Innehållsförteckning för Monday, April 3, 2023 från India Today

We knew we were on to something good from our first outing. It was originally conceived as a one-off to culminate the magazine’s silver jubilee celebrations in October 2001, but just before that, there came the world-changing event of 9/11. This was followed by the dramatic attack by Pakistani terrorists on India’s Parliament on December 13. Our first Conclave was conducted in January 2002 in the shadow of these two unforgettable events. It turned out to be the perfect platform to assess and discuss the state of the world with brilliant minds from around the globe in a way that went beyond conventional journalism. As we complete 20 eventful editions of the Conclave this March, we can look back with pride and satisfaction at what has almost been an almanac…

▶ POLITICS | Nationalism ARCHITECT OF 2024: The man with the blueprint AMIT SHAH Union Minister of Home Affairs If one had hoped that Union home minister Amit Shah would reveal his party’s blueprint for the 2024 general election, as the optimistically titled session indicated, they were disappointed. At the India Today Conclave, Shah held his cards close to his chest, but expressed full confidence that the BJP will return to power, making it the first time since the 1970s that a prime minister would get elected with a full majority for three consecutive terms. What explains his confidence? “I visit every part of the country, interact with people closely and understand the pulse,” he said. Shah’s confidence also stems from his conviction in the Modi government’s performance, governance and service…

▶ POLITICS | India Monologues IDEAS OF INDIA: On Being Muslim in India LT GEN. ZAMEER UDDIN SHAH (RETD) Former Deputy Chief of Army Staff, former VC, Aligarh Muslim University Speaking on the topic of ‘Being Muslim in India’, former deputy chief of army staff and former vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Lt Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah (retd), opened with a rousing ‘Jai Hind’, a call that privileged no caste, religion or creed—his idea of India. He said that India’s strength was the unity she possessed through her diversity and added that his family background of Sufism and years in the army had insulated him from communalism. The army reflects the idea of India, he added, and its loyalty to the Constitution is derived from its Preamble: ‘We the people’.…

▶ POLITICS | Challenges HATE, HUBRIS AND HARD STATISTICS: Debating political campaigns and social media narratives In a fiery session, the BJP’s IT department head Amit Malviya and Congress social media chief Supriya Shrinate squared off on various issues, giving us an insight on how closely contested control of the digital and social media space is likely to be ahead of the 2024 polls. In his opening remarks, Malviya touched on the social media-enabled ‘democratisation of discourse’ while going on to list the NDA government’s achievements under PM Modi through figures between 2014 and 2022. Shrinate, in her reply, rejected the figures and instead posed a question to Malviya—if all was well, what was the need to spread fake news? She also mentioned that Malviya had been flagged for spreading…

▶ LAW & JUDICIARY Setting Precedent WHO GETS TO JUDGE THE JUDGES? Arguments and counter-arguments JUSTICE S.A. BOBDE Former Chief Justice of India Former Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde’s tenure saw verdicts on some of the most contentious cases of our times, including the Ayodhya temple judgment. That his tenure (November 2019 to April 2021) also coincided with the period when the country was in the grip of the Covid epidemic did not ease matters. The justice says the fact that there was no elevation of judges to the Supreme Court during his 18-month tenure wasn’t without precedent as there had been longer periods when judges were not appointed. He said the collegium system wasn’t to blame for this, it was the failure to arrive at a consensus on…

▶ FOREIGN AFFAIRS | Diplomacy GLOBAL GPS: War. Markets. Mega power shifts. And India’s new voice in the world S. JAISHANKAR Union Minister of External Affairs External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is at the helm of affairs in the year of India’s presidency of the G20 and oversaw the successful meeting of G20 finance and foreign ministers. However, the Ukraine conflict makes it challenging to get G20 countries to agree on a common framework. As such, one of his main endeavours is to bring back focus on the original G20 mandate: global development and growth. Jaishankar also points out that for the first time, India consulted much of the world not represented at the summit. At the Voice of Global South summit in January, India asked 125 nations about their requirements…

▶ BUSINESS & ECONOMY ELECTRIC DREAMS: The little chip in a giant ambition. The tough journey to Atmanirbharta It’s not always that a billionaire-industrialist heaps praises on the government of the day. “I have been living abroad for 27 years, and I have never seen myself in such a good position before,” said Anil Agarwal, chairman, Vedanta Resources Ltd, at the India Today Conclave. Citing that today India is ahead of the world in areas such as renewable energy, electronics and semiconductors, the 69-year-old mining baron thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for putting the country on the map among other economic superpowers. To highlight the new India’s pace of growth, a cheerful Agarwal sang ‘Chhodo kal ki baatein’ from the Bollywood movie Hum Hindustani. “How can we…

▶ BUSINESS & ECONOMY | Start-ups LIGHTSPEED LEARNINGS: Dreaming big in India. A power couple on love, start-ups, and a rollercoaster ride of success and mistakes BYJU RAVEENDRAN AND DIVYA GOKULNATH Co-founders, Byju’s In the past few years, Byju’s has become synonymous with India’s rise in the education technology sector. The EdTech multinational’s success meant India making leaps; when it ran into rough weather, its peers got cold feet too. With a series of acquisitions, Byju’s became the world’s largest company in the sector during the Covid-19 pandemic—a cause for much celebration in India. But as the world opened up, the unpleasant news of the firm sacking its employees, alleged “toxic” work culture and “working capital crisis” put a big blot on this growth story. At the India Today Conclave, founders…

▶ DEFENCE | National Security BADGE OF COURAGE: Soldiers, robots, borders, AI. The challenge of new-generation warfare and the idea of India in uniform GENERAL MANOJ PANDE Chief of the Army Staff To embrace the newest technological changes that are sweeping war doctrines and revolutionising decades-old strategies, while keeping a balance with the old—General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, is clear on the path ahead for the Indian Army. At this crucial time, it’s significant that the army is led by Gen. Pande—the first engineer ever (The Bombay Sappers) to hold the post. Gen. Pande believes the Ukraine conflict holds many lessons—across strategic, operational and tactical domains. He said the Indian military is taking measures to modernise by adopting niche technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain that can…

▶ SOCIETY & TRENDS | Bright Young Indians SHOW AND TELL: The art of self-belief, reading minds. And psychological illusion SUHANI SHAH Mentalist, Psychological illusionist It took Suhani Shah all of 10 minutes to blow everyone’s minds at the India Today Conclave. Five people from the audience were randomly selected and brought on stage. Shah asked them to pick the seats they’d want to sit on and pick envelopes that had an emoji each. “You think everything is random. Nothing is random, ever,” she said as she started. Then, during the session, she accurately went on to predict the emojis an audience member had on his mind and even told a few others the names of people they were thinking of. As she did so, there were notable sounds of “Whoa” and…

▶ ENTERTAINMENT | Cinema STARDUST & STARLIGHT: The power of hope, youth, storytelling. And what it takes to live in the spotlight JANHVI KAPOOR Actor At the India Today Conclave, actress Janhvi Kapoor, who made her debut with Dhadak just about five years ago, talked about everything from social media and her upcoming work to the pressure of legacy. In a candid session, the 26-year-old actress weighed in on how her mother Sridevi has influenced the choices she has made thus far. However, she said that instead of seeing the late actress’s legacy as a burden, she found it a “source of motivation”. “I’m grateful I’ve gotten so much and enough because of it, but I will work harder to do justice to it,” she added. On a lighter note, Janhvi impressed…

▶ ENTERTAINMENT Teenage Dystopia SOCIAL DILEMMA: A steroid window into teenage alienation. And class divides in India Far from being a suspension of disbelief, the cast of the hit Netflix series Class—Chintan Rachchh, Cwaayal Singh, Gurfateh Singh Pirzada, Moses Koul, Naina Bhan and Zeyn Shaw—believes that it captures the trials and tribulations of today’s youth in real ways. They think the audience identifies with their characters. Class, they say, talks about extremely sensitive issues in a way that’s not in-your-face, but with subtlety, braiding its observations with the course of the narrative. Zeyn thinks the one thing that distinguishes today’s youth is their constant engagement with social media, which he says can affect mental health. The story is about three working class youth enrolled in an elite high school and…

WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT THE GLOBAL wellness economy has more than doubled since 2010 and is now estimated at an astonishing US$ 4.4 trillion (`362.8 lakh crore). That its revenue is several times that of big pharma at US$ 1.42 trillion (`117.4 lakh crore), according to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). But it isn’t just the staggering statistics that have compelled us to dedicate an entire issue to wellness; the impulse to better nurture ourselves, each other and, by extension, the planet is our real pitch. Whether you are a believer or naysayer, the ever-expanding wellness economy is a force to reckon with. Our wellness sojourn begins with the weird, wild and wonderful world of wellness festivals that consume their devotees with the same fervour that engages…

SIX SENSES VANA Tibetan Medicine programme – Sowa Rigpa, Sleep Programme COSTS USD 740 (single) per night to USD 1,240 per night (double) https://www.sixsenses.com ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS Hypnotherapy, regression, Reiki and chakra cleansing, Neuro linguistic programming, Ananda Stress Management programme, Holistic Sleep Enhancement Programme COSTS `42,000 per night (Single) `66,000 (Double) per night https://www.anandaspa.com SOUKYA HOLISTIC CENTRE Shirodhara, Thakradhara, Ksheeradhara, Thalam, Yoga and Meditation COSTS US$100 to $300 (per treatment) https://www.soukya.com FAZLANI NATURE’S NEST Equine-assisted therapy Dynamic forest meditation walks COSTS `17,000-40,500 per night https://fazlaninaturesnest.com ATMANTAN WELLNESS CENTRE Meditation practices–Chidakash, Chakra, and Ajapajapa; Life coach therapy or emotional coaching, Singing bowl therapy, Ajna light therapy, Pranic and crystal healing, and Acupuncture COSTS `10,500 (Single) per night, `17,000 (Double) per night https://atmantan.com NAAD WELLNESS Guided Meditation, Chakra Cleansing and Balancing,…

The tsunami of global travel unleashed in the wake of the receding pandemic is a natural reaction to recent restrictions we all faced on a global scale. Business travel has returned with companies and individuals more mindful of their carbon footprint, supported in part by the emergence of more evolved virtual meeting platforms. Also, a re-centering of health and wellness as a focus has driven the growth in wellness tourism. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) valued the ‘Wellness Tourism’ industry at USD 817 billion in 2022. In recent years, international wellness tourists have spent on average 35 per cent more than other international tourists. By comparison, the beauty and personal care sector is worth USD 955 billion. The GWI predicts that the global wellness economy will exceed USD 7 trillion…

‘In Vino Veritas’. In wine, there is truth, say the ancients. Also, taste. Undeniably! But now, there’s even money. If financial adverts have taught me anything it is this, ‘mutual funds are subject to market risk’. No risk, no gain, may be a market mantra, but mine is a simpler philosophy—an investment should be that one enjoys possessing; no pride in owning a fixed deposit. Of course, if the investment in question is a painting or a sculpture, we’re on to something. But consider the investment opportunity that art presents as a comestible. I did. And shortly after, I was investing with Liv-ex (London International Vintners Exchange), buying and selling like a day-stock-trader. Sadly, it was just as boring as stock-trading; speculating in wine and not a drop to drink?…

▶ WELCOME ADDRESS AROON PURIE Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, India Today Group Nineteen years ago, in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, we had kicked off a two-day conclave at which the theme was ‘Building an Indian Century’. We knew the idea was aspirational but worth testing. Surprisingly, the galaxy of speakers not only endorsed the idea but also suggested pathways to building an Indian century. That included Prime Minister Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi, Mukesh Ambani, Raghuram Rajan and Colin Powell—among others. The following year, the theme was ‘India: Global Giant or Pygmy’. The gala night speaker was President Bill Clinton. He exhorted us by saying, and I quote, “The world cannot afford for India to be a pygmy. You have to be a giant and the…

▶ POLITICS | Monologues IDEAS OF INDIA: On Hindutva and New India SMRITI IRANI Union minister of women and child development and minority affairs In her opening remarks, Union minister Smriti Irani mentioned the ‘Hindu rate of growth’, a 1970s term that was essentially used to describe the almost stagnant Indian economy, while drawing an analogy from the Hindu faith which was seen as stagnant, content and in need of reform. She said that her way of life revolved around ‘sarva dharma sama bhava’ while also listing the various initiatives of PM Modi in the form of Jan Dhan, subsidised foodgrains, building of toilets and Ayushman Bharat as characteristic of New India. She reiterated that the schemes did not differentiate on the basis of caste or religion. On the Hinduism versus…

▶ POLITICS | Monologues IDEAS OF INDIA: On Argumentative India and David and Goliath battles ATISHI MARLENA Minister of Education and PWD, Delhi Delhi education minister Atishi Marlena said that while it is true India has grown economically, there are issues of concern on the health and education fronts. She said that India was slipping in the Human Development Index rankings, with healthcare and education still low on the priority list of the central government. She also talked about diversity being the biggest strength of the country, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) representing an important voice in this, as for a very long time, politics was considered the preserve of a few. But her most stinging criticism was reserved for the Centre’s crackdown on the right to dissent and the…

India is the world’s largest producer of milk & second largest producer of fruits and vegetables. The country has a substantial production capability of marine, meat, and poultry products. This sector requires temperature-controlled logistics. In FY 2022, the market size of Indian Cold Chain market was valued at INR 1,814.9 billion and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 12.3% during 2023-2028 period. However, the idea of an ‘unbroken cold chain solution’ is still far from reality, owing majorly to lack of proper infrastructure and high-cost scenario. ABOUT US This is where the synergized efforts of country’s leading integrated multimodal solutions provider & one of the global leaders in logistics and supply chain management (along with other business portfolios) come into play. TCI Cold Chain Solutions (TCI CCS) Limited, a…

▶ LAW & JUDICIARY | Justice in the Balance MY IDEA OF INDIA. And the importance of separation of powers in a democracy JUSTICE DHANANJAYA Y. CHANDRACHUD Chief Justice of India It was the first time ever that a sitting Chief Justice of India was taking live questions at a forum, and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud rose to the occasion with characteristic finesse at the India Today Conclave. Batting finely for the institution (a la Rahul Dravid, since we asked), he defended the existing system, while emphasising the need to modernise it and make the judicial process more transparent and accessible. The honourable justice deflected with ease the difficult questions that were thrown at him. On the collegium system, he said he had to work within the system he was given, but…

▶ LAW & JUDICIARY | Setting Precedent PEOPLE’S WITNESS: The shape and sanctity of court and chair JUSTICE U.U. LALIT Former Chief Justice of India Justice U.U. Lalit served as the Chief Justice of India for a 74 days, but his brief tenure was marked by some remarkable achievements. Over 16,000 cases were listed in this time, with almost 4,000 cleared in the first 12 days. The tenure also saw bail being granted in a number of long-duration internment cases, including for journalist Siddique Kappan and Naxal poet Varavara Rao. At the India Today Conclave, Justice Lalit talked of how he disposed of long-pending critical cases, the reconstitution of benches, which reduced the load on individual judges, and also touched on matters weighing heavily on the public conscience such as the…

▶ FOREIGN AFFAIRS | China THE SMOKELESS WAR: China’s secret strategy to replace America as a global superpower. Implications for India and the world The one topic of discussion that has dominated global geopolitical discourse is the rise of China and its hegemonic ambition. The main reason behind China’s current dominance in various fields, believes author and China expert Michael Pillsbury, is that, for years, the US preferred China over India, transferred latest technology, invested heavily in it and helped the one-party nation grow by leaps and bounds. Conversely, the US blocked high-end technologies to India for decades. This skewed state of affairs is slowly changing, though the US is still investing in China, said Pillsbury. So, while an “India moment” is important, the “China moment” is still not a…

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▶ BUSINESS & ECONOMY | Business Resilience CRISIS COMPASS: Surviving lows and lockdowns. And what it takes to bounce back, and thrive The Covid pandemic had a devastating impact on lives and livelihoods. An estimated 140 million people lost their jobs, while millions of others faced salary cuts. The industries that suffered the most were those providing personal-touch services: tourism, hospitality, entertainment and aviation. They are now on the path to recovery, and have given us valuable lessons in resilience. SpiceJet experimented with a new business model of carrying only cargo on its commercial aircraft, since it could not carry passengers. It helped the airline keep its head above water, while serving an important cause of carrying medicines and PPE kits, said CEO Ajay Singh. For Indian Hotels, part of…

▶ THOUGHT SESSION | The New Age of Travel PLUG AND FLY: On Mars landings. And inventing electric planes on Earth. From a woman on the frontlines of both ANITA SENGUPTA Former NASA scientist, aerospace entrepreneur A pilot, an aerospace engineer, and a rocket scientist, Anita Sengupta is all that and much more. While speaking at the India Today Conclave, she touched upon the subjects of space missions, Mars landings, planes of the future, and the new age of travel based on the concept of plug and fly. “It’s in the nature of humanity to explore and push the envelope,” she said. And the next phase is exploring space. “It’s natural for us to expand as a species and one of the easiest places to get to and set up a colony…

▶ SOCIETY & TRENDS | Women’s Rights HIJAB. HATE. AND STATE: The fight for human rights. And feminist churn within the Muslim world In 1953, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini’s grandmother taught herself how to write and penned powerful advice to her daughter, “You have to be able to earn your own living and not rely on men.” Anderlini, an Iranian peace activist and founder of the International Civil Society Action Network, uses this example as a reminder of what Muslim women once stood for—independence and being able to make their own life choices. Sheeba Aslam Fehmi, an Islamic feminist, agrees that the idea of feminism for Muslim women is often put in a western context rather than within an Islamic cultural framework. For her, the controversy over the hijab in India is…

▶ SPORTS | Inspiration SACHINISM AND THE IDEA OF INDIA: How sports shaped a legend, and can transform the country. Personal diary of an icon SACHIN TENDULKAR Cricket Legend It’s been almost a decade since Sachin Tendulkar hung up his boots after playing his 200th Test in November 2013, but watching him speak at the India Today Conclave reaffirmed that ‘The Little Master’ can still read the pulse of the game like none other. From ways to ensure Test cricket remains the “No. 1 format” to suggesting a new avatar for the “monotonous” One Day Internationals (ODIs), Sachin kept everyone engaged with his insights. But as the legendary cricketer touched upon various facets of the game, what stood out was his impassioned appeal to strike a balance between batters and bowlers.…

▶ ENTERTAINMENT | Bright Young Indians SHOW AND TELL: How I airwalked from rooftop to sky BABA JACKSON Winner of the dance reality show ‘Entertainer No. 1’ For years, dance training for Yuvraj Singh, 19, popularly known as ‘Baba Jackson’ today, meant learning from his own shadow at home in the absence of a mirror. And yet, his slick moves today have come to earn praise from the likes of Hrithik Roshan and Varun Dhawan; in fact, Hrithik once said that Jackson’s was the ‘smoothest’ airwalk he had ever seen. From dancing on a tiny rooftop in Jodhpur to becoming a TikTok star and winning an online dance reality show in 2020, Jackson has literally airwalked his way to fame. “I grew up watching Hrithik Roshan, Prabhu Deva sir. They have…

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Chairman, Managing & Medical Director, SOUKYA Holistic Health Centre The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way people think and talk about mental health. Before the pandemic, mental health was still a taboo topic in many societies, and seeking help for it was stigmatised. However, the pandemic has brought the issue of mental health front and centre, and many people are now openly discussing their struggles with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The reasons for this sudden focus are not far to seek. The pandemic brought with it a host of challenges such as isolation (loneliness), financial stress and a real fear of illness, which impacted peoples’ mental health. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in the availability of mental health resources and services, making it easier for…

WHAT’S NEW CLEAN AS CLEAR Electrolux’s latest range of UltimateCare dishwasher starts from 60cm UltimateCare 500 with 13 place settings and it tops up at 60cm UltimateCare 700 with 14 place settings. They have a SatelliteClean function for thorough cleaning for Indian style of cooking as well as an Eco program that helps you save more water and energy with extra-efficient cleaning. PRICE `39,690 to `59,990 LIQUID ASSET One of the best ways to destress is through a warm or hot water bath, no matter what the season. Panasonic Life Solutions India’s new IoT-enabled Duro Smart and Prime range of water heaters are the perfect fit. Two features stand out—the turbo heating, which allows 33 per cent quicker heating and the voice control compatible with Panasonic’s Miraie remote control. PRICE…

▶ POLITICS| Vision NARENDRA MODI Prime Minister of India The world may be saying it now and the India Today Conclave may have made it its theme in 2023, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi had heralded ‘The India Moment’ 20 months ago, from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, 2021. “This is the time, and it is the right time,” he had said. And as he took the stage at the India Today Conclave on March 18, this is what he reminded the audience before him, both at the Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi, as well as those watching him on television or digitally. Presiding over this India Moment and helping it become a reality has been none other than the prime minister himself. As India Today Group…

▶ POLITICS | Monologues IDEAS OF INDIA: On Ambedkar and inclusion SHASHI THAROOR Congress MP, former Union minister, ex-diplomat and author Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says he marvels at our pluralist democracy and the changes we have witnessed in the past 75 years and how we have sustained ourselves. He calls it a ‘battle of belonging’, a civic nationalism not anchored in timeless severities handed down from birth but one anchored in our Constitution and in the country’s institutions. But today, Tharoor feels the national discourse has been injected with a toxin of hatred for minorities in general, and one minority in particular. He feels the ruling government has condoned this othering of a significant portion of our population, an exclusion he feels is profoundly anti-Hindu. He also touched on topics…

OMC Power is one of the world’s largest renewable energy based mini-grid Companies that is continuously working towards reducing carbon footprint and positively contributing to climatic changes. With its footprint across 350 villages of India, it has been a catalyst for rural infrastructural growth. Over 100,000 beneficiaries are today experiencing economic, safety and lifestyle improvements because of access to affordable, green and reliable energy from OMC. It is generating, storing and distributing 39MWHr renewable energy which is playing for a better tomorrow by providing green energy to all segments of the rural community - “A”nchor telecom towers; “B”usinesses; “C”ommunities, the ABC model of business which it pioneered. This ABC model of inclusive rural electrification is helping save over 13,000 metric tonnes of CO2 in a year. It plans to expand…

▶ POLITICS | India Unbound ARGUING INDIA’S 4-D REVOLUTION: Democracy, Demography, Digitisation, De-globalisation Democracy is where we have strong, independent institutions, where there is a vibrant opposition, where there is accountability.” Tamil Nadu’s finance minister P. Thiaga Rajan led the debate on the first D—democracy. “Institutions have become less independent, more aligned with the central axis of power…” Picking up the gauntlet, Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO and now the G20 Sherpa, countered that interacting with members of the G20 and the invitee countries, he felt they viewed India as “a very lively and vibrant democracy”, which has a prime minister who has been democratically elected for a second term. On the demographic dividend, while acknowledging India’s window of opportunity, Thiaga Rajan pointed to great disparity between states like…

▶ LAW & JUDICIARY | Constitutional Democracy JUSTICE FOR ALL: The endeavour and the gap KIREN RIJIJU Union Minister of Law and Justice of India Never one to mince words, Union law minister Kiren Rijiju displayed the same spirit in his 33-minute session at the India Today Conclave. He denied there was any confrontation with the judiciary, only differences of opinion. On the key question of judicial appointments, he was categorical it was an administrative function that was the government’s preserve, and defended its right to reserve information on why judges’ names are withheld. The collegium system, however, he said, would continue till a new system is introduced. The minister’s harshest comments, though, were reserved for Rahul Gandhi and the “tukde tukde” gang. Both, he asserted, speak the same language. He…

▶ LAW & JUDICIARY | Rebooting Democracy DEMOCRACY’S DISCONTENT: Ideas of justice. Why we are so divided. And how to fix it MICHAEL SANDEL Rockstar political philosopher, Harvard University The hubris of a liberal, well-educated elite anchored in meritocracy; the exclusion and resentment of the masses; a need for identity, belonging and community; and the politics of a common good—can these ideas explain the great political churning of our times? To Michael Sandel, well-known as a ‘rockstar’ political philosopher who can fill stadiums and get millions of views online for his debates, all of this has come into play over the past 40 years in democracies across the world, especially so in his home country, the USA. First among these, he theorises, is that people who presided over the market-driven…

▶ BUSINESS & ECONOMY | Entrepreneurship BLUEPRINT MOONSHOTS: Risk-taking and betting on New India. Insider notes from an industrialist SANJIV GOENKA Chairman, RPSG Group The RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, the Indian multinational conglomerate, will be launching a green energy venture capital fund in the next couple of months. Expanding its portfolio by the day, the company has made successful inroads into power, media, FMCG, BPO, Ayurveda and even sports. Now, chemicals and green energy happen to be its newest areas of exploration. Sharing his journey at the India Today Conclave, group chairman Sanjiv Goenka said the business legacy and values he inherited gave him the conviction to try out something new each time. “We took a conscious decision a few years ago to move from government intervention-intensive businesses to new-age businesses. And…

▶ BUSINESS & ECONOMY | Challenges HATE, HUBRIS, AND HARD STATISTICS: Debating hard statistics Data and statistics are normally used to reinforce a fact. However, as the political discourse in the country becomes more intense, parties of all hues support their arguments with facts and figures that sometimes seem to look discordant. This can be very confusing, and can raise doubts on the real state of the Indian economy. In this session, the two panelists were asked by the moderator to demystify a few sets of numbers regarding economic growth, inflation, digitalisation and so on, where there are diverging views from political parties. There was an obvious discord. Former finance minister P. Chidambaram refuted the growth numbers saying that the economy is “losing steam” as is evident in the quarterly…

▶ THOUGHT SESSION | AI Revolution MACHINE GODS: AI and Creation Myths. How to think about the new worlds and beings brought into existence. What to celebrate, what to fear REN ITO COO, Stability AI Visual art by Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Over the past few months, that’s the idea of creative expression which has had people hooked. Driving this are text-to-images generative AI models—simply put, these consist of algorithms that generate images based on a text prompt given by the user. One such algorithm is Stable Diffusion, developed by the Machine Vision & Learning Group at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in collaboration with UK-based start-up Stability AI. But unlike most generative AI models whose technology is proprietary, Stable Diffusion aims to recreate what the Linux project did for open-source…

▶ WELLNESS | Genetic Frontiers BIO SWITCHES AND AGE CLOCKS: The jaw-drop science of age and disease reversal. Research that makes lifespan just a number DAVID SINCLAIR Miracle Man, Geneticist, Harvard Medical School At one time, the idea that ageing could be slowed down, let alone reversed, might have sounded crazy, if not impossible. But today, thanks to the work being done at Dr David Sinclair’s epigenetics lab—The Sinclair Lab at Harvard Medical School—and other such labs, there is a real possibility of reinstating youthfulness in our tissues and organs. “What we’ve discovered is that how we live our life, what we eat, how much we move, the type of molecules that we ingest every day, how we sleep, how relaxed we are, how many friends we have, this modifies another type…

▶ SOCIETY & TRENDS | Teenage Dystopia SOUL ECLIPSE: Why our children are self-harming, how to fix it. Insights on the teenage depression epidemic in India Teenage depression and self-harm tendencies have existed for decades, but it’s something about modern lifestyles that has worsened their impact. “We have fractured ourselves in some ways. Consumerism and digitisation have given a sense of ‘I’m not perfect’. There are photoshopped images of a happy, perfect life everywhere,” says Abha Adams, an educator and author, whose latest book talks about parenting in the age of anxiety. “At the core of communication is the need to accept — ‘I see you, I hear you and I accept you for who you are’.” Nupur Dhingra Paiva, a clinical psychologist, agrees. She points out that young people…

▶ ENTERTAINMENT | Cinema RRRoar: What it takes to make blockbusters. And leap across geographies RAM CHARAN Actor Actor Ram Charan came and ‘Naatu Naatu’-ed his way to the hearts of the audience at the India Today Conclave. Fresh off the Oscar success for RRR’s (2022) peppy track, the Telugu superstar was in a jubilant mood and still processing the historic moment — ‘Naatu Naatu’ is now the first song from an Indian production to win an Oscar for best original song. “Naatu Naatu is no more our song, it is India’s song,” said the actor, as he described the arduous albeit fun 20-day schedule to craft a track that would go on to transcend geographical and linguistic boundaries. In a nearly hour-long session, Charan reflected on his cinematic journey, and…

▶ ENTERTAINMENT | Bright Young Indians SHOW AND TELL: Rhythm and swag. The unfiltered storm girl. And satire in five languages SRUSHTI TAWADE Rapper, Writer, Satirist Srushti Tawade, who broke the internet with her rap verses on the reality show MTV Hustle 2.0, brought the house down at the India Today Conclave with her skills. With songs like ‘Bachpan’ and ‘Main Nahi Toh Kaun’, which have cumulatively amassed more than 120 million views on YouTube, the Mumbai-based artist offered a glimpse of her storytelling skills, wit and, more significantly, swagger, arguably the most important element that gives hip-hop its appeal. Only 23 and a fresh voice on the rap scene, Tawade is a prime example of how India’s Generation Z is unafraid to share their thoughts and feelings, and, in the…

▶ ENTERTAINMENT | Pop Psyche BUSTING BUBBLES: On love, sex, ageism. And topping the body-beautiful conversation for 25 years MALAIKA ARORA Actor, Model Don’t tell Malaika Arora what she can or can’t do. Yes, she can find love again after a divorce. Yes, her partner can be younger than her. At 49, she can spearhead a reality show and even do a stand-up act on it. And yes, she can be an entrepreneur. At the India Today Conclave, Arora opened up on a range of issues, from dropping her husband’s surname to co-parenting. Notably, even after decades in the industry and all its challenges, Arora maintains, “I’m still a work in progress.” As for the trolling and sexism thrown her way regularly, she has only this to say: “I have a…

Notwithstanding the endless debate of form versus function, what truly elevates design to distinction is the ability to inspire both imagination and innovation. This is where designer Davide Sozzi’s brilliance lies. Although the Au bout de la Nuit writing desk was designed in 2016, it is one of the more recent pieces to became part of the Promemoria production. The desk is a sumptuous rendition in wood, bronze and leather. It comes in two models: the first where the structure and drawers are offered with wood on top, and the modesty panel and compartments in leather; or a structure where the top modesty panel and compartments are offered in wood, and the drawers fronts come in leather. Further, the chest also offers drawers and recessed handles with place mats and…

If the pandemic presented a dystopian universe, our collective re-emergence has come with its own share of Darwinian problems. Far from the restful calm we had hoped for as the world slowly reopened, most rushed from 0 to 100 summoning stress and anxiety as loyal companions. According to the World Health Organization, diminished mental health is now at epidemic levels with more than 450 million people suffering from a mental or behavioural disorder. It is estimated that by 2030, the largest global health risk will be depression, not obesity. Clearly, wellbeing is the sum of all parts with physical and mental health being two sides of the same coin; hence the currency of health retreats and their offerings for holistic healing. Despite an impressive slant toward holistic wellness in the…

A Perfect Symphony We always knew white was right, the world’s finally caught up While Viva Magenta is Pantone’s Colour of the Year, the all-white look is silently taking over the season. Far from being stark and cold, the texture-rich, ivory-infused homes have a hint of class, sheen and a timeless appeal. The good news is that there are over 900 shades of white that can be used on furniture, furnishings, decor and accents. The Egret Cluster sofa with its organic form gives the living room a distinctive appeal  Price On request Availability Nivasa www.nivasa.com Change is the only constant in life. A sign of growth, regeneration and resurrection, it’s like a swinging pendulum swaying from one end to the other. The case with design and décor is somewhat similar.…

Surrounded by green trees and warmed by abundant sunlight, not only is this 5BHK in south Delhi a visual treat, it also redefines luxury. Home to cricketer Suresh Raina, his entrepreneur wife Priyanka and their two children, we were brought in to redesign the interiors and unify the diverse interests of the family to create a space that is functional, aesthetic, and child-friendly. Spanning 4,200 sq ft, the Raina residence is the perfect balance between private spaces for the family and open areas for their guests. The couple’s love for warmth, minimalism, and contemporary styles allowed us the opportunity to design an eternally timeless home, with a hint of quirk. The home features the master suite with a private family lounge, a children’s room, a bedroom for their parents, and…

Can an architectural firm truly explore the possibilities of a transcendent and spiritual character in architecture? For Chandigarh-based, award-winning practice, Charged Voids, this happens to be the underlying philosophy for any work they take up. Lead by Aman Aggarwal, his idea behind the architectural firm was to create a purposeful dialogue between western modernism and elements of Indian architecture. In fact, he named the practice Charged Voids to celebrate the ‘in-between’—the transitional spaces in the built environment. “The negative space or the voids that define a spatial mass are one of the underlying inspirations for our practice,” says the 40-year-old architect. Describe your design journey My architecture and design journey has been quite incidental, having grown up in Chandigarh, the Mecca of modernist architecture. This allowed me to experience the…

Minimal yet warm and inviting, and infused with Indian aesthetics, the Fleur home is a 4,000 sq ft villa for a family of three, revamped entirely from its original bones. Located in a quiet gated community in Hyderabad, this corner home is nestled around greenery. The aim was to create an airy, serene and well-lit space with lush tropical landscaping peeking through the windows. In order to do this, we removed the original flooring and replaced it with white Indian marble that has hints of green; the walls were broken down and the window openings were made bigger to let the sunshine in. As you step in, two traditional Chettinad wooden pillars with a granite base frame demarcate the living and dining areas. Black and white hand-painted artwork on the…

Bold colours, smart design and minimalist geometric shapes and patterns add drama to this home we fondly call, The Apartment with OTT Glamour. That’s not all, the 4.5 BHK residence also has massive 12 ft high ceilings that add layers, volume and textures in every view. Designed for a family of five, we have used a combination of curves and straight lines to create a cohesive piece of art that stays embedded in the memory of a visitor. Each room tells its own colour story with repeated elements, beautifully punctuated with art and bespoke furniture. The entry foyer welcomes you into the house with a gold bench paired with a gold ladder that merges ingeniously into a canvas. This mimics the elements sharing a unique story between reality and altered…

If there’s one material that carries a sense of tradition as much as it does luxe, it’s got to be brass. And in the hands of product and interior designer Vikram Goyal, it moulds in to magnificent functional art works. Goyal has once again taken this gleaming beauty and transformed it into a series of sculptural pieces for the India Art Fair. The series showcases a set of fluid, dynamic sculptures, some with tree-like forms that draw from the Brutalist style, while others use repoussé technique. One thing remains common—they are all breathtaking. PRICE on request AT @vikramgoyalstudio (Instagram)…