Indholdsfortegnelse for August 13, 2018 i India Today

Prime Minister Imran Khan. This is something Pakistan, India and, indeed the world, will need to wrap their heads around. As someone who’s watched Khan over the years, from his days as the charismatic cricket captain of Pakistan, I least expected the glamour boy to transition to PM of his country, though I did find him sincere, dogged and passionate in all that he did. Be it winning the Cricket World Cup in 1992, to setting up a chain of cancer hospitals named after his mother or taking the political plunge in 1996. In his first election in 1997, his party did not win a single seat. To his credit, he did not give up. His tenacity has to be admired. He can be consistent, too. At the INDIA TODAY…

At the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Washington DC on July 30, the United States confirmed it had conferred India with the Strategic Trade Authorisation 1 (STA-1) designation, enabling access to, among other things, sensitive weapons technology. The move, said Navtej Sarna, Indian ambassador to the US, was inevitable once India had been elevated to defence partner status in 2016. “It is a sign of trust,” Sarna said, and “testifies to our excellent record in maintaining non-proliferation of these technologies.” Both countries will have ‘2+2’ trade talks in September. While the bulk of India’s spending on defence is on Russia-made equipment, the US has over the last decade become a leading supplier. As China increases strategic investments in the neighbourhood, the US will see India as a critical counterbalance and vice…

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan leaves for Minnesota in the US on August 19 for treatment of an undisclosed ailment. The 17-day trip follows clinical tests in March at Apollo Hospital, Chennai. The state government will bear the cost of the treatment. The buzz in the state secretariat is about who will be acting CM and home minister. Given PV’s one-man-show style, no one might want to step in.…

Supreme Whispers by Abhinav Chandrachud This fascinating and delightful book is based on the transcripts of 116 interviews with 66 Supreme Court judges, conducted in the 1980s by George Gadbois Jr, an American scholar, who wrote extensively on the Indian judiciary and Supreme Court judges. Divided into six chapters, the book narrates, in vivid detail, several unknown and eventful incidents that led to major decisions. The book is meticulously researched and, despite having 1,281 footnotes, is as engrossing as a best-selling mystery novel. The appointment process, both before and under the controversial collegium system, has often failed to bring the best and the brightest to the Supreme Court (and, indeed, to the high courts). Chandrachud refers to the factors of caste, community, religion and political leanings that play a decisive…

Devendra Fadnavis was visibly grim at the all-party meeting convened on July 28 to discuss the agitation by Maratha protesters demanding reservations. “It is in the high court; my hands are tied,” the chief minister said, appealing to the 20 coalition and opposition party representatives to help quell the protests. Maratha protesters, who are seeking 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, have been on a rampage, torching vehicles and blocking vehicular traffic across the state. They have threatened to force a complete shutdown after August 9. The fury of the Marathas has quite literally confined the chief minister to his Mantralaya office in Mumbai. Fadnavis also appears to be isolated in his own party, with not one of his cabinet colleagues or BJP functionaries offering any…

Udayakumar Paramankulam and his family were forced to flee their home in Kainakary village after floods hit Kuttanad in mid-July. Like them, nearly 45,000 villagers of Alappuzha district were moved to 203 relief camps, while they waited for the waters to recede from their flooded homes and paddy farms. Floods are not unusual in Kuttanad. But as Udayakumar, 50, says, “normally the water recedes after it stops raining. This time, it’s a deluge even after days of sunshine.” Their home, like thousands of others, remains submerged. And adding to their miseries is the looming threat of disease from the stagnant waters. Known as the ‘Rice Bowl of Kerala’, Kuttanad comprises a 900 sq km delta region that was reclaimed from the sea some 150 years ago. It is a unique…

sad Umar, expected to be Pakistan’s next finance minister, is a tall but reticent man. Known for his sardonic tweets, the bespectacled former chief executive of Pakistan’s largest corporation and the chief economic advisor in Khan’s inner circle, came up with a widely shared one-liner on Election Day last week, hours before polls had even closed. “Pakistanis have won the toss and elected to bat…” Umar’s confident cricket reference, which went viral, was clearly to his own Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ’s election symbol, the ubiquitous balla[cricket bat], and its most famous bearer in the history of the country. But while prime minister-in-waiting Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi had taken the same decision—to go to bat, and very successfully—exactly 26 years and four months ago at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the 1992…

Q. How has India evolved since Vishwaroopam (2013)? Like always, at any given time, there is regression and progression. This time, disturbingly, we are going towards regressive, not constructive, debate. Arguments now are taken to a shriller pitch than before. Q. Vishwaroopam faced flak for its depiction of Muslims. A. It’s about a sleeper agent from India who happens to be Muslim. You are fed the Muslim stereotype so much and the communal disturbances and the shrill voice of dissent, you forget to see the story. He is an Indian first. I don’t have a religion at all. Tell me how many people are bold enough to say that in 2018. I am setting an example. Many people are ready to say it, but are worried because of lumpen intervention.…

India’s demographic dividend will not last long if we as a nation do not keep pace with next-generation technology skills or Digital Skills. It is a choice India has to make now, whether as a nation it wants to lead the digital revolution or be a follower. We are looking at a future where physical and digital lines blur to enable an all-pervasive connected experience. This engaged worldview will not only require reskilling of human resources to front the digital revolution but also bring to the fore human-machine collaboration, where robots and drones will need reskilling as well as upskilling. Jobs will certainly be created, but in new areas. Deep learning, unlearning and adapting to a new normal will hold the key to the success of individuals and nations. Disruptive…

G. VISWANATHAN Founder and chancellor, VIT University, Vellore Exposure to industry We have industrialists on our Board of Studies and Academic Council giving inputs from the industry perspective. We believe there is a need for change not only in content and use of new technology, but also in the teaching of soft and life skills. So we have integrated the soft skill training programme in the curriculum itself. Every semester, students take up one credit soft skill course which equips them with the requisite skills for the 2020 job market. Every subject taught at the university has a minimum module of two hours to be necessarily taught by an industrialist. The compulsory industry training, industry visits and Capstone Project in industries in the final year make students understand industry processes…

Storywallah by Neelesh Misra Penguin 272pages; 250 The stories of the Mandali—a group of authors mentored by screenwriter-journalist Neelesh Misra that originally appeared on his Yaadon Ka Idiotbox radio show—are translated into English for the first time in this intriguing collection. The Town That Laughed by Manu Bhattathiri Aleph Book Comany 262 pages; 599 Following his well-regarded collection of short stories, author Manu Bhattathiri returns to small-town Kerala in his first novel, which centres around a retired, tyrannical police inspector’s efforts to reform the town drunk. The Other by Paro Anand Speaking Tiger 176 pages; 299 The much-feted-but-controversial children’s book author touches on gender identity, body image and other complex issues in this collection of short stories for and about teenagers.…

Q. From fronting rockband Pentagram to judging Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Indian Idol Junior. Like AC/DC says: it’s a long way to the top. Have we reached peak Reality TV? This is just the beginning. Q. What’s the raddest thing they got you to do? The one I’ll remember forever was rappelling for the first time. I go over the edge of the cliff. I’m also rappelling down a waterfall, so my feet are slipping, my adrenaline is through the roof, and the sound guy looks over and says, “Sir, mic theek nahin hai.” Q. Do you like doing it? As long as I get to be me and get to say what I want to say, I’m down. There are always people who try to get you…

Slumber Party One of the best remedies for getting a good night’s sleep is to retire in silk pyjamas. This pair from Derek Rose features colourful koi fish and lily pads. Price $850 Availability www.mrporter.com En Garde This La Martina jacket is the last word in military chic. Pair with distressed jeans and black brogues. Price 1.3 lakh Availability DLF Emporio, New Delhi Short Story These patterned Maison Flaneur cotton shorts are for you if you can’t quite say goodbye to summer yet. Pair with a chambray shirt and flip flops. Price $638 Availability www.farfetch.com Bag and Baggage Function and style come together in this Mansur Gavriel classic leather briefcase bag that is designed for maximum utility. It features separate pockets for your laptop, phone…

Despite bearing the cross of a prosaic name like Abode, this boutique hotel, inspired by Mumbai, is a well-kept secret, hidden in chaotic Colaba. Housed in an antique building, it’s 20 odd rooms are a veritable feast of vintage furniture, inspired by the city, along with 20th century colonial and Art Deco pieces lovingly sourced from Mumbai’s second- hand markets with interesting asides such as bed side tables made from chaat stands and book shelves inspired by Mumbai roadside bookstores. With reclaimed Burma teak floors and fabrics for soft furnishings, sourced from vintage sarees, local markets or handwoven by the charitable organisation Women Weave, sensibility and sentimentality walk hand in hand at this exciting abode. www.abodeboutiquehotels.com…

The legendary Patek Philippe tagline “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation,” would probably work just as well for any heritage brand that grants lineage and legacy, a pride of place in its identity. Renowned jewellery house, Kishandas & Co. is a manifest expression of that sentiment. For a 148-year-old brand story that dates back four generations, it is interesting to note that they only launched their flagship atelier in Hyderabad as recently as December last year. Rooted in classicism but theatrical in appeal, the jewellery shines forth with the best of Hyderabad, whether in the elegant renditions of pearls or in the craftsmanship of vintage designs. Another hallmark of their brand of luxury is that none of their pieces are…

Sharma should advocate better hygiene for Aadhaar, starting with an honest assessment of the status quo This past week, TRAI chairman Ram Sewak Sharma responded to a heckler on Twitter by sharing his Aadhaar number and daring the heckler to harm him. He expressed confidence that no harm would befall him, but promised no retaliation against anyone who tried and succeeded. A number of individuals stepped up to the challenge. Sharma’s primary and backup mobile numbers, PAN, residential address and even bank account numbers quickly became public. One researcher demonstrated how he could deposit a rupee into Sharma’s account without his consent, using his Aadhaar number alone, thereby creating an electronic trail of financial relationships. Sharma’s stunt became national news. Commentators expressed shock at how easily so much private information…

Swiss bank accounts have become something of a political football, with news last month of an increase in deposits by Indians in 2017 from the previous year, followed by fresh data brandished by interim finance minister Piyush Goyal to show that actually deposits were significantly lower than levels reported in 2013. Both the government and its opposition were exaggerating different sets of data to make political points. But Swiss bank deposits by Indians—not all of which is black money, as Arun Jaitley (for whom Goyal is substituting) pointed out—make up only a tiny fraction of the money held by Indian citizens in foreign bank accounts. Is the focus on Switzerland misleading? Data from 2015 showed that the majority of Indian money held offshore was in Asian tax havens. And the…

On July 25, a court in Mehsana handed Hardik Patel and two others a two-year jail sentence in a 2015 case where they were accused of indulging in public violence in Visnagar town. Rendered somewhat irrelevant after the temporary euphoria of last year’s state assembly polls, the Patel reservation leader is suddenly back in the news. Out on bail in a few short hours, Hardik was quick to milk the opportunity and laid the blame on the ruling BJP. “This is nothing but Hitlershahi. Is it a crime to fight for the rights of the farmers, students and youth? The BJP won’t succeed in stopping my fight for justice,” he said. The Gujarat BJP, having learnt some hard lessons from earlier encounters with the Patidar leader, responded with caution. Senior…

ASAD UMAR: THE WHIZ KID The lanky, military-bred MBA is a laidback overachiever. He had a successful stint as the CEO of Engro Corp, is equally at ease in a boardroom or a rally, and has long been cited as Khan’s finance minister. Analysts think that he’s also foreign minister material PERVEZ KHATTAK: THE DELIVERY MAN Schoolmates from Aitchison College, Lahore, Khattak was instrumental in delivering K-P to Khan in this and the previous election. Without five years of reasonably good governance from Peshawar, Khattak couldn’t have broken the K-P electorate’s curse of never re-electing an incumbent. Now cut out for bigger things, perhaps the interior ministry SHIREEN MAZARI: MISS UNCONGENIALITY A hawk from the country’s editorial circuit, the former newspaper editor is tough on India, tough on the US,…

In 1898, when Jamsetji Tata proposed setting up the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Viceroy George Curzon asked, “Where are the students qualified to join and where are the opportunities for employment?” But Jamsetji persisted and by 1901 Curzon cut off the speech of his seniormost education officer, a Mr Giles, that started, “Given my 40 years of experience of Indian education...” with “Sir, it is your forty years’ experience we are here to correct”. More than a hundred years later, many Indian universities are held back by this “40 years of experience in Indian education” problem because the future of universities is very different from their past. Thinkers about education across time—Plato, Vygotsky, Tagore, Solzhenitsyn—remind us that humans don’t learn from experience. But we learn from reflecting on experience.…

Over 350 million children attend some educational institution. What drives them to school is the hope that education will open doors to a better life. While huge efforts are being made in the field of education—several government, state and private educational initiatives, the Right to Education Act, the National Skill Development Mission, increasing allocations for education and so on—70 per cent of our educated youth remain unemployable, while the skills deficit rises to almost 90 per cent in professional courses. The problem is not just a matter of raising literacy levels and of ensuring a wider educational experience based on learning and knowledge, but a complex web of social and economic issues relating to societal pressure, inadequate infrastructure, poor quality of teachers, outdated syllabus, and much else. It is also…

IN one of the many interconnected stories in Feroz Rather’s book about Kashmir, a tyrannical army major watches Hitchcock’s Rope on TV. As the passage becomes increasingly surreal, his private reminiscences merge with scenes from the film. Like Rope, which was about a motiveless murder, The Night of Broken Glass centres on tragic, untimely deaths and destructive hubris. But unlike the film, famously made up of long takes, this book is filled with the literary equivalents of slow dissolves. One story plays alongside and informs another. Voices and perspectives change. Chronology is uncertain. Nightmare scenes are told with the lucidity of reportage, and actual incidents related as if they were nightmares. “I did not know where to direct my anger,” says the narrator of one of the stories All this…

WHAT IS DESIGN IF NOT A MANIFESTATION of the many shades and shapes of beauty? As Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake said, “Design is not for philosophy, it is for life.” There is that murmur of design that flows through almost every aspect of our life and has the power to awe, excite, and turn previously held opinion about an object or space on its head. In this issue, India Today Spice embarks on a journey to highlight ideas, even people who have changed our spatial and intellectual relationship with this world. Our cover story looks at design’s many avatars. In it, we chronicle the journey of a brand that is the poster child for all things global desi. Think Good Earth and chances are your head will be full…

Eye Catcher These blue porcelain Villeroy and Boch dishes are a must-have for the on-trend host. The cobalt blue colour adds a style edge to any place setting. Price On request Availability Brand boutiques Raise the Bar This bar stool from Idus will double up as a statement chair in your living space. The horizontal brass finish connecting the wooden legs make for a unique design element. Price 28,000 Availability Idus, New Delhi Glam Glow Add a little flair to your entertainment space with this Whiteteak Company floor lamp. The lamp has three dramatic lights and a black and gold colour scheme to enhance the theatrical experience. Price 34,990 Availability Brand boutiques New Delhi Dining In The best times involve memorable meals at home. Visionnaire’s Breath collection…

With local turning into the new global, Swiss has launched its new inflight menu with extensive Indian options, for passengers travelling from India to Zurich. The new menu —inspired by traditional and gourmet recipes made with fresh ingredients— puts some delightful twists on classic Indian dishes. The menu, available for both first class and economy passengers, offers a selection of appetisers and entrees including lobster slice with beetroot mayo, roast lamb leg forestier with parsley baby potato, carrot batons and creamy spinach, pan seared sea-bass with grilled zucchini, herb rice and chunky tomato sauce, mattar badam ki tikki with olive kofta, methi gajar, rainbow pulao, dal tadka, anar raita and gobhi parantha. The in-house ice creams with fresh fruit compote and berry sauce are perfectly balanced to finish your meal…

“This is a problem that stems from a population explosion. People wanting jobs, people being frustrated by the fact that they’re not able to get jobs. There is an angst spreading across communities... it’s happening everywhere, not just in Rajasthan...” The “problem”, the “things” that Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje claimed in a TV interview were happening “everywhere”, is a euphemistic reference to the lynchings that scar the state she governs, most recently on July 20 in Alwar when a man, beaten by cow vigilantes, apparently died due to police negligence. Of course, Alwar was also where Pehlu Khan died in April last year, beaten to death by gau rakshaks. When the Supreme Court recently cautioned against “mobocracy”, was it Raje’s democracy it had in mind?…

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has been confined to his 2, Krishna Menon Marg residence since early June after a kidney replacement surgery. Railway minister Piyush Goyal continues to hold additional charge of the finance ministry. Jaitley has started meeting a chosen few friends from across a specially installed glass partition. Finance ministry bureaucrats video-conference with a convalescing Jaitley on various policy issues. The buzz on Raisina Hill is that Jaitley will return to North Block after the monsoon session of Parliament ends on August 10. Seating changes are likely in office—Jaitley will sit at the end of a long conference table away from visitors.…

@ShougatDasgupta Hindutva History Appointed BJP Rajasthan president at the end of June, it took Madan Lal Saini just one month to make himself look ridiculous. At an event in Jaipur, he claimed to “recollect” how Humayun on his deathbed told Babur to “respect the cow, respect Brahmins, and to respect women... India will never accept the disrespect for these three things”. Hordes have already pointed and laughed at Saini on social media, so there’s little point in revisiting his historical ignorance. It’s revealing, though, that this trumped-up formula, which Saini was quoting approvingly, considers women an afterthought and makes no room for lower-caste Hindus or religious minorities. Keke Crazy The Shiggy challenge, in which people dance to the refrain from a new song by Canadian superstar Drake, has become a…

The Trafficking Bill ignores community-based approaches to rehabilitation and fails to comply with the SC decision that rehabilitation must be voluntary Last week, the country awoke to alarming new revelations in the sordid scandal of the routine sexual abuse of 34 girls between the ages of 7 and 14 in an NGO-run, state-funded Balika Grih in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. One girl is rumoured to have been murdered while others were sedated at night in the guise of medical treatment only to wake up to abdominal pains from rape. This sexual abuse may have involved exchange of money pocketed by the culprits. Eleven women went missing from another home run by the same NGO. Reports of such horrific conditions in government- and NGO-run homes for juveniles, sex workers and beggars have become…

The West Bengal Lokayukta Amendment Bill, 2018, as enacted by the state legislature on July 23, spares Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the scrutiny of the public watchdog. As per a gazette issued by the state government, the amendment “excludes any investigation of any complaint relating to allegation of corruption against the chief minister relating to public order, and any investigation of [a] complaint against a public servant, without approval of the state government”. The original Lokayukta Act, brought in by the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee-led Left Front government in 2003, had made no such exemption for chief ministers—though there was a safety net for them. Complaints of corruption or abuse of power against the chief minister, other ministers and public functionaries required approval from an ‘appropriate authority’— two-thirds of the assembly for…

Every v ictor in a political election soon realises that once he or she occupies the seat of power, responsibility takes precedence over rhetoric. Imran Khan had to do that almost instantly. On the stump, he had mocked his arch-rival, Nawaz Sharif, for reaching out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was in power, with the slogan—“Modi ka jo yaar hai, woh gaddar hai” (He who is a friend of Modi is a traitor). A week later, when the election results showed that his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was in a position to form the government, Khan’s tone was more conciliatory, promising that if Modi took one step towards improving relations between the two countries, he would take two. When Modi graciously called Khan on July 30 to…

On July 25, the residents of Agra woke up to a nearly forgotten sound: the white noise of the Yamuna flowing under the Ambedkar bridge near the Yamuna Kinara area. The Taj Mahal sparkled white in the distance, cleansed by the rain. Curious citizens swarmed to take pictures. Until the day before, the Yamuna riverbed was barren as a desert, with streaks of fetid black rivulets of sewage. People walked freely—to bathe, pray, wash clothes or to take their cattle for a dip—sidestepping greasy rotting things underfoot and covering their nose to fend off the foul smell. That buzz of excitement has fizzled out. The river has been rising, touching the danger mark in five days. The water level behind the Taj has swelled, entering the compound and swamping its…

A survey of 150,000 engineers found only 4 per cent employable in engineering start-up roles A few years ago, while on a visit to Sydney, the first author came across a young Indian cab driver. He was a commerce graduate of a Delhi college renowned for its phenomenally high admission cut-offs. It was natural to be curious about his situation as he seemed to be a very fluent communicator and was aware of the world around him in intelligent ways. Asked why he was driving a cab in Sydney, the youngster broke down and explained between sobs that he had wasted his time getting a commerce degree from the Delhi college. This painful realisation dawned on him when he repeatedly failed in his attempts to gain employment in Sydney based…

Brush up your written and verbal communication; you can start by formalising your messages on WhatsApp and Snapchat Read newspapers and browse the internet to understand the requirements of the profession you are interested in Make yourself tech-savvy Learn a new language Participate in college activities to learn team work, leadership skills, communication skills Take up projects that go beyond classroom education Try a summer internship Maintain a lifelong learning outlook…

Samri S. Baldwin, ‘the White Mahatma’; Rhia Rhama Rhoos, ‘the Unparalleled Necromancer’; Alfred Sylvester, ‘the Fakir of Oolu’; Kuda Bux, ‘the Man with X-Ray eyes’ and Eddie Joseph, ‘the Bombay Baffler’. These are just a few of the colourful characters to be found in the pages of Jadoowallahs, Jugglers and Jinns, a new, entertaining history of Indian magic by the Australian writer John Zubrzycki. Drawing on travellers’ tales, colonial records and the accounts of magicians, Zubrzycki’s book provides a whirlwind tour of a tradition that stretches from the spells of the Atharva Veda to the kitschy razzle-dazzle of today’s stage conjurers. What is the place of the illusionist’s art in a culture that believes that the world itself is an illusion? How is magic related to religion and ritual in…

“ IN DANCE, YOU USE YOUR ENERGY TO PAINT THE AIR, FLOOR AND ANOTHER BODY” First there’s silence. Choreographer Ashley Lobo moves about gently touching each of the 10 dancers of his company, Navdhara India Dance Theatre (NIDT). Over the next one hour, there’s an explosion of movement—bodies writhe on the floor, a man and a woman perform a feverish duet, dancers run at breakneck speed and push their legs higher and higher. There are moments of tenderness, but there’s a sense of foreboding too in Lobo’s latest piece, Agni. “The nature of the world today is such that people are being ignited to exclusiveness,” says Lobo while talking about what inspired him. “Globalisation is only in business and not in terms of human spirit. We are being marginalised and…

FULL TIGHT SonyLIV’s second Marathi-language show, this seven-episode original youth dramedy revolves around Adi’s (Akshay Kelkar) unusual relationship with his parents (Yatin Karyekar and Sneha Raikar). SonyLIV HUM-I AM BECAUSE OF US Starring Kushal Tandon, Karishma Sharma, Ridhima Pandit and Payal Bhojwani, this is a regular TV soap made for the web—with sisters falling for the same hunk as the hook. Alt-Balaji He may be ‘just another immigrant’ to white Americans, but those schooled in the ways of ABCDs will recognise comedian Romesh Ranganathan as something very different in this US docuseriesa Sri Lankan-Brit uprooted to Trump’s America. Hotstar…

The death of actor Robin Williams was one that shook the world of entertainment and deeply saddened those who had witnessed the star work his magic on the silver screen. Paying a special tribute to the talented actor, Sotheby’s will offer works from the collection that Robin Williams and his wife of over 20 years, film producer and philanthropist Marsha Garces Williams put together. The auction will take place in New York on October 4, 2018. Creating a Stage: The Collection of Marsha and Robin Williams will offer works spanning Marsha’s and Robin’s diverse interests and careers, all reflecting their shared passion for collecting fine art. The autumn auction will showcase film and entertainment memorabilia including autographed scripts, awards, props and wardrobes associated with projects across their careers. Contemporary art…

Heavenly Body This ring from the Space Odyssey collection from Minawala is crafted from rose gold, diamonds and onyx and has a statement amber that will be the cynosure of all eyes. Price On request Availability Brand boutiques in India Nailed It Give your heavy jewellery a rest and slip into this sleek bracelet by Ghanasingh Be True. Pair this diamond-encrusted beauty with everything from a LBD to classic jeans and an oversized white shirt. Price On request Availability www.velvetcase.com Floral Fantasy Nature comes to your jewellery box with Chopard Haute Joaillerie’s red carpet collection. Crafted to mimic the beauty of orchids, these earrings are aesthetic perfection. Price On request Availability Brand boutiques Wearing Legacy Like the bride who is a blend of contemporary and traditional,…

What is a plate if not a canvas, the chef as artist using imaginary strokes of genius to paint a dish that may not always be pretty but is provocative for sure. As dishes get more and more complex, the plating gets simpler in an attempt to balance the frenzy in the food. The diner is no longer seen as a passive consumer of a dish; he is someone who likes to be challenged in terms of taste, texture and even presentation. Chef Abhishek Gupta, 33, from The Leela Ambience, Gurugram, is a chef who likes putting thought-provoking concepts on a plate. His dishes are mostly inspired by nature and art. He tells India Today Spice why plating is important and how food design has changed down the ages. Evolution…

Packed with Style Very few know (and do) tailored sophistication like the British. Lapis Bard takes this tradition forward with its Ducorium collection of business bags. Crafted from semi-vegetable tanned grain leather, these bags boast a dual tone effect and have hand painted edges. Introduced in four variants, the collection comprises the Dorchester, Bexley, Brackley, and Chester. The Dorcehseter at 14 inches, comes with a quilted laptop compartment and a large front pocket, an RFID safe pocket for your wallet and passport and is paired with a decorative brogue shoulder strap. The Bexley is a 13-inch laptop sleeve and allows one to manage most office essentials compactly. The Brackley backpack comes in a classic bucket shape and is a must-have for urban travellers. The Chester is a multi-utility organiser…

The spectacle of symmetry is a given where watches are concerned but at Arnold & Son, it's the perfect marriage of symmetry and mechanical opulence that has been at the centre of creating the unique and original skeleton timepieces. The Time Pyramid is no exception, with a unique form that seemingly floats between two sapphire crystals. Now, the brand offers a contemporary yet timeless execution with one of its most outstanding skeleton watches, the Time Pyramid Black Edition. Rendered in striking black and gold tones featuring a black DLC treated stainless steel case, it is a timepiece that exudes power and class. Price On request; Availability brand outlets…

When she was just eight, Chandigarh-based Wamiqa Gabbi realised she loved being on stage. “Stage phobia never touched me. I was naturally drawn towards the spotlight,” says Gabbi. One of the few Punjabi actors to have been part of Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, the 24-year-old says that the audiences will get to see a very different facet of her acting in the upcoming Malayalam film Ninedirected by Jenuse Mohammed, “While I am not allowed to reveal much, I can say that my character Eva has multiple shades. Southern superstar Prithviraj is my co-star in the movie and I am really excited about it,” she says. While many young actors today go through the grind of professional training and enroll themselves in acting institutes before facing the camera,…