Indholdsfortegnelse for November 28, 2016 i India Today

In poll-bound Punjab, the raging political discourse that since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections had centred on the rampant availabi lity and abuse of narcotics and the growing public perception of an intensely corrupt leadership, is suddenly changing course—focusing on the highly contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal. On the afternoon of November 11, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Anil R. Dave declared as “unconstitutional” a law passed by the erstwhile Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government to stall the completion of the canal. The Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004, sought to do this by abrogating the December 1981 inter-state agreement with Haryana and Rajasthan on the apportioning of waters available in the Ravi-Beas river system. The ruling, coming 11 years after the apex…

Speaking at Japan’s oldest university, Keio, in 1916, Rabindranath Tagore said the “whole of eastern Asia, from Burma to Japan, was united with India in the closest ties that can exist between nations”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recently concluded visit to Japan is to be seen in this historical context and in the wake of a series of prime ministerial visits which, since 2005, have become an annual feature. The close economic cooperation between the two countries, especially the strategic and military dimension, dates to the historic visit of then Japanese PM Yoshiro Mori to India in August 2000, at the invitation of his counterpart here, A.B. Vajpayee. A ‘Global partnership for India and Japan for the 21st century’ was announced. Joint naval and coast guard exercises and annual…

A lmost a century ago, Rabindranath Tagore wrote Tota Kahani, the story of a free-spirited parrot who would do nothing but hop, skip, fly and sing all day. A king ordered that the bird be ‘civilised’, and so it was put in a golden cage. So much instruction was forced down its throat that it soon forgot to sing, and then, couldn’t even squawk. When it tried to fly, its wings were clipped. Soon the parrot died, with not a sound except for the rustle of books in its stomach. The same story is painted on the walls of Shikshantar in Udaipur, which calls itself a people’s institute for rethinking education and development. In the mural, trapped in its gilded cage, this parrot, too, forgets how to sing. But unlike…

1 Mr Forgetful Bill Clinton is said to have lost his 'biscuit'—the card that has the codes if America wants to launch a nuclear attack. For several months, the 42nd president of the United States could not remember where he had kept it 2 Great gambler The 29th president Warren Harding’s cabinet came to be known as the ‘poker cabinet’, thanks to his twicea-week card games with members, in which he once lost an expensive set of White House china 3 Cowboy diner Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president, would often have TV dinners in the White House, while watching Westerns. His wife Mamie, who appeared in TV commercials as her husband ran for president, enjoyed watching TV soaps 4 Drug junkie The 35th president John F. Kennedy had an…

Other that the fact that Russia is the largest country in the world, it is most known for its vodka, traditional borscht and Matryoshka dolls. However, what many don't know (or realise) is that it is also home to spectacular architecture and interior design, both traditional and contemporary. A great example of modern meets traditional style can be found 40 km away from the centre of Moscow, towards Kiev, in a beautiful hilly region between pine forests, with wonderfully clean air and small ponds. Hidden here is a gem, a 500 sq m villa. "Our clients chose the spot with care, it's a place where you can get yourself back together after the noise and bustle of Moscow," says Oleg Klodt CEO and founder of Oleg Klodt Architecture & Design…

Did you know that we spend more than one-third of our life sleeping? So, the bed and more importantly the mattress plays a crucial role in getting a good night’s sleep. Selecting a mattress depends on your individual preferences, body type and sleep style. In just one night, the average person changes positions an average of nine times. So, the mattress has a big role to play. The most expensive doesn't necessarily mean its better. Instead of focusing on price, think about what you want in a mattress. Selecting a mattress is very personal as some prefer a firmer mattress and others a softer style. Experts suggest that anyone with back or neck pain should take Goldilocks’ approach to mattress buying: not too hard, and not too soft. If you're…

After Maharashtrian and Parsi food, VM Hospitality has ventured into yet another cuisine, but this time it is one that not just Chennai but the country is unfamiliar with. Abyssinian, an exclusive but cosy Ethiopian restaurant has opened its doors in the city and it isn’t just the coffee that is going to leave you charmed. The restaurant has just four tables strewn with artefacts imported from Ethiopia—leather lamps, low stools, coffee ceremony tables and a lot more. The chef, a native Ethiopian is giving the local staff the last few instructions before she returns to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia’s capital). The locals, we are told, dine on a single plate that is traditionally lined with inja, a type of bread. Though unlike an a la carte experience, the menu does…

LAUNCH/STERNHAGEN 1 SHOWER IN STYLE Bathrooms are fast moving out of the private corners of the home and becoming designer spaces meant to be shown off. From smart fittings and technology to aesthetic designs, new-age bathrooms are like mini spa rooms, right in your own house. So when Sternhagen, a German bathroom brand, launched in Ahmedabad, it brought along a daily suite experience that combines technology and aesthetics with the right dose of functionality. At the 6,000 sq feet flagship showroom in Ahmedabad, the focus is entirely on the Artistic Bathroom Suites concept. “We want to create bathroom suites with such unique visual, artistic and emotional appeal, that when someone with an eye for superior design sees it, they know that it could only be a Sternhagen,” says Chirag Parekh,…

FABRIC ARCHITECTURES Capes and jackets can transform a simple attire. Go for a beautiful neckline and accessorise less around the garment. Bring in hair adornments for effect. Indigo Dabu printed Chanderi jacket and dress `4,990 White crinkled tie-up waist cotton mul palazzos `2,190 Red thread silver necklace `9,950 Tribal silver drop earrings `1,900 Lapis Lazuli silver cuff `9,190 Red leather flats with tila work `1,350 STRUCTURAL QUIRK Minimal and playful is the flavour of the season. Easy does it. Use neckpieces for a hair-do and stand out. Indigo white pleated natural dye handloom cotton kurta `4,990 Classic silver earrings `2,990 Blue and red cotton neckpiece `1,790 Pearl silver ring `1,790 THE ART OF LAYERING Blend textures with layering to create contemporary out of classic. Keep it edgy with statement accessories.…

In 1729, when Maharaja Jai Singh II was building the main palace in Jaipur, he was made to build the Rajmahal Palace 10 km away on the whims of one his queens, Chandra Kanwar Ranawat. She, it is said, wouldn’t agree to living near the main palace. Close to three centuries later, the Rs 5,000 crore property has become a source of dispute once again, now between two former queens of Rajasthan— Padmini Devi of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. The battle lines were drawn on August 24, when then Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) commissioner Shikhar Aggarwal led some 600 personnel, mostly policemen, on a dawn swoop of the palace, encircling the land around its main entrance, sealing the gate and pulling down a…

Cherry blossoms, sushi, bullet trains, anime, what’s not to love about Japan? At least that’s what one can gauge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unabashed love for the country. His admiration, of course, extends much beyond his fondness for the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. It goes on to all that Japan has come to represent—efficiency, state capitalism, heavy spending on infrastructure, high work ethic and, most importantly, kaizen (continuous improvement). To a great degree, this inspiration from Japan is reflected in his economic thinking—his efforts have been to bring to India the best that the country has to offer—high quality in manufacturing and infrastructure building. The recently concluded visit to Japan makes it the sixth meeting between two leaders who get along famously. As an observer pointed out, “The…

TECH TITANS Who are the wealthiest people in tech right now? Here’s the estimated worth of the top five $78 BILLION Bill Gates Tech advisor at Microsoft $66.2 BILLION Jeff Bezos CEO of Amazon.com $54 BILLION Mark Zuckerberg Chairman & CEO of Facebook $51.7 BILLION Larry Ellison Executive chairman & CTO of Oracle $39 BILLION Larry Page CEO of Alphabet Inc viral video web wow 2K SELFIE Peanuts in one 500 rupee note, namkeen in another, a third showing a 500 rupee note toilet roll... internet humour turned dark as Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of 1,000 and 500 rupee notes. But the eternal optimists turned the crisis into an opportunity, posting selfies with the new 2,000 rupee note. net tribute Mourning after For some it was a double whammy:…

FURNITURE FURNISHINGS ACCESSORIES CROCKERY…

Often people complain that an aparment is too restricted to stretch the limits of their imagination, to add equal doses of theatrics and glamour. They could not be more wrong. In fact this is when, as designers we have to be at our creative best. To use the space optimally without compromising on the aesthetics. A good example is this four bedroom apartment in Hyderabad. The basic concept was to keep it contemporary with Art Deco elements, which were characterised by rich colours, bold geometry, and decadent detail work. The signature aesthetic still evokes glamour, luxury and order with symmetrical designs in exuberant shapes. You will notice that the prominent colours are black, chrome, silver, yellow and red. Although the use of beige, cream, off whites, oysters and shades of…

The Great Western Building at Lion’s Gate in Mumbai, a magnificent palatial structure built in 1715, holds the distinction of being put to the most high-profile uses, from being the residence of the Governor of Bombay to serving as the Great Western Hotel. Today, it houses Ensemble, India’s first haute couture store that opened in 1987, aptly justifying the building’s legacy, history and architecture. FROM THE BEGINNING Ensemble that launched the fashion revolution in the country, was the brainchild of designer Tarun Tahiliani, his wife Sailaja and the late Rohit Khosla is now spearheaded by Tina Tahiliani Parikh, the Executive Director. This year Parikh decided to revamp the 10,000 sq ft store. “To match the opulence of the designers that Ensemble exhibits, we needed to expand further and not be…

Cabaret chronicles November 20 For all the Bollywood fans in town, here’s a show that brings the three talented playback singer sisters together on stage. Catch Akriti, Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar live as they perform some hit numbers from films such as Dil Dhadakne Do, 2 States, Khamoshiyaan and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya. At Music Academy, TTK Road Tickets bookmyshow.com Timing 7.30 p.m. Want to tell us about an event? A new store? A restaurant? People doing interesting things? Anything newsworthy? Please email us at: simplychennai@intoday.com…

Meals on Wheels December 3 to 4 From grated ice-creams to the season’s favourite sarson ka saag freshly made for you, get a taste of the Ahmedabad’s delicious street fare as popular food trucks come together at the the city’s first ever Ahmedabad Food Truck Fest 2016. At The Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad Details 9998027772 Want to tell us about an event? A new store? A restaurant? People doing interesting things? Anything newsworthy? Please email us at: simplygujarati@intoday.com…

Q Are women wired to lead?  Women in leadership roles are making headlines everyday. In fact, companies led by women are doing better than and the reason for that, I think, is that women are better at mutlitasking and decision-making. They think of every aspect before making a call and that helps the organisation grow and perform better. Women are also have refined language skills which makes them good communicators, a quality which is a must for a good leader. Bani Khurana, Ahmedabad  Women are biologically wired to nurture, and to care. This puts them at an advantage in leadership roles because they are completely invested in their work, in the company, and in the project handled by them. It is their ability to nurture something from its…

Associated with a woman’s femininity, breasts enhance her essence as a woman and her sense of nurturing as a mother. This explains why the statistics for Indian women being diagnosed with early stages of breast cancer are dismal in comparison with the number who are finally detected with later stages of the disease. Breast cancer usually starts off in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk. A malignant tumour can spread to other parts of the body and cause further damage. Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. The genes are in each cell’s nucleus, which acts as the “control room” of each cell. Normally, the…

On November 13, a cargo ship carrying 60 containers left the dusty port of Gwadar in Balochistan, on the Arabian Sea, for the Gulf of Aden. This was no ordinary trade. Flagging off the vessel was Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. A Chinese and Pakistani singing a duet bade the ship farewell, while an overthetop propaganda video hailed the departure as a new dawn for the world. The 60 containers had left Kashgar in China’s western Xinjiang reg ion on October 29, loaded on 125 trucks before making the perilous journey on the Karakoram Highway. The convoy crossed the Khunjerab Pass into Pakistanoccupied Kashmir, before travelling to Quetta. This marked the firstever shipment through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key route of China’s new Silk Road plan. The…

Dr M.V. Soundararajan is the high priest of the Balaji temple at Chilkur, 25 km away on the road to Vikarabad, west of Hyderabad. Now, unlike other temples, this one has some unusual ground rules—devotees are not allowed to give cash as thanksgiving for wishes granted. “All that you have to do is 11 pradakshinas (circumambulations) around the shrine for fulfillment of a wish...and 108 times once it is granted,” he emphasises. “The temple, in this way, seeks to inculcate a deeper devotion in believers so that they no longer think only of themselves but also of others. It will hopefully transform a devotee from a selfish to a selfless person.” The Chilkur Balaji temple is a 14th century shrine, quite popular with the US visa-seeker crowd (indeed the deity…

What makes a design timeless? Good interior design that incorporates individual style has always relied on pieces from different cultures and periods. It’s all about getting the perfect balance of tradition and modernity. I grew up around antiques, my dad had a little antiques shop in Manchester. When I left school I spent that first summer helping him out, and about three months later I was hooked. These old beauties, their secrets and stories fascinated me. But it was more than that, I was amazed at the quality of the stuff, the exquisite handcraftsmanship and attention to detail—right down to the locks and handles. I became obsessed with these pieces that the British had made over the last 300 years, and it’s stuck with me ever since. My passion for…

Spread across five floors with over 50 high-end fashion and lifestyle brands, The Gallery on MG, located in the heart of south Delhi is also a one-stop destination for all your home needs. Unlike other malls, you won’t find large crowds here, rather the discerning customer for whom money is not an issue. So, here’s our pick of five stores you must browse through next time you visit the mall. 1 French Connection Last month French luxury brand Roche Bobois opened its flagship store on the ground floor of the mall, displaying its Les Contemporains and Nouveaux Classiques collections. Our personal favourite was the Bubble and the Mah Jong Modular sofas. 2 Old World Charm Head over to Ayaan, a luxury concept store, which showcases the beauty and workmanship of…

AAMIR & HAMEEDA 2nd Floor Valley View Apts, Road 3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad Tel 040-66784993 AMBIKA HINDUJA MACKER ambi@impeccableimagination.com BOCONCEPT Shop No 1 & 2, Plot No 253/254, Sultanpur, MG Road, New Delhi Tel 011- 41663554 ENSEMBLE Great Western Building, 130/132 Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai Tel 022- 40564800 FENDI CASA Ace Maison, Ambawatta-1, H-5/1, Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi Tel 0-9999966702 GREGGIO ARGENTO Studio fifty4, Ground Floor, Jiji House, DS Marg, Opposite Sterling Cinema, Fort, Mumbai Tel 022-22073351 GOOD EARTH No 4 Walton Road, Off Lavelle Road, Bangalore Tel 080-40920986 HERMES G-1 & First Floor, Bharat Insurance Building, 15A, Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai Tel 022-22717400 IVY CONCEPTS A-13, FIEE, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, Near C Lal Chowk, New Delhi Tel 011-41095111 MATHIEU LUSTRERIE www.mathieulustrerie.com LLADRO lladroinfo@spalifestyle.in OLEG…

SARTORIAL CHOICES LAGAN When shopping for a wedding, one can find endless options for women and hardly any for men. That is something Rajiv Shah, 40, discovered when preparing for his own wedding in 2002. With one foot in the menswear industry as a second generation owner of King’s Corner, one of the oldest men’s stores in the city, he decided to start a boutique catering to men’s ceremonial wear of all kinds. Lagan is a three-storey store that offers styling and custom-made garments that are designed and produced in-house. There are sherwanis, Indo-western wear, suits, bandhgalas, tuxedos, shoes, shirts, kurta-pyjamas, trousers, veshtis, juttis and more to cover a groom’s wedding needs. Lagan also offers bespoke tailoring services. “We work with pure fabrics only and ask the clients about the…

Capturing Memories AVIRAL MEDIRATTA Every other couple wants to look like RanbirKapoor and DeepikaPadukone in the dreamy wedding sequence from YehJawaniHaiDeewani; others want to play the new-age royalty against the backdrop of the Laxmi Vilas Palace. “Scenes from films starring RanbirKapoor are very popular,” says wedding photographer AviralMediratta, 30. For him, it’s all about capturing and documenting special memories in the most picture-perfect way through coffee table books, stop motion films and wedding apps. “Weddings have evolved from being just rituals to an event where people have a lot of fun. We capture and document this fun, the expressions and emotions. Bollywood scenes are a popular demand that people want us to replicate,” he says. An alumnus of Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University, Ahmedabad and founder of Studio…

What are skin drainers and how can I prevent them from affecting me? AYUSHI KHANEJA, MUMBAI In today’s fast paced world, skin drainers are all around us. It can be external factors such as exposure to harsh sun rays, dust and pollution, extreme dryness and humidity, and lifestyle factors like stress, unbalanced diet, lack of sleep or their combined effect, and the result can be dull skin with uneven tone and pigmentation. Of all the skin drainers, sunlight, ultraviolet rays (UV), pollution and stress can have the worst effect. It is important to have a skincare regime in place and avoid these drainers whenever possible. What all should I include in my diet to have good skin? ALINA SAYEED, BANGALORE Staying hydrated at all times is essential for a glowing…