Innholdsfortegnelse for December 24, 2018 i India Today

Political parties and politicians have a nasty habit of resurrecting themselves after their obituaries have been written. On December 11, the Indian National Congress proved this maxim by pulling off its biggest victory in four-and-a-half years, winning the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It won these crucial Hindi heartland states in straight fights with the BJP. This Phoenix-like revival came after its worst-ever electoral defeat in the May 2014 Lok Sabha election and electoral routs in 11 state assembly elections since then. Anti-incumbency was of course a major factor. Two of these states—Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarhhad been BJP bastions for 15 years and the Congress had no real alternative vision to sell except perhaps a change of management. Rajasthan has a record of sorts of alternating regimes. Besides,…

A study published in medical journal Lancet on December 5 confirms, yet again, that Indians are dying in unprecedented numbers because of the toxic air they breathe, that our lifespans are cut short and our children are less healthy than counterparts around the world. In 2017, no state in India, the report notes, could match the World Health Organization’s standards for clean air. Indeed, most Indians are exposed to levels of particulate matter in air far higher than even the lax national standards. The report expresses cautious optimism about the benefits of some government schemes, including one to provide people with natural gas, and suggests Indian policymakers study efforts to check pollution in China and Mexico. 14 Of the world’s 15 most polluted cities located in…

Top state Congress leaders—PCC president Bhupesh Baghel, leader of opposition T.S. Singhdeo, Durg MP Tamradhwaj Sahu and former Union minister Charandas Mahantworked for the party without undercutting each other’s prospects. No Independents were fielded to damage own party candidates, something Ajit Jogi reportedly did earlier Supporters of all four Congress leaders worked to ensure their candidates won as they saw their leaders as contenders for the top post. Not declaring a CM candidate also helped the Congress BJP’s flawed ticket distribution worked to the Congress’s benefit Tapping into farmer distress, Congress promised loan waiver, enhancement of paddy procurement price and payment of two-year bonus backlog to clinch the support of the farming community which comprises nearly 70 per cent of the state’s 25 million population A monthly dole of Rs…

The Congress’s ouster from Mizoram has certainly fulfilled Amit Shah’s dream of a Congress-mukt northeast, but there is little reason for the BJP president to celebrate. In the 40-member assembly, the Mizoram National Front (MNF), a regional party led by two-time chief minister Zoramthanga, swept the polls by winning 26 seats. The MNF is a member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre and the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a BJP-led umbrella organisation of non-Congress parties from the northeast. NEDA convenor and Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has already tried to project this victory as the BJP’s success. “With the MNF winning Mizoram, the constituents of NEDA will head governments in the entire northeast. We worked towards it tirelessly for the past three years under the leadership…

September 2016 Urjit Patel takes charge as the 24th RBI governor November 2016 Demonetisation announced; Patel is blamed for flip-flops as banks fail to keep cash flowing June 2017 Patel refuses to meet finance ministry officials ahead of the bi-monthly meeting of the RBI and keeps the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) away from North Block August 2017 The RBI pays ₹30,659 crore as dividend, half of what was paid in 2016 February 2018 The RBI tightens bad loans reporting norms significantly, puts several banks under the Prompt Action Framework (PCA). The government blames the RBI for lax regulation March 2018 The government rejects the RBI’s call for more powers over PSU banks April 2018 The RBI puts 11 of the 21 public sector banks under PCA August 2018 Swadeshi economist…

Just four years after making it in Kannada cinema—aka Sandalwood—Yash is looking to woo audiences across the country and around the world with the big-budget period piece KGF. Unusually for a Kannada film, KGF (which stands for Kolar Gold Fields) has a scale and budget to match the Telugu and Tamil film industries. Directed by Prashanth Neel and set in the 1970s, it tells the story of Rocky as he makes his way from the streets of Mumbai to Kolar. Known for Kannada hits like Mr and Mrs Ramachari (2014), Yash is revelling in the moment and basking in the new level of fame following the release of the KGF trailer in five languages (Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam). He also remains loyal to the movie business. “ No…

CRAZY RICH ASIANS This talking-point film set off a street food war between various Southeast Asian nations as well as various debates on the portrayals of Asians in Hollywood—where (unlike in Britain) the term refers to Chinese-Japanese-Korean-Vietnamese etc but not desis. Hooq COCO BEFORE CHANEL The tale of the woman behind the storied brand, it has a bit more style than substance. But Audrey Tautou’s portrayal of Coco is masterful in its subtlety. iTunes RAJMA CHAWAL A father (Rishi Kapoor) catfishes his son in this Netflix original—pretending to be a hot girl so that he can connect with his boy. But despite Kapoor’s charisma and the promise of that setup, it barely succeeds in being funny. Netflix…

A sunny road dressed with dust and dry shrubs with that odd cow or dog walking on it leads you to the Modi House. Located in the heart of south Delhi, it is home to artist Surbhi Modi. The large doors open to reveal a verdant vista, where concrete and glass, found in equal measure, give shape and form to the farmhouse. Step inside and you find art in every nook and corner, some by Modi, some by greats such as MF Hussain and Paresh Maity. With a keen eye for design, Modi’s home is always ready for the season. “There is a definite difference in the colour palette of furnishings in the summer and winter. I am constantly fighting routine and boredom and take pleasure in moving things around,”…

After design, what’s the singular most important thing when it comes to zeroing in on your home? The location of course. This apartment called Sky Villa in Lower Parel, Mumbai has one of the best locations the city can offer. Consider this; a stunning view of the Race Course on one side and the Arabian Sea (that can be enjoyed from the 1,000 sq ft deck) on the other. Located on the 46th floor, it is home to three generations of the Bagrecha family. So, the design had to be kept minimal and elegant with splashes of colour thrown in for good measure. However, each room is distinct with every member’s personal requirements fulfilled. Beautiful geometric pattern marble flooring, mint green arm chairs, and a gold and crystal pendant light…

IIT MADRAS COLLABORATES WITH NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY INDIAN INSTITUTE of Technology (IIT) Madras has collaborated with Northwestern University, US, for carrying research in the areas of data science, web science, network science and computational social science. The aim is to jointly develop features for three web-based software platforms that focus on network-based approaches to facilitate team assembly and processes. The first project under this collaboration is a web-based platform titled ‘My Dream Team’ that focuses on assembling people with harmonising skill sets. BHARTIYA SKILL DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY SIGNS MOU WITH ASDC THE SCHOOL of Automotive Skills of the Bhartiya Skill Development University (BSDU) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) to address skill gap in the automotive sector by bringing industry and academia together and to train…

A recent study by ASSOCHAM reveals that only seven per cent of India’s management graduates match industry expectations. Lakhs of MBA graduates come out of business schools every year in the country. Apart from the IIMs and a few other management institutes that have intelligently assimilated industry experts and relevant practices, most of the over 5,500 B-schools are unable to stand up to the challenge pertinent to employment requirements of the industry. Quality check Quality in management education has taken a back seat to the needs of running a business. Ninety-three per cent of MBA graduates end up either unemployed or earning between ₹8000 and ₹10,000 a month. Most B-schools forget that they will lose their relevance if they fail to connect the dots between industry needs and B-school outputs.…

Create an open work culture that will foster constant learning and innovation An open working environment let individuals set their own agenda. That in-turn will attract a diverse and new pool of talent. Why not have an inclusive and straightforward culture? These are two other essentials for millennials in today’s scenario where there is tough competition. A company that encourages employees to exchange ideas and values every voice attracts the best talent Rather than being a traditional boss, be a boss who acts like a mentor, guiding young minds in their work. Millennials want it that way and prefer not to be bossed around.…

We live in a world where we are hounded by content and communication that is accessible in multiple formats and platforms. Hence, it is important today to be able to communicate appropriately. Many of us fear public speaking and dread being in front of a crowd. This is quite understandable as there is a risk of being remembered for the wrong reasons. Here are a few tips on why you need to improve your public speaking skills and how it could help you grow your career. IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS AND DEVELOPMENT Be it a job interview, an office meeting, a college presentation or a simple discussion with friends and families, success depends on one’s ability to speak in front of the public. It is a crucial factor when it…

FUN UNDER THE SUN Christmas Market by Local XO Abandon your weekend plans and head to this picnic-style Christmas market by Local XO. A short walk away from the beach, the event is set up over sprawling lawns with community tables to sit at and sip on a cocktail, while Santa arrives to the sound of carols. With 35 food, lifestyle products, home décor, organic produce and artisanal food product stalls on offer, there will be something for everyone here. Besides a traditional Christmas spread and Korean burgers from a food truck, some of the attractions at the market include a calendar of events for kids, decoupage workshops for adults, yoga sessions, a spa corner and a live band. “We are also encouraging collaborations—fresh organic fruits can be used for…

Demonetisation hasn’t worked anywhere except as an attempt by governments to disarm adversaries All governments make mistakes. Mostly, these consist of a series of small ones whose effects are localised. But at 8 pm on November 8, 2016, the Modi government made a gigantic blunder, which had economy-wide effects: it rendered 86 per cent of the Indian currency invalid. The effect was the same as suddenly taking out 86 per cent of engine oil: the motor seized up. As Winston Churchill might have said, never had so many been made so miserable by so few. The RBI recently reported that 97 per cent of the currency had come back which means that only the non-black money holders suffered. The decision to demonetise on such a scale thus neither had, nor…

STAR SHUFFLE The BJP is mulling a major reshuffle of its movie star MPs in the Lok Sabha in time for 2019. Dissident Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha may get the axe, and Hema Malini, on shaky ground in Mathura, might be moved. The late Vinod Khanna’s seat in Gurdaspur, now held by the Congress, may go to his wife Kavita Khanna or superstar Akshay Kumar. The party plans to move Kirron Kher out of Chandigarh to fight for the prestigious Amritsar seat. Sunny Deol, now at the fag end of his film career, could be another ticket hopeful in Punjab. And Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari may be asked to vacate his Delhi Northeast Lok Sabha seat to prepare for the 2020 assembly polls. The only stars sitting pretty in…

TRIPPED ON POPULISM Unlike the BJP, the Congress promised farmers loan waivers. The party announced that its government would write off the loans within 10 days of assuming power. It also promised doles to unemployed youth. ANTI-INCUMBENCY The BJP faced anti-incumbency in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In Chhattisgarh, poor governance and corruption were key issues, with Chief Minister Raman Singh being seen as virtually running the state through a select few favourite bureaucrats. In MP, the non-performance of party MLAs and their disconnect with the masses hurt the party. In Rajasthan, the mood had turned decidedly against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Despite three bypoll defeats, the party failed to sense the inevitable and take corrective measures. MUSLIM & DALIT FACTOR The Congress, by all accounts, succeeded in building a…

• The Congress polled 39.3 per cent votes against the BJP’s 38.8 per cent • NOTA got 470,000 votes • Muslims, according to their numbers in the 2011 Census, constitute 9 per cent of the electorate • Average turnout at 74.2 per cent was less than the 75.2 per cent in 2013. The turnout of women was higher at 74.7 per cent than the 73.8 per cent for men • First-time voters, or those between 18 and 19 years, constituted an 80.2 per cent vote share • Pilot won his first assembly poll comfortably from Tonk against BJP’s sole Muslim candidate Yunus Khan • Krishna Poonia, Commonwealth Gold medallist, won from Sadulpur defeating sitting BSP MLA Manoj Nyangali…

For the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and its founder K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), a second consecutive assembly poll win was made sweeter by being even more emphatic than the one that brought him to power in 2014. Having called for an early poll—eight months ahead of schedule—and sustained a long 90-day election campaign, the TRS converted incumbency into a phenomenal poll gain, riding on Telangana pride and pro-people welfare. The gamble clicked and with it “the political fragility” he had referred to as the trigger for dissolving the first Telangana legislative assembly receded. The TRS has crushed the long-standing hypothesis of political pundits that larger turnouts are bad news for the party in power. The party, which won 63 seats in the 119-member house in 2014, bagged 88 on December…

HIPPIE by PAULO COELHO PENGUIN; ₹399; 272 pages The publishing world’s favourite alchemist works his magic again, turning ordure into dollars. This time, with a fable of his younger self. We had been warned. Among the many doses he has issued to his countless addicts over the years is the bromide, “to realize one’s personal legend is one’s only true obligation.” So now we know: young Paolo was briefly part of the Great Unwashed, travelling the ‘Hippie trail’ in the 1970s. He is, inevitably, an underwhelming aquarian—sexually and psychedelically timid, he gives up on the road half way to Kathmandu. That said, this is an authentic document of that overhyped but underexamined moment in the annals of globalisation when youthful Western ennui met ancient Eastern obscurantism in a post-colonial orgy…

Why did Odisha agree to host the hockey world cup? Hockey India approached us two years back and we readily accepted the proposal, as the people in Odisha, especially in tribal areas, are passionate about hockey. In fact, in some of these areas, children learn to walk with hockey sticks! No wonder we have good representation both in the men’s and women’s national hockey teams. An investment in sports is an investment in the youth, and investment in youth is investing in the future. The Seoul and Beijing Olympics put South Korea and China on a new pedestal. Your government has done a good job decorating Bhubaneswar and setting up new sports facilities. It’s not just Bhubaneswar, the entire state is celebrating the world cup. Bhubaneswar is slowly developing as…

Wires, the dark side of the ever-increasing technological presence in homes. Not too long ago a smart home was assessed by the number of wires falling from the ceiling, crammed behind furniture or neatly tied to the sides of walls. This didn’t go down well with the aesthete. Then came wireless internet capabilities and it completely changed the game. Today, lesser the wires, more the technology, the smarter the home. Seoul, a Korean city known for being miles ahead of others in the home tech space became the perfect backdrop for LG Electronics to display its next generation gizmos that follow this line of thought. SMART LIVING The smart home concept is not a new one. But the recent advances in this sector have given rise to an exciting number…

Even though it’s dark, you can see the twinkle in her eye. Her hands move rhythmically when she speaks and there’s a bounce in step as she gets ready to take stage for a Pecha Kucha organised by Kohler in the Capital. For world renowned Italian architect Paola Navone, design is an attitude and everything is a source of inspiration. Counted among one of the top designers in the world, Navone happily dons as many hats as you can throw at her. “I was born as an architect, became a designer and meantime I work in style,” she says. So she also plays roles of art director, interior decorator, industrial planner, critic and creator of events, as and when needed for her several thousand projects. Not surprisingly, there is no…

BE IT IKATS, SILKS OR JACQUARDS, there exists a gamut of chair and sofa upholstery options in the market. But Sihasn stands out. Why? The e-commerce company that opened its doors in December 2017 uses dhurries as upholstery material for all its furniture pieces. The dhurries are from Jaipur Rugs and are woven in cotton and block-printed with an indigo dye. As for the process, “It requires use of special materials, size 12 scissors (which are very difficult to find and handle), a fabric-cutting machine, and size 12 (instead of the standard size 9) staples. Once the upholstery pattern is drawn and cut, it is stitched together into the silhouette of the furniture structure before it is upholstered with staples and stitches,” says Sanju Rao, the founder and creative director.…

A degree in management education is coveted, both at home and abroad. In this hyper competitive job market, as competition surges, one needs to stand out. B-schools are under immense pressure to innovate, reinvent themselves and their curriculum to beat the challenges today because of VUCA (Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) that exists in the business world. They need to focus on shaping future business leaders who can contribute to accelerating sustainable economic development. The millennials are looking beyond the confines of traditional jobs and are seeking fresh avenues and job opportunities. Development of leadersip skills, analytical skills, critical thinking, decision-making abilities and time management are some of the key benefits that comes with the degree. It is also imperative that besides giving students opportunities to innovate, management institutes provide…

Those aspiring to study management need to sit for competitive exams such as GMAT, CAT and XAT and other tests before submitting the application for admission. Almost all these tests require students to be good at quantitative skills, reasoning and data interpretation skills, verbal and reading comprehension skills, and in some cases, knowledge of current affairs and general knowledge. Here’s how you can get that competitive edge. Improve your vocabulary To improve verbal ability, one has to be good at both vocabulary and grammar. The more one is conversant in grammar and has good diction, the better one would be in the verbal and English usage skills. Start early and finish at least one book of vocabulary such as Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. Reading novels, newspapers and…

A self-described landa (cross between a cuddly panda and a ferocious lion), Hatha yoga enthusiast, super boss, mother and wife, Harriet Green, Chairman and CEO of IBM Asia Pacific, is a legend. When she turns up for an interview in a Delhi hotel in a leopard print jacket and matching boots, straight off a flight from Hong Kong, she looks every inch the part. Most recently CEO of Thomas Cook, she’s been chief executive officer of Premier Farnell, a global electronics distribution business, and president of the Asia Pacific sector of Arrow Electronics before that. With a unique managerial style and a reputation for sleeping a mere four hours a day, she is tough, fierce and passionate, everything that a powerful woman would want to embody. Here she speaks on…

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOOK The Burning Truth portrays the roller coaster life of Gurgaon-based Sana Sharma. Through it, readers get to witness the daily struggles, challenges and temptations of a teenager who starts smoking in order to fit into her peer group. It is both an eye-opener for parents who want to understand the ‘mysterious’ minds of adolescents and a book that creates awareness about the health hazards of smoking. HOW DID YOU ZERO IN ON THE THEME? When I was in Class 10, I had to submit a project in school which required me to do research on a subject with some personal relevance. After brainstorming for several days and looking for a good subject, I finally came up with the idea of writing a book. I…

Success, George S. Patton observed, is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom. A year ago, when Rahul Gandhi took over as president of the Congress, his own as well as the party’s fortunes had touched a nadir. The Narendra Modi-Amit Shah juggernaut was thundering along and the Bharatiya Janata Party now controlled 18 of the 29 states. The Congress, on the other hand, after its worst ever showing of 44 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, kept slipping further and further in state assemblies where it had been in government, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Manipur and Meghalaya. It also failed to prevent the BJP from registering its sixth consecutive victory in Gujarat. The only big states where it won polls were in…

• Rahul Gandhi led from the front, addressing 82 rallies and relentlessly attacking Modi where it hurts the most—on allegations of corruption, agrarian crisis, unemployment and Dalit and tribal discontent • In Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot worked on the ground for nearly five years; in MP, Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh invigorated the organisation while Jyotiraditya Scindia led the campaign; in Chhattisgarh, a relatively low-profile but united leadership fought against the BJP • The party’s Shakti app helped it gauge the public pulse on multiple issues, including the winning chances of candidates. The two-way communication between grassroots workers and Rahul Gandhi invigorated the cadre • A no-holds-barred social media campaign, led by Rahul Gandhi himself, earned the party a lot of traction on the digital platform, blunting the edge the BJP…

1 KCR advanced the polls to ensure the regional narrative stayed top of the mind; holding it simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls, he feared, would diffuse this focus 2 Targeted welfare measures and sops for specific sections as a people-first focus 3 Showcased the party’s role in leading the separate statehood campaign since 2001 4 Sharpened the focus on the charismatic leadership of KCR, Telangana identity and its people’s pride 5 Attacked N. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP as an anti–Telangana party that opposed statehood; also exploited public anger over inter–state distribution of water…

WEAVE A TALE Much more than coverings for your floor, carpets are versatile pieces of art. Often used to give homes character and interiors a facelift, they come in different sizes, colours, textures and patterns. The focus this season is on eclectically designed carpets that can weave a story around them and are conversation pieces. Drawing inspiration from one of the ruling dynasties of the Persian empires, the Safavid collection in silk and wool and jewel-toned hues, has a spiritual connotation and spells royalty, radiance and abundance. Nishant Chandra, Director - Sales, The Carpet Cellar, says, “The patterns might seem to be ornate and floral but they are perfectly balanced with geometric lines and are ideal for formal rooms in both contemporary and traditional settings.” The limited edition range has…

For 48-year-old architect Pankaj Vir Gupta, one half of vir.mueller architects, an academic approach to architectural research is as important as integrity of material and craftsmanship. From teaching to designing projects across the globe, Gupta opens up about his vision, style and inspiration. YOUR JOURNEY... I grew up in New Delhi went to the US to study architecture, then started teaching in there. I met my partner Christine Mueller there and we started vir.mueller architects in Boston in 2003. From 2003 to 2006 we were both teaching at the University of Texas in Austin. Simultaneously we were building houses in Colorado, a library in Wellesley and another house in Boston for an economist. In 2006 we wanted to come to India and set up a practice here. It was a…

Farmville in Surat, Gujarat, is designed with an idea of transforming a conventional farmhouse into a habitable place where the younger generation can connect to its past; recreating the nostalgia of a space that the older generation has grown up in. This has been achieved by mixing modern materials and geometric shapes with traditional techniques. A meandering pathway through breezy and shaded trees leads to Farmville. A solid wood door with a bit of brass inlay greets you at the entrance. The central pathway of the transitional foyer opens in to the courtyards on both sides, which unfold the spaces beyond. The courtyards have a distinctive earthy feel with picturesque sitting area and a wooden deck enclosed on two sides. One has been conceptualised as a Tulsi angan (courtyard) with…

There is a change happening in the field of foreign languages. The global economy is shifting from the English speaking world and use of diverse foreign languages on the Internet has changed in the last few years for global communication and for commercial purposes. Social media giants such as Facebook, Twitter and Google are allowing users to correspond through local languages. In Latin America, the use of Spanish and Portuguese is rising, and in South Asia, Hindi and Urdu is gaining popularity. As economies around the world become increasingly international, demand for languages continues to grow. The significance of foreign language skills for graduates cannot be undervalued. FEEDING THE DEMAND It’s estimated that more than 7,000 languages are spoken around the world. According to a report by UNESCO, the world’s…

What can traditional MBA institutes do to reinvent themselves? It is a challenging time for management education. MBA institutes have to focus more on business in a cross-cultural environment, think about investment opportunities that businesses have in foreign markets, and strive to understand the modern consumer. They have to think of how to integrate technology with the work culture of organisations. Do you see IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) changing their education strategy and approach? Yes, the IIMs are reimagining themselves and they have been wired to do that. All IIMs require diversity in their students and faculty and that means giving them the freedom to recruit the best talent and students from all over the world. How employable is the average Indian management graduate? The average Indian management graduate…

A millennial employee is one who has a diverse set of opinions, is fascinated by new technologies and is collaborative by nature. The most distinctive feature of these new age employees is their approach towards work, which is quite different from the generations before them. This rapidly growing workforce is also known for their rational thinking, focused approach and for challenging traditional processes. Studies suggest that by 2025, millennials will form 75 per cent of the global workforce. Today, 46 per cent of India’s workforce is made up of millennials. This shows their increasing presence and how they are shaping the work culture. Therefore, understanding their needs and what motivates them is imperative for increased retention, productivity and work satisfaction. EMPOWERMENT IS KEY Appreciating their work and giving them due…

WHAT ARE THE EDTECH TRENDS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM? Digitisation is the single biggest disruptor in the education segment covering all parts of the stage. Gone are the days when manuscripts were written by hand. They are written now on word documents with pictures complementing content. The young learners take to digitisation and digital inputs like nobody else. For them, it’s been a journey. Technology or digital innovation disrupts and takes you to the next level. So, data affordability, data reach, and mobile penetration where 9/10 new Internet users access the medium through mobile is rising. If you take the total delivery cycle from creation to curation to distribution, digitisation has been the single biggest innovator on all these fronts because in a non-digital world, curation…