal Pradesh is and must remain a part of India. Q. What do you mean when you say India shares a boundary with Tibet and not China? A. Traditionally, we always had a border with Tibet. China came into the picture only after it forcefully occupied Tibet. I was referring to our traditional border. Q. But what is your view on the current status? A. This is a subject for…

Vile Talk BJP MLA T. Raja Singh, who represents Goshamahal in the Telangana assembly, has kicked up a storm by saying that ‘traitors’ opposing a Ram temple in Ayodhya will be beheaded. His April 5 remark went viral, but an unrepentant Singh repeated it four days later. Muslim leaders are demanding Singh be booked for the hate speech and the police officers, who were at the venue where he made the comment, be taken to task. In Modi’s Footsteps Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched ‘Mee Mukhyamantri Boltoy’ (This is me, the CM, speaking), on the lines of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ on radio. The first episode was telecast on AIR’s Asmita channel on April 9. The brains behind the initiative is state information secretary Brijesh Singh…

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) takes pains not to be misunderstood. If the hunger for clarity makes it clumsy, that is the reader’s problem; the RBI could not be bothered less. One of its conspicuously awkward inventions is wholesale and long-term finance banks. This is not entirely the RBI’s fault; it is a difficult—to be frank, confused—concept that it is trying to put across. It has been dithering for at least a decade on licensing new private banks. Meanwhile, the bad debts—euphemistically called nonperforming assets—of old, mainly government banks, have skyrocketed. The finance minister admitted them to be Rs 6 lakh crore in the middle of 2016. Rating agencies and other observers think they are twice to five times as much—somewhere between a fifth and a half of every…

Campaigning for the Ater assembly bypolls on April 9, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made some scathing references to the Scindia rulers’ purported collusion with the British in committing atrocities on the people of Bhind in 1857. It was ostensibly to target Jyotiraditya Scindia, who’s exp ected to be the Congress’s face in the 2018 assembly polls. But it’s stirred more than the usual summer storm within the Bharatiya Janata Party. Now Chouhan must have been aware that there are more Scindia royals within the BJP than in the Congress. On cue, Yashodhara Raje, the youngest daughter of the late Vijayaraje Scindia and a minister in the Chouhan cabinet, retorted that the BJP in MP had been built with her mother’s “hard work and financial support”. To press her point,…

1 MR BIG BUSINESS MUKESH AMBANI 59 Industrialist Because with the audacious capture of 12 per cent of India’s mobile telephony market in less than six months through Reliance Jio, the owner of India’s largest private sector company and the 24th richest man in the world, with a net worth of $29.7 billion (Rs 1.93 lakh crore), has started another revolution, this time in telecommunications Because with revenues of $44.7 billion (nearly Rs 3 lakh crore) in 2015-16 and a net profit of Rs 27, 630 crore, its highest ever, the Reliance Industries behemoth encompasses the world’s largest petroleum refinery processing capacity, retail chain Reliance Fresh, with 3,300 stores, and the world’s largest integrated production facility of polyester fibre Because he pumped in huge investments into his various businesses in…

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government completes three years in office in May, so also does a highly centralised style of functioning that he brought in. Bureaucrats are vetted, handpicked and appointed by a few key aides whose redeeming quality has been to stay in the shadows and quietly implement his decisions. The contours of this bureaucracy- run system were revealed in 2014, but this arrangement is now the new normal. Information flow is strictly regulated and served on a need-to-know basis. The number of government officials kept in the loop on Modi’s November 2016 demonetisation move, for instance, could easily be counted on the fingers of one hand. And predictably, they were all bureaucrats. Is this system the brainchild of the first Indian prime minister to vault into Delhi…

With the closure of Regal cinema in Connaught Place, Delhi lost another of its original singlescreen movie theatres. Post-Independence, Delhi grew outwards from the core zones of Lutyens’ Delhi, the walled city of Shahjahanbad and the Paharganj, Sadar Bazaar and Karol Bagh areas, which are still dotted with the oldest single-screen movie halls of the city. Of those that still exist, some have shut shop and lie in various states of disrepair, while others are still active, mostly attracting audiences from their immediate neighbourhoods. Golcha, Daryaganj Daryaganj is home to Golcha cinema. Like Hauz Qazi Chowk and Chandni Chowk, Daryaganj is a busy commercial area, which is probably why this movie hall continues to find enough of an audience to sustain itself Sheila, Paharganj South of Sadar Bazaar is Paharganj,…

For the past two years, Indian theatre has been getting a much-needed financial boost with Aadyam’s theatre series. Audiences know they are in for an experience as soon as they reach the venue—from being welcomed with a performance of jal tarang and dholak (Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon) to enjoying chorizo pao and coconut water (Loretta) in the food court. Now in its third season, Aadyam aims for a balancing act with work that highlights how theatre can be small and wondrous too. Of the seven new plays, two are part of the new ‘Black Box’ format—staged at G5A, a smaller venue, with the walls painted black—Hoshruba Repertory’s Guards at the Taj and Aasakta’s Gajab Kahani. However, as artistic director Divya Bhatia says, “The intent is not small. The quality of…

ENTERTAINMENT GONDOLA RIDE AT THE GRAND VENICE MALL While you’re saving up for your Europe tour and dreaming of that gondola ride in Venice, you can take a little break and drive down to Greater Noida. The newly-opened Grand Venice Mall has created a Venice-like experience right in the middle of the mall, replete with uniformed gondoliers singing and rowing their wooden boats across the canals within the mall. “When I went to Venice, I realised that the experience of a gondola ride was non-existent in India. I wanted Indians who are unable to travel to Europe to get that experience right here. Hence the idea of gondola rides came up,” says Queeny Bhasin, CEO The Grand Venice. The Grand Venice also boasts of Terrazzo, the largest food court of…