Innholdsfortegnelse for August 8, 2016 i India Today

Politics in India has always revolved around caste and religious divisions. For decades, the big vote bank that everyone wanted to capture was the Muslims, who constitute more than 14 per cent of the population. But with the BJP storming to power in the 2014 general elections on the back of a Hindu consolidation, the focus seems to have shifted dramatically. Since the BJP knows the Muslim community will not vote for it, the traditionally upper-caste Hindu party has started looking at Dalits as their new catchment area. The BJP’s success in the Lok Sabha polls and its ability to form governments in several states since then, including Jammu & Kashmir and Assam, which have the highest Muslim populations in India in terms of percentages, has shown that elections can…

TOUR TACTIC Come August and the prime minister will make his first trip to Telangana. He will also visit CM K. Chandrasekhara Rao’s constituency, Gajwel. The two had bonded during KCR’s visit to Delhi in July. The PM was impressed with Rao’s pet projects— Bhagiratha (piped water supply to all homes) and Kakatiya (restoring village reservoirs). Should NDA ally Chandrababu Naidu be worried? NO SEAT, NO LAND Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu’s new policy of allotting land to political parties in capital Amaravati has the Congress stumped. The new rules say that parties will be allotted land based on assembly strength. So the ruling TDP gets four acres while the opposition YSR Congress gets half an acre. And the Congress, CPI and CPI(M), nothing. SLEEPLESS IN KOLKATA West Bengal…

From Khairlanji to Una, Badaun to Chennai, Mirchpur to Navi Mumbai and elsewhere, the backdrops change, but not the event its elf. The systematic exercise of brute power embedded in the caste-based notion of social hierarchy has been expressed in its ugliest form in recent times. The pretexts have been varied— from temple entry to love affairs or marriage to ownership of assets to performing traditional jobs! Spread across the columns of national, regional and local dailies are the live stories of dehumanising behaviour meted out to Dalits, positioned at the base of the social pyramid. They have been denied rights which others enjoy ‘naturally’. If there are constitutional safeguards, legal provisions and institutional measures to ensure Dalit rights today, it’s consequent to the continuous efforts of one tireless human—Dr…

MODUS OPERANDI Random calls are made to a series of numbers from a SIM acquired through a fake ID. Once the call connects, the caller identifies himself as a bank executive and seeks details of ATM/debit cards for “verification” If the victim falls for the trap and shares details, the caller’s aide immediately starts a trans action based on it. Knowing well that the bank will generate a OneTime Password (OTP), the imposter tells the victim to read out the code he has sent across. Once the caller reads out the number, the aide completes the transaction WHY THEY SUCCEED Unlike banks, which require complete authentication of the customer, digital wallets can be created with a phone number. The scammers create several digital wallets with fraudulently pro cured SIM cards.…

GUEST COLUMN HILLARY’S FOREIGN POLICY AND TRADE INSTINCTS—THOUGH SUBDUED GIVEN ADVERSE PUBLIC SENTIMENT— ARE IN LINE WITH INDIAN INTERESTS The field is set. With the formal anointing of party nominees at the Republican and Democratic Party conventions in July, either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is certain to be the next US president. This match-up is remarkable for several reasons. Trump would be the first US leader in over a half century not to have previously held elected office. Clinton would be the first female president. Both are among the most divisive candidates in recent history, with high negative ratings—even within their own parties. What does the outcome of November’s election mean for India? The degree of comfort in working-level relations between the two governments and militaries, the presence of…

Good week SALMAN KHAN Can rest easy after getting the all-clear from the Rajasthan High Court in two poaching cases Bad week SUNNY LEONE In trouble for singing the Indian national anthem incorrectly during Pro Kabaddi IN HER OWN SKIN Unlike her compatriots, Pakistani actress Momal Sheikh gets to play a Pakistani in her Bollywood debut, Happy Bhag Jayegi. It isn’t a leading part but it does see her help Happy (Diana Penty) pick her life partner. Dad Javed Sheikh’s in the film too. HAPPY TWOGETHER Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh put on quite a show as they danced (on tables!) to Badtameez dil and Jumma chumma de deat a birthday bash in Mumbai. Their groovy grooving ended all speculation of rivalry and started a campaign for being cast together…

Travel and Lifestyle Writer What defines someone as British these days? What is at the core of British design? As the creative classes reel and spin in their individualistic post-Brexit stress disorder, a loss of faith, in what were taken to be given certainties, has triggered a collective soul searching. We look back at our recent history, to the artistic and cultural things that made us cool, set us apart as British and wonder at their continued resonance or if indeed they were part of a collective hallucination that was only ever skin deep. So we look back further, to the punk era, when musicians, designers and artists created excellent work despite the politics and glaring shortcomings of society. There are a few greats from this era of iconoclastic creativity:…

Gems happened to me quite by chance; I was only about 18, and studying biology, when my father asked me if I wanted to work at Bulgari for a few months since one of their employees was pregnant and there was a vacancy. My father knew the Bulgari family so I told him that I would only work for four months and not more because I wanted to study further. But when I entered Paolo Bulgari’s office, he had this incredible table that was full of gems and I simply fell in love. Even though I used to be really shy, I was so attracted to the gems that I started playing with them. This was unusual for Mr. Bulgari since people were usually very intimidated by him, and therefore…

The Oyster Perpetual Day Date Rolex is highly distinctive, in particular thanks to its emblematic President bracelet with an evocative name that, together with the many presidents, leaders and visionaries worldwide who have worn it since its launch in 1956, ensured the Day-Date became known as ‘The Presidents’ Watch’. In honour of its 60th anniversary, Rolex chose to reminisce, recognise and remodel it by launching a beautiful Day Date 40 with a bright new dial in green, Rolex’s hallmark colour at Baselworld 2016. It has the instantaneous calendar that displays the date and the day spelt out in full and, of course, the classic Oyster case is a testament to its water resistance representing the Rolex certified Superlative Chronometer that all Oyster Perpetual Models hold. The watch is equipped with…

She says working with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has two sides. “But I will not talk about the other side,” she laughs. Insisting that collaborating with a perfectionist, who does his homework well, builds a certain pressure that either makes or breaks you, designer Anju Modi, who recently designed the costumes for the filmmaker’s Bajirao Mastani elaborates, “One is pushed to a point where one not only gives his/her best but also goes beyond.” Modi stresses that the experience of working with Bhansali has given her an introduction to a different facet of herself. She elaborates, “I now know how to deliver —interlacing my vision with that of someone else.” In Chandigarh recently where her clothes will be showcased at Raya The Lifestyle Store in Sector 7, the designer feels…

“EVERYBODY AT HOME WAS INTRIGUED BY HOW QUICKLY AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD, I GRASPED THE TECHNIQUES TAUGHT BY MY GRANDMOTHER. MY REAL EDUCATION STARTED ON THAT ANCIENT SEWING MACHINE GUIDED BY HER BAUTIFUL WRINKLED HANDS.” ANUPREET SIDHU, Fashion designer “I HATE SAYING THIS, BUT MANY PUNJABI WOMEN SETTLED ABROAD SEND PHOTOGRAPHS OF WORKS BY TOP DESIGNERS AND ASK THE LOCAL DESIGNERS TO REPLICATE THEM.” EVERY GIRL’S BEST FRIEND IN THE WARDROBE 1 DON’T BELIEVE ANYONE IF THEY SAY THAT THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS IS NOT IMPORTANT. IT IS INDISPENSABLE. 2 GET A PAIR OF PLAIN WHITE SHIRTS TO TEAM WITH WELL-FITTED JEANS. SECOND GLANCES ARE GUARANTEED 3 PLEASE EXPERIMENT. MIX AND MATCH ARE NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DEGREES IN FASHION. IT’S ALL ABOUT AESTHETICS. 4 LONG THIN DRESSES ARE…

How Baba Ramdev emerged as a political, economic and cultural superbrand “Was it necessary to carry such a repulsive cover image of Baba Ramdev? FYI, we buy Patanjali products not for his ‘connections’ but because they are cheaper, ayurveda-based and have healthier ingredients.” J. AKSHOBHYA, Mysuru A Rain Check for China At a time when the world is being called upon to usher in a sustainable future through the judicial use of natural resources, China, with its craze for megacities, will only exacerbate the ecological crisis (New Dream Cities). Despite its considerable investment in renewable energy, Thomas Friedman’s quote resounds: “What if it meets all criteria of economic success except one: You cannot live there!” C.V. KRISHNA MANOJ, Hyderabad China is brimming with possibility, but its rapid urbanisation also needs…

With designation not guaranteeing funds or international assistance of any sort, decision makers in India have questioned the need for making an effort Rarely does heritage—built or natural—generate news that evokes pride. So this week’s headlines announcing three additional UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites in India was welcome news. Even before the World Heritage Committee annual session in Istanbul was disrupted by the failed coup—the designation was announced for the archaeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara in Bihar, the Khangchendzonga National Park of Sikkim and the Le Corbusier-designed capitol complex in Chandigarh. The Khangchendzonga National Park named after the world’s third highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga, spanning valleys, lakes, glaciers, snow-capped mountains and ancient forests, is linked organically with the Buddhist faith. The Nalanda Mahavihara, or Nalanda University, comprises the archaeological remains…

The Age of Endlings Jay Mazoomdaar HarperLitmus Pages 288 Price Rs 399 THE ESSAYS ARE A WOEFUL RECORD OF UNBELIEVABLE INCOMPETENCE, VENALITY AND IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCE Think about this: Veerappan and his dacoits killed so many elephants for ivory, that it triggered a genetic response in the elephant population: the average weight of the animals’ tusks dropped by half, and the number of makhna calves—males born without tusks—rose sharply. That’s the kind of hair-raising index of ecological sensitivity, and depredation, liberally strewn around journalist Jay Mazoomdaar’s essays in The Age of Endlings. The collection is based on a decade of investigative reporting focused on the Indian wilderness and the systems that are supposed to protect it. That already makes it an unusual work in a country where environmental concerns are rapidly…

I met him in 1950 at an AIFACS exhibition held near Parliament Street—of landscapes he painted in Kashmir. I was young then, juggling painting with my economics course. I admired his work and had an interesting conversation, so I invited him over for a meal. My father was a government official and we lived on Kushak Road. We talked for ages and he went to sleep in the garden. My father found him smoking on the lawn at 4 am and asked who he was. Raza tried hard to get a scholarship from the French. He was very engrossed in his work and had no diversions—no films or music, only painting. In 1959, I had an exhibition in Prague and went to Paris to meet him. He was living in…

One of America’s most famous graphic artists Paul Rand changed the way the world views beauty and was of the opinion that, “Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated.” There is almost no aspect of our lives that remains untouched by design in all its glory. From seemingly innocuous products of everyday use that are ergonomic, aesthetic without trying too hard and beautiful in that they accomplish their purpose and also please the eye, it is evident that the culture of well-designed things is here to stay. Our design special attempts to separate the mechanical from the mundane and uses filters to present to you the many faces of design. Our cover story profiles British designer Tom Dixon who…

1975 Tom Dixon gets his only qualification An A-level in pottery. 1981 Two years as a professional musician playing bass guitar in a disco band teach Dixon the importance of self motivated creation and commerce in the public eye. 1983 Dixon gets his first practical lesson in design by oxy-acetylene welding in a car body repair shop in south London. 1987 A doodle of a chicken turns into a chair. The S-Chair is now in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Victoria & Albert in London. 1994 Dixon creates Jack Light, billed as the ‘sitting, stacking, sitting, thing’, to prove that manufacture was possible in the UK 1998–2008 Dixon gets a day job at retail legend, Habitat, first as head of design and then as Creative Director,…

THE CROSSOVER I have seen the fashion industry evolving and today the worlds of fashion and interiors overlap. There have always been close linkages between the two and Ralph Lauren and Gianni Versace were amongst the first designers to attempt this crossover. Today though, almost every fashion designer has extended his design sensibility to the home décor space. Interior design and decor is an appealing universe because it works on a timeline which gives space for creation but also ensures that you can enjoy the product afterwards. A collection or a new project takes anything between six months and two years to develop and if it is striking, it is likely to resonate with people and stay top of their minds for seasons to come. This is a break from…

WE MAY SPEND LAKHS ON GETTING A ELITE NUMBER FOR OUR CAR, BUT WE DO NOT SPEND A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT JUMPING RED LIGHTS, HONKING LIKE A MADMAN IF NOT GIVEN WAY OR FURIOUSLY CHANGING CAR LANES. One of the greatest virtues of living in Chandigarh is the serious practice of following traffic rules. So if you’re in any part of the country and you see somebody furiously searching for the seat belt when the car engine starts, you can mock him derisively and say, “achcha tum Chandigarh se ho!” (Oh, you are from Chandigarh it seems). It’s almost like saying, “You idiot, you don’t fit in here”. Tying the front seat belt is second nature to most of us. Whenever I travel by a cab, I insist on…

The exodus from the ranks of Hindu untouchables has brought the Dalits significant rewards. A sizeable number have made it to the top ranks of society by becoming Indian Administrative Service officers, engineers and doctors. The newly-minted Buddhists have also relieved themselves of the great psychological burden of being the lowest of the low. The men in the villages refuse to perform traditional chores such as carting dead animals. The women have shed the traditional marks of the lower castes—no more nine-metre sarees, no more earthen vessels in the kitchen, no more silver jewellery. Says Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of the great old man: “More than all this we have learnt to fight for our rights.” This self-assertion has frequently brought the Dalits into direct conflict with caste Hindus. The Marathwada…

BREEDING GROUND 309 FIRs had been lodged till May this year in the area, about half of these pertaining to cyber crimes As the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act does not allow sale/purchase of land, there are hundreds of litigation cases relating to land grab with forged papers In the past too, Jamtara has been known as a hub for train thieves, forgers and petty criminals Next time you get a call from “the ATM headquarters” or the “SBI main branch” seeking your debit card details, ask: “Are you calling from Jamtara?” The caller may not respond, but the answer most likely is yes. This back-of-beyond district in eastern Jharkhand is at the bottom of the pile among computer-literate regions, populated by poor farmers, and the homes get barely five hours…

5 THINGS TO EXPECT FROM A GOWARIKER FILM LARGER THAN LIFE It is never short on scale, be it in number of extras or size of the sets NEWBIE ZONE A newcomer who gets his/her moment in the spotlight OVER TWO HOURS LONG A running time that goes beyond 140 minutes MESSAGE FOR THE MASSES A socially relevant message is a must DRAMA There is always a grand finale costing a lot of money Ashutosh Gowariker doesn’t budge. He can be as resolute as Bhuvan, Mohan and Akbar, his reel heroes. Ask his wife, producer Sunita. For Jodhaa Akbar (2008), the filmmaker refused to entertain her and art director Nitin Desai’s request that the walls of the set for Agra Fort be brought down from the original 70 to 45…

PINAKIN PATEL Architect and Interior Designer Architect, interior designer, furniture and fashion designer, artist and thinker, Pinakin Patel has set benchmarks in creating spaces and furniture that distinctly reflect his own unique sensibility, which has been labelled ‘India Modern’. In 2014, he added yet another discipline of design to his portfolio, namely fashion, and launched his own label called ‘Pinakin Occasion Wear’. CHINKI SINHA Writer Chinki Sinha is a writer and believes that to write, one must travel and see the world that we inhabit with new eyes. She returned home to India after a post-graduate degree in journalism from Syracuse University and has written for The Indian Express, Elle, Open magazine as well as Al Jazeera. In her latest role, she is employed as Associate Editor at India Today…

Luxury tastes sweetest when it comes with a tag of exclusivity. That’s precisely what Bottega Veneta’s plans for the Indian market include with the introduction of the Baby Olimpia bag. While the bag itself is not exclusive to India, but camel, an exclusive colour of the style in limited edition, will be available only for select boutiques in India. The Olimpia’s name is reminiscent of the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy, (a theatre constructed in 1580-1585 by the Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio), and has been presented through the seasons in a variety of materials and colour combinations. The compact rendition of the iconic Olimpia is now crafted in shiny Ayers, hand woven to obtain an exclusive three-dimensional effect that highlights the natural beauty of the leather in its elegant…

1 JACK LIGHT 1994 The sitting, stacking, sitting thing. Jack is a multifunctional object made from plastic and uses the process of rotary moulding. First launched in 1994, Jack was designed and mass produced to prove industrial manufacture was still possible in the UK. 2 S-CHAIR FOR CAPPELINI 1997 The chair catapults Dixon from the design underground to the mainstream 3 THE GREAT CHAIR GRAB 2006 Experiments and innovation in distribution commence with 1,000 polystyrene chairs given away in public in Trafalgar Square, London, in an attempt to prove that disruptive models can also work in the furniture business 4 MONDRIAN HOTEL SEA CONTAINERS HOUSE, LONDON 2014 Dixon creates a bold new energy for hotels in London meshing the scale of the site’s industrial maritime heritage with the eclectic South…

If Bangkok is Thailand’s wild, rebellious teenager, Krabi is the pampered love child that got sent to a Swiss finishing school. It is where sin is not a boisterous shudder, but a carefully nurtured ache that stays well past the glory moment of the witching hour. Magic usually summons the perfect matrix of time and space to reveal itself; haute joaillerie brand Bulgari seems to have spun its enchanting allegory based on similar logic, thus choosing the Edenesque charm of Krabi to unveil Creative director for jewellery, Lucia Silvestri, explains the draw of the Orient. “I remember my first time in Thailand, about 25 years ago, like it was yesterday; it was incredible, like a film script. I was travelling with Paolo Bulgari, president of Bulgari, on my first trip…

He cannot locate the switch to turn on the light. His wife Rajinder Rozy comes from the other room and does the needful. “You’ll know when you start spending more time at home, right?” she says. Theatre director Sahib Singh smiles. “She is an actor. She knows her lines well,” says the 48-year-old. Singh is content with the response to Humsaya, the five-day theatre festival of Pakistani plays by Ajoka Theatre, Lahore that he organised in Chandigarh in July. His Mohali-based theatre group Adakar Manch, besides staging plays in Punjab and the rest of the country, also takes its production to Pakistan, is yearning for more such exchanges. “I live in the real world. I know artistic exchanges don’t solve political problems or boundary issues, but they do go a…