Indholdsfortegnelse for October 24, 2016 i India Today

The 1960s were a complicated time for India’s foreign policy, particularly in relation to its northern neighbours. It was a decade in which we fought a war along our western frontier with Pakistan and along our Himalayan frontier with China, leading to the two of them forging a close association, soon cemented by the construction of the Karakoram Highway. An enemy’s enemy, after all, is a friend. The friendship grew to a point where both China and Pakistan have described their alliance as “higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the oceans, and sweeter than honey”. Beyond such torrid rhetoric, the relationship held immense strategic value for both countries, with China offering Pakistan missiles and aircraft, and illicitly helping its nuclear programme. For several years, though, the partnership was largely military.…

China’s Port of Call So vital is the port to Chinese interests that the prospects of a simmering insurgency in Balochistan—over 3,000 people have been killed in violence since 2004—have not deterred it. The Pakistan army has also reportedly assured China that it would protect its personnel working on the project. Pakistani officials say both countries plan to establish a huge naval base in the port that is 460 km west of its sole naval base, Karachi. This request was first made by former defence minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar during prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s 2011 Beijing visit. Pakistan has now reportedly told China that it wants China’s navy to maintain a regular presence in the Arabian Sea. Pakistan’s military could use Gwadar as an alternative to Karachi to prevent…

A Historical Atlas of Tibet by Karl E. Ryavec University of Chicago Press Pages 216 Price Rs 2,582 A historical atlas of Tibet has been long in coming. This is in essence because there is a collective, global amnesia about the civilisation, the culture and politicosocio-economic history of the region, apart from occasional nostalgic eruptions of the Shangri-La sort which fictionalise and romanticise rather than educate and inform (the preservation of Tibetan tradition and cultural and religious beliefs and practices among the Tibetan community in exile in India is a notable exception). Therefore, the publication of A Historical Atlas of Tibet by Karl E. Ryavec (University of Chicago Press, 2015) comes as a much-needed and welcome work of scholarship that should benefit and enlighten committed scholars and Tibet aficionados alike.…

ENJOY THE OUTDOORS Researchers from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences say that physical exercise in open air increases calorie burn and reduces stress, more than just gymming DON’T SKIP FAMILY MEALS Dine hygge-style: sitdown family dinners every day of the week. Having a good work-life balance is key to protecting yourself from stress and productivity TAKE A COFFEE BREAK Take a break, sit back and enjoy a hot drink like the Nordic, who drink the most coffee per person in the world and are the least stressed EAT WHAT YOU LIKE Enjoy food that makes you happy now and then, without feeling guilty. That’s hygge. Despite this, the Scandinavians are among the least obese people THE SKINNY ON OBESITY Obesity is caused by both genetic and behavioural factors. Characterised…

Flower Power Alankaara If you are still hunting for the perfect Diwali gift, Alankaara is the place to head to. Amrita Giriraj, 24, a Srishti School of Design graduate has mastered a unique art, that of capturing flowers in bubbles of fiber glass. The result is exquisite platters, glasses, jewellery and more with pressed wild flowers that retain their colour through the process. It was during the destructive floods in the city that Giriraj looked for ways to preserve the debris from her garden and chanced upon this art form. She began capturing dried flowers and twigs in smaller objects until she received an order for platters. She took it up and they now form a large part of her festive offerings. Some of the other Diwali specials of…

MOST POPULAR INTERACTIVES How Rich Countries Fail Refugees The refugee crisis is made worse by the fact that those in a position to help don’t seem to want to http://bit.ly/2dNJTmY When Apple Loved Google Once upon a time, Apple and Google worked well together. Now, they’re eating from the same plate http://bit.ly/2dSQzPR 10 Rakshasas India Needs to Slay Ram vanquishing Ravan wasn’t the end of all evil. There’s still a great deal that needs to be done http://bit.ly/2dYOXmL MOST SHARED ON FACEBOOK Coming soon in India: Trains with glass top coaches! 880 Two days after surgical strikes, govt slashed disability pensions for jawans 804 “Her curse was not poverty but extreme religiosity of her family” 701 MOST LIKED ON FACEBOOK Kajol proud of hubby Ajay Devgn’s decision to not work…

DAMAGE CONTROL Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is in firefighting mode. He has re-allotted to Ustad Amjad Ali Khan the land his tourism department had cancelled. Next, he overturned an appointment by close aide and sports minister E.P. Jayarajan, who made his nephew, P.K. Sudheer Nambiar, MD of the state-run Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd (KSIEL). An angry CM apparently gave Jayarajan a dressing down at the PWD guesthouse in Kannur, his home district. AIR OBJECTIONS South Block is abuzz with talk of the impending transfer of Joint Secretary (Air) Rajeev Verma. He apparently str uck a discordant note over the price calculations for the 7.8 billion Euro Rafale deal. He was away for a week on study leave when the deal was signed. Earlier, he had objected to calculations…

IN THIS MEDIA-DOMINATED age where hype and hysteria prevail, views of Pakistanis and Indians about each other and their respective worlds continue to collide. The propensity to assume the worst about each other and to wholly succumb to hypernationalistic furies is a tragic flaw. In great measure, this stems from a psyche of fear and insecurity, which is evident in vociferous sentimentality. India’s thought, conduct and policies often lack originality and a sense of ground reality. They often seem a bland imitation of the West, based on theories of geopolitics of a bygone age. Contrast this with the Chinese. A nation and a civilisation that has through thousands of years maintained its poise and confidence and an unwavering belief and faith in its glorious future. China’s civilisa tional renaissance, its…

Daaahling, you are and will always remain the original diva! Mwuaah! Make no mistake: La Godrej had one of the sharpest brains in contemporary times. And smart people recognised that about India’s most glamorous diva within five minutes of meeting her. Astute, shrewd and on the ball, Parmeshwar didn’t waste a precious minute on nobodies. She once told me tiredly, “Who wants to spend time with these bores?” Those ‘bores’ happened to be captains of industry, her husband Adi’s contemporaries. Who indeed? I agreed with her entirely. During the last couple of years, ever since she was diagnosed with a lung ailment, she had become a bit of a recluse. She rarely stepped out, mainly because it had become too much of an effort to do so. Long evenings drained…

India's Long Road: The Search for Prosperity by Vijay Joshi Penguin Books Limited Pages 432 Price Rs 437 Vijay Joshi begins by asking whether India can achieve a per capita GDP of $28,000 at 2011 PPP dollars, by 2040. That is about the level in Greece today, i.e., in the lower rung of high-income countries. This is another way of asking whether our GDP can grow at about 8 per cent per year for two-and-a-half decades. We grew faster than that in the six years before 2008, and government spokespersons often suggest that we will soon get back to 8 per cent and then go higher. However, Joshi warns that this will not be easy. The international environment will be less supportive than it was pre-2008, and in any case,…

 The markets have already started buzzing as a fresh range of home decor and festive furnishings take over. While not all of these can be squeezed in our homes, it helps to take a look at all options available before deciding on what works best for your space this festival season. 1 COLOUR POP ALL THE WAY The year 2016 is all about bright and vibrant shades, with cushions leading the pack and defining the trend. Glam up the couch in festive colours of tyrian purple, magenta, phthalo blue, dark blue, indigo, crimson, maroon, venetian red, orange red, and sienna, using cushions in varied shapes. Add a gotta patti, zari jacquard, sequin or metallic lace to the edges for a festive touch. Team these with vivid tube pillows, bolsters and…

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STOREREVIEW / SHANTANU AND NIKHIL Style Files The men who dress Bollywood’s most fashionable stars are here in Ahmedabad with a brand new store. Earlier this month, Ahmedabad got its very first Shantanu and Nikhil store. The Delhibased designers bring their characteristic style—smart silhouettes, elegant cuts and fine detailing that make their collection much sought-after. While this year’s summer collection brought back the essence of the Nehruvian era through sharp silhouettes, the designer duo made a debut in Ahmedabad with their collection inspired by the Mutiny of 1919, easily recalled as the period that saw the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Sharp Style The collection features double breasted Jodhpuri jackets, wide pants and shaded angular draped kurtas that pair with churidars to create a chic look. The military touch reflects in the…

“The verdict of the upcoming UP assembly elections is likely to favour the resurgent elephant. The cycle is mangled, the lotus is faded and there are no other credible players in the equation.” VALLANADU R. NAMASIVAYAM, Nagpur A Likely Legend R. Ashwin is the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 wickets not just by virtue of his bowling skill but because he thinks on his feet and is a good strategiser (Turning It on). He seems to be the all-rounder India has been looking for since Kapil Dev’s exit from the game, especially in the Test format. Spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi’s praise marks out his incredible talent. Given how much he has achieved at such a young age, it is likely that by the time he hangs up his…

India renews its Swachh Bharat Abhiyan vows each year at the cusp of frugality and hyper-consumption. When we discuss cleaning the country’s trash on October 2, Gandhi’s birth anniversary, we are only days away from Dussehra, Diwali and Chhat, the overconsumptive festive season. It’s a telling occasion, but no one is telling anyone else the obvious—stop thinking merely about how to handle waste—start producing less of it. We know—and see all around us—how waste is alre ady one of the biggest Indian urban crises. Local bodies are struggling to remove waste and handle it elsewhere, except, there isn’t an elsewhere. Every place is someone’s home. The undertaking is expensive. Even the country’s richest municipality, the New Delhi Municipal Council, or NDMC, struggles to foot its approximately Rs 2 crore monthly…

Even as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa battles health worries in an intensive care facility at Chennai’s Apollo Hospital, she spawns uncertainty about the future of her AIADMK, and a churn in the state’s politics. That’s because the party itself, to gender-proof the cliche, is a ‘one-woman show’, the energy and charisma all coming from herself. Her only major rival in the state is the DMK, headed by the wheelchair-bound nonagenarian M. Karunanidhi. The irony is it was Karunanidhi’s demand that the government release images of the CM (she’s been hospitalised since September 22) and a statement about the state of her health that fuelled the recent spate of courtesy calls by leaders of rival parties. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Union urban affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, and even…

OCEAN’S DUO Come October and the world can tune in to the ‘dream pop’ of Kolkata-based duo Nischay Parekh and Jivraj Singh, with the release of their first album Ocean. The band, called Parekh & Singh (formerly Zap) went international this year when they signed up with UK indie label Peacefrog Records. Sonakshi Sinha is off to London to start shooting for Noor. The Akira actor plays a journalist in the upcoming film, based on Saba Imtiaz’s novel Karachi! You’re Killing Me. The film also stars funny man Kanan Gill, Purab Kohli and Shibani Dandekar. But before this, Sonakshi stars with John Abraham in Force 2, releasing in November. ENTER STAGE Rehaan Engineer, who played the lead role in the 2001 indie Everybody Says I’m Fine!, brings Caryl Churchill’s play…

DOUBLE THE FUN Now you can wash two loads of clothes simultaneously with Haier's new DUO-Gemini dual drum washing machine. It can hold up to 4 kg in the upper drum, whereas the lower drum can accommodate laundry up to 8 kg. It comes equipped with a touch LED screen controlled through a digital panel, six water inlets, 30 customisable programming options, antibacterial function and Wi-Fi connectivity with smart phones and tablets. PRICE ₹1,69,990 AT www.haier.com/in TURN THE HEAT ON Weber's Q 3200 Gas Grill is designed for adventurous barbecue lover. The shape of lid and body allows for proper circulations of heat and with a porcelain-enamel and cast-iron, it has good heat conduction and heat retention. PRICE ₹39,995 AT www.weberindia.com TRUE BREW Bonhomia’s Brewski is an intelligent capsule coffee…

Weekend Getaway MADHUBAN RESORT AND SPA Instead of trawling the malls for a present this Diwali, shop for a leisurely holiday instead. Gift a getaway, especially when you know that your loved ones could do with some downtime after all the hectic festivities. While there are several resorts at a short drive from the city, we suggest the Madhuban Resort and Spa, especially if a relaxed spa retreat is what’s on your mind. Spread over 25 acre of lush lawns, Madhuban is a popular venue for destination weddings, so pick a time when there are no wedding parties on if you want to soak in the tranquil surroundings here. Lush lawns, gazebos under fruit trees and water bodies make it a picture-perfect holiday spot. There’s a choice in the accommodation…

Festive Fiesta October 21 to 23 Stock up on your Diwali shopping this weekend as the YMCA grounds host the Diwali Haat, a fiesta in which various designers and stores will showcase their latest collections in fashion wear, accessories, home décor products, antiques, paintings and other collectibles. At YMCA club, Ahmedabad.  RANN UTSAV Cultural Storm November 1 to February 2016 As the winters arrive, the Rann of Kutch comes alive for the annual Rann Utsav, a cultural extravaganza that celebrates the natural beauty of the Rann of Kutch. Enjoy folk performances, local delicacies and desert walks. The nearest airport is in Bhuj. From there Rann of Kutch is about 85 km. Adventure Time October 21 Enjoy the thrill of an outdoor adventure camp at Mount Abu. Stay in tents in…