Innholdsfortegnelse for December 16, 2019 i India Today

Over the past few months, the Indian economy’s growth engines—from real estate to agriculture to exports and internal consumption—have coughed and sputtered to a halt. The economy is now in free fall. Figures recently released by the government have confirmed our worst fears. India’s GDP growth plunged to a 26-quarter low of 4.5 per cent in the July-September quarter of 2019-20 as manufacturing contracted, investments weakened and consumption demand fell. GDP growth stood at 8.1 per cent in the same period a year ago. In the first quarter of this fiscal, it was just 5 per cent, already the slowest in six years. The steep decline is now approaching a danger mark—3.5 per cent—the metaphorical ‘Hindu rate of growth’, a coinage of the economist Raj Krishna for India’s sluggish growth…

Improving ties with neighbours has been a leitmotif of Indian foreign policy under all governments. An optimal policy has to address many difficulties: our smaller neighbours feel threatened by our size, they bristle at any perceived violation of their sovereignty, draw in other big powers as a balancing strategy, play domestic politics around our supposedly ‘big brotherly’ attitude, expect generous treatment without any reciprocal obligation and are, besides, apprehensive about losing their identity because of our shared regional, ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural links. Prime minister and foreign minister twice, Inder Kumar Gujralwhose 100th birth anniversary fell on December 4—while aware of these complexities, was the first to enunciate in September 1996 a neighbourhood policy that would modify India’s image from a regional hegemon to one of an accommodating neighbour…

“I have gone around the country and met industry leaders. I have gone around the country where people both in social media and to my face said, ‘Oh my God! You are the worst finance minister we have seen’, not even waiting for me to finish six months of my tenure... It is this government under Prime Minister Modi that listens to criticism, which responds to criticism with positivity, rather than keep sitting and criticising.” Speaking in the Lok Sabha, finance minister NIRMALA SITHARAMAN responded to the furore sparked by industrialist Rahul Bajaj’s direct questions to home minister Amit Shah about an atmosphere of fear in the country, arguably fanned by the BJP and the party’s perceived intolerance of criticism. She had already responded on Twitter, accusing Bajaj, though not…

AIR POLLUTION Air pollution arises from diverse sources, including coal-based power generation, transport, industry and agriculture. Solutions include: Efficient transport, including better public transport systems and measures like car pooling A shift from petrol and diesel vehicles to CNG and electric versions A shift to renewable sources of energy like solar and wind power Better agricultural techniques, such as mechanical removal of stubble rather than burning SOIL POLLUTION Soil pollutants can be solid, liquid or gaseous. They damage soil by altering its mineral composition and also disturb ecological balances. Causes include urban and industrial waste and agricultural pollution. Solutions include: Better waste management, including collection, segregation, recycling and treatment of waste to reduce the amount dumped into landfills Reduction in the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides Better enforcement of…

It’s depressingly familiar. She sounds like she was a lovely person—a scooter-riding veterinarian, just what I wanted to be when I was a little girl. Now she is dead; raped and killed, her burnt body left under a culvert off National Highway 44. The Union defence minister clutches his chest on national TV. Lots of moustachioed experts shout over each other in the Lok Sabha. Jaya Bachchan says, “I think these kind of people should be brought out in public and lynched properly.” Huh? As opposed to lynched improperly? Whom does all this bloodthirsty rhetoric serve? I’ll tell you whom it doesn’t serve: rape survivors, who have had our fill of violence. It does, however, serve rapists very well. A good friend of mine, as soon as he heard that…

In an author’s note at the end of Gunboat Jack, Aleph’s reissue of a novel originally published under another title in 1981, author Timeri N. Murari recalls his childhood fascination with the black-American boxer who knocked around Bangalore in the 1950s—an exotic figure who wore cowboy boots and a Stetson. Knowing little of the fighter’s history and apprehensive about his ability to inhabit the soul of a black American of that era, he explains, he really only borrowed two aspects from the real man’s life for his character—his name and his curious exile in India, where his displacement allows him to float between the worlds of the British, the Anglo-Indians and the erstwhile royals, all newly unmoored by independence. His Gunboat Jack is a white man, trapped in Bangalore after…

GRATIFICATION MAY SCRAPE the bottom of the barrel of American psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, but for the bon vivant’s love of gourmandise, there is “no more admirable occupation than eating. Appetite is for the stomach what love is for the heart…” It is this sentiment that Spice tosses up this issue. But our toothsome test of taste cuts its teeth on all things unexpected; the food story unfolds not at regular gourmet capitals of the world, where innovative techniques or new trends in cookery steal the show. Spice puts the spotlight on the single most exciting international food wave that has been quietly sweeping the globe. It pulls out all the stops; peels away the misconceptions and serves up luxuriously gourmet and inventive fare that the world is…

Neon Bright If your vacation includes outdoor activities then slip into this highly visible Stone Island bomber jacket. Made from a cotton blend ripstop, the jacket comes with a packable hood. Price £1,059 Availability www.mrporter.com Shock Value A jacket in a bright colour will liven up the dreariest of days. This Jacquemus wool felt blazer is a good pick. Its cinched at the waist to complete your look. Price $1,575 Availability jacquemus.com Smooth as Velvet A sporty silhouette in a super luxe fabric, Officine Generale’s jacket combines the best of athleisure and luxury in men’s outerwear. Price £1,148 Availability www.officinegenerale.com Staid Plaid Here’s a fresh and colourful take on the staid plaid blazer. Silvia Tcherassi’s tweed blazer has shoulder cutouts and feather trims—edgy enough to be worn to a night…

If you thought precision timing was the sole preserve of watch marques, clearly you havn’t seen a nail-biting tail ender of a great sporting event. Luxury watch brand, Panerai may know a thing or two about this as it presents two new references as a tribute to the cricketing icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who also happens to be its Indian brand ambassador. Dhoni, who has long since been an admirer of Panerai, became its brand ambassador for India at the end of 2018. The company is celebrating this collaboration with the launch of two new models: the Luminor GMT 44 mm (PAM01056) and the Luminor Chrono Flyback 44 mm (PAM01057). The two new Panerai watches are meant to express Dhoni’s dynamic dual personality: determined, dependable and confident on the field…

She is like a travelling magician with a collection of magic potions, or in this case a bag full of vials, to boot. With trace elements such as zinc, selenium, food groups like fructose, glucose, gluten etc all present in a concentrated form in these vials, she is ready to dole out her diagnosis and subsequent prescription on the basis of applied kinesiology. Confused? Don’t be. Dr Christine Stossier is used to travelling the world helping people reconnect with their gut in all its glory. The ‘Mayr cure’ that she espouses was developed in the early 20th century by the Viennese doctor Franz Xaver Mayr who focussed on the health of the intestine. A century later, his theory still has teeth. How you eat, not just what you eat, has…

Five years back, a glum Ajit Pawar had vacated his official bungalow, ‘Devgiri’, near Mumbai’s upmarket Malabar Hill. The sprawling Napean Sea Road residence—Mumbai’s second most important political address after the chief minister’s home ‘Varsha’—had been the NCP leader’s home for nearly 15 years, during most of which he was deputy chief minister. State finance minister from the BJP, Sudhir Mungantiwar, then edged out cabinet colleague Vinod Tawde to occupy the residence for nearly five years. With their new government in place, senior NCP and Shiv Sena leaders had made a beeline for the prized accommodation but were left stumped. PWD officials told them the bungalow has been kept aside for Ajit Pawar, slated to enter the cabinet after a reshuffle. #TMI Former BJP minister Pankaja Munde sparked off speculation…

When the erstwhile Reliance Infocomm launched its landmark service in December 2002 with the catchline ‘Kar lo duniya mutthi mein (The world in your fist)’, many called it a revolution in the Indian telecom sector. For the first time, mobile telephony had been made affordable, unleashing its potential to connect Indians irrespective of where they lived or worked. Fourteen years later, when the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio launched its 4G service with VoLTE (voice over long-term evolution) technology in September 2016, the focus was on data, with high-speed video downloads and live-streaming of news, sports and entertainment becoming the new normal. But Jio’s entry also shook up the giant incumbents—Vodafone, Idea and Bharti Airtel—and uprooted Reliance Communications (what Reliance Infocomm came to be known as, and ironically, belonging to Mukesh’s…

1 The number of firearms an individual will be allowed to own instead of the current three 1 YEAR Time individuals will get to deposit their extra firearms with arms dealers or the police ₹ 1 LAKH Fine (with two-year jail) that celebratory firing (such as during weddings or religious events) will invite 4 MILLION The estimated number of arms licences in India 61.4 MILLION An estimate of the number of illicit weapons in India in 2017 2.8% Proportion of licensed weapons in the 37,116 firearms seized in 2016, as per the National Crime Records Bureau…

MARRIAGE STORY Netflix Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Noah Baumbach, starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, the film tells the story of a family that stays together despite a marriage that comes apart. THE REPORT Amazon Prime Adam Driver plays Daniel Jones, a real-life FBI agent. After Jones takes to investigating CIA’s torture of suspected terrorists after 9/11, he becomes a threat to the US himself. INSIDE EDGE Amazon Prime Season two of this show will see Amir Bashir join Vivek Oberoi and Richa Chadha in this popular cricket drama full of greed, lust, ambition, corruption and betrayal.…

1. BRUCE PALLING FOOD COLUMNIST Bruce Palling writes about food and wine. He was South Asia correspondent for The Independent based in Delhi from 1986 to 1989 and is author of India: A Literary Companion (1992). Palling is now devoted to wine writing and consulting for those who wish to both create and maintain first rate cellars. 2. SANDEEP ARORA DIRECTOR, SPIRITUAL LUXURY LIVING Sandeep Arora is a certified Ambassador of Whiskey, having studied in Scotland. He is instrumental in introducing the concept of rare whiskies to India, in 2003. Arora imparts professional training in whiskies to senior professionals in the hospitality sector, F&B executives, whiskey marketers, enthusiasts and connoisseurs. 3. RASHMI UDAY SINGH AUTHOR & TV HOST Rashmi Uday Singh has authored 40 cookbooks, hosted TV shows and is…

Feel the Warmth A puffer jacket is a must have to ward off the cold this season. Pick this one by American Eagle in a bright eye catching shade to keep warm stylishly. Price On request Availability Brand boutiques and online Psyche Out Channel sunnier climes with this rainbow hued cotton blend sweatshirt from Ev Bravado. Pair this tie-dyed hoodie with jeans or tracks for the ultimate comfort ensemble. Price £519 Availability www.mrporter.com Pocket Watch An elegant pocket square pulls together a formal look like the proverbial icing on the cake. We like this bright green one from Goulian Finch that’s handcrafted with zari. Price On request Availability Taj Hotel and Lodhi Hotel, New Delhi Checkered Fellow Hark back to the collegiate days with Prada’s fringed houndstooth scarf. Knitted from…

ANJUM, FAIRMONT, JAIPUR The Mountain Top Dram A majestic location close to Delhi, The Fairmont builds the mood with its fine location, a well-planned bar and great service. Anjum, the lobby bar, offers a good selection of new-age cocktails, including one which uses an exotic mountain herb called amchu and white. The whisky selection is interesting but could be supplemented. A snack menu includes methi tacos—mashed corn, potato onion fritters, avocado tomato jam, sweet yoghurt and karara jhinga (cornmeal crusted prawns). Sip on some wine and enjoy the sunset views from the ornate windows. Cost for two ₹3000 THE SAFARI LOUNGE, THE LODHI, NEW DELHI A Wild Spirit This unique bar, which pairs international cocktails with rustic Indian dishes, serves over 130 inventive cocktails and boasts a fine selection of…

I’D LIKE TO SAY THAT The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh is the best kept wellness secret in this part of Punjab’s green landscape, but judging by the number of Instagram posts, the cat’s definitely been out of the bag for a while now. So, what makes people come back, again and again? If a stunning backdrop of 8,000 acres of Siswan Forest isn’t reason enough to return, the verdant vistas and multifold water features certainly are. That being said, hands down, the biggest draw is the spa. Besides the fact that they offer hydrotherapy, heated relaxation seats, steam, jacuzzi, sauna and a host of treatments, there’s always something fresh to try here. For true sole to soul relaxation the latest additions, aromatic oils from Spanish-brand Alqvimia, are just…

India sends more young people to universities abroad than any country in the world, barring China, with English-speaking countries like the United States, Australia, Canada and Britain the most attractive destinations. While Germany, Russia, Ukraine, China and Malaysia have attracted Indian students for years, the likes of Spain are also admitting more Indian students than before. An international student survey released in the US in November showed that numbers of Indian students were on the rise, even though data released by the Ministry of Human Resource Development showed a marked decline in the numbers of Indian students going to the US between 2017-18 and 2018-19 and a rise in the number of Indian students in other countries. The government data did not include the most recent data for Britain, released…

The December 5 bypolls for 15 assembly seats in Karnataka are turning into a nerve-wracking contest for the BJP, which must overcome local discontent and win at least six seats to remain in power. The bypolls were necessitated as the strength of the 225-member state assembly dropped to 208 following the disqualification of 17 MLAs (13 from the Congress, three of the Janata Dal-Secular or JD(S) and one Independent). Sixteen of them had joined the BJP. Elections, though, are being held for 15 seats as petitions relating to the 2018 assembly polls in Maski and Rajarajeshwari Nagar are pending in court. The results will be out on December 9. The BJP, which has a strength of 106 (including the speaker and one Independent), needs another 6-7 MLAs to achieve a…

There are signs of deep malaise in the Indian economy. Growth is slowing significantly and there is currently little fiscal space available to the government to spend more. Corporate and household debt is rising, and there is deep distress in parts of the financial sector. Unemployment, especially amongst youth, seems to be growing, as is the accompanying risk of youth unrest. Moody’s just sounded the alarm on India’s credit rating. Given that in late 2017, even after the economically ill-advised demonetisation and the poorly implemented roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Moody’s had upgraded India’s sovereign rating, it can hardly be accused of bias. Repeated government allusions to a $5 trillion economy by 2024, which would necessitate steady real growth of at least 8-9 per cent per year…

May 2007 UK’s Vodafone Group Plc enters the Indian market by buying a controlling stake in Hutchinson Essar for around $11 billion February 2012 The Supreme Court cancels 122 telecom spectrum licences that were granted during A. Raja’s tenure as Union telecom minister April 2014 Vodafone Group Plc buys out minority shareholders Piramal Enterprises and Analjit Singh, making the Indian company a fully-owned enterprise September 2016 Reliance Jio is launched, using Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology to allow voice calls on its 4G network December 2017 As a result of crushing debt, Reliance Communications stops offering voice call services August 2018 Vodafone India merges with Idea Cellular to form India’s largest mobile telephony company July 2019 Reliance Jio becomes India’s second largest mobile telephone operator, overtaking Bharti Airtel November 2019…

I’d been waiting a couple of days to hear back from the writer Perumal Murugan, via an editor who promised to translate my questions into Tamil and his replies to English. That this kind of exchange is possible at all is amazing, and a sign of the vibrancy of India’s blossoming translation scene. Murugan, the author of 11 novels (several translated to English), memoirs, short stories, poetry collections and more academic work, is one of this landscape’s brightest blooms. It’s a busy time for publishers though, and Murugan’s replies were slow in coming. Eventually, an editor’s mother stepped in to help—marvellously appropriate given that the interview centred on Amma, a set of stories about Murugan’s mother recently translated into English by Nandini Murali and Kavitha Muralidharan. It is through rural…

LOOK OUTSIDE THIS HOUSE Curated by Sudarshan Shetty, the visual arts exhibit showcases 27 indigenous knowledge systems among social communities, such as Dalit Goddess ‘English’, a two-feet high ‘deity’ who promotes literacy. Shetty says, “These innovations address social needs and are derived from older, artisanal forms of making, and are necessarily outside of the purview of what is expected within a space that is dedicated for ‘art’.” SENSES 4.0 After its previous iterations at SAF, Senses 4.0, curated by Siddhant Shah, will use art as a medium to talk about mental health and happiness via zentangle sessions, neon mandala workshops, mindless poem-writing and postcard-writing. “The crux is arts-based therapy, where mental happiness takes precedence over everything,” Shah says. NARRATIVES IN TOGALU GOMBEYATTA A master puppeteer of the Togalu Gombeyatta, the…

Igor Stravinsky’s spellbinding score for ‘The Rite of Spring’ isn’t a usual soundtrack for a Kuchipudi performance. Bhavana Reddy, however, makes this contrast seem natural. Daughter of the legendary Raja Radha and Kaushalya Reddy, she will be seen dancing to Stravinsky in a Los Angeles Philharmonic production premiering at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on December 6. Reddy is the sole Indian classical dancer in an ensemble that includes six modern dancers. This is also the first time she will be performing with a western classical orchestra comprising one hundred musicians. “In Indian classical dance, the orchestra follows the dancers and the dancer has the freedom,” says Reddy in a phone interview from LA. “In this case, it’s the conductor who has the freedom and we have to follow them.…

Q. Four 50s and a hundred in seven ODI innings this year, and the second-fastest Indian to get to 2,000 runs. What’s the one aspect of your game that you’ve got right? I think after the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup, I had to sit down and think about where I could improve. For the last two years, I’ve been really working on my shot selection because you don’t need to do anything fancy in the ODI format. And it’s coming along well. I’m also a very fidgety person, so I try to keep calm by concentrating on my breathing for 10 minutes before I go out these days. Q. Which has been your favourite knock this year and why? I think the 90 I scored against New Zealand in…

The frenzy of the Kumbh Mela, held on the confluence of three sacred rivers in North India, is a once-in-roughly-twelve years carnival that brings together a ragtag group of believers, ascetics, renunciates, pilgrims and nirvana junkies. New Delhi-born photographer Parul Sharma captures the madness and ecstasy of the greatest religious event in the world attended by over 120 million Hindu devotees in forty pictures taken over one night of Shahi Snan. A section of her photographs document the formal recognition given to India’s growing community of transgender devotees this year at Kumbh. Another section of portraits paints nude Naga sadhus brandishing swords, trishuls or smoking chillums evoking the ferocious spirituality of this congregation. The “Mystic India” exposition has been curated by architect, curator, and impresario, Gigi Cupellini, who is also…

‘Tis the Season Invoke the true holiday feeling with Villeroy & Boch’s Christmas serve ware. This delightful plate displays Yuletide imagery—a perfect gift for the holiday loving family. Price On request Availability Brand boutiques Pop the Bubbly In the spirit of holiday excess, an India-themed bottle is the perfect holiday gift. The design draws from inlay work in Mughal architecture and traditional techniques such as jadau and polki. Price On request Availability Select retail outlets Joy of Giving Kiehl’s best sellers now come in special holiday packaging designed by Helsinki-based artist Janine Rewell. The box contains cult favourites Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Ultra Facial Cream and the Calendula toner. Price ₹7,250 Availability Brand boutiques Scent of Celebration A gift for someone with a discerning eye, the Fragrance du Bois is an…

Berlin’s most high profile pioneering nightclub owner Cookie’ Heinz Gindullis has pioneered vegetarian dining in the superb Cookies and Cream. He manages to distil into his dishes the exhilaration and excitement of his nightclub experience. In Milan, Joia, the worlds very first vegetarian restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star goes sans garlic, onion and egg, and is also gluten-and dairy-free. It is still seriously great. In Zurich, Guinness-certified Hiltl (also the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant) has been dominating the vegetarian scene since 1898. In Peru, not only does one discover pachamanca, their oldest form of cooking vegetables but one can participate in it in the Sacred Valley on the way to Machu Picchu, where many a vegetarian surprise leaps up. In Vienna, vegan gets elevated to fine dining at…

There’s this switch that’s flicked on, each time you step into a Porsche. It’s this silent adrenaline surge that courses through your veins as you hear the engine grunt. And when it’s a Cayenne Coupe with a phenomenally angry Turbo addition to it, there’s no containing the exuberance of stepping on the gas. The Coupe Turbo appears to be exactly what you’d expect in a Cayenne and then some. With a stylish roof that arches across before dropping down at the rear and a twin-spoiler configuration, it’s clear that Porsche means. And then there’s the Twin Turbocharged V8 engine that puts money where its mouth is. With the ability to go from still to 100 kmph in just 3.7 seconds, this is clearly the swiftest Coupe on Indian roads. With…

CLUBS ARE USUALLY SPACES THAT DENOTE exclusivity and there is almost always some snob value attached to them. In that sense, The Kimono Club is no different. Where it differs from other clubs though, is in its ability to turn effortlessly from a lunch place to a watering hole and subsequent party spot. The space, located at The Chanakya, is keen to break stereotypes, and so while there is a sharp focus on partying with deep, almost baroque interiors, a 40-foot bar, noir-like lighting and an abundant use of red, the place is quick to switch into a gorgeous lunch option with one giant ceiling-length skylight—something that will work well in the depths of the Delhi winter. Wine lovers can relax, they will be more than happy with the curated…

Blurring boundaries and pushing the envelope is what iconic brand, Breguet does best. So for its new Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395, the story is no different. The luxury watch marque has opted for an extra-thin three-mm thick skeleton design for its tourbillon movement. This enterprise is as much technical as artistic with a special emphasis on craftsmanship. It is this intrinsic quality to thrill that has become a Breguet imprimatur and the new timepiece from the stable is a true blue bearer. In order to accommodate this new design, the architecture of the tourbillon had to be entirely rethought. The skeleton design—within an 18-carat gold calibre—literally plays with the limits of possibility. The result: one of the finest self-winding tourbillon movements in the world. A feat that required a…