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Wedded to theatre Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin YOUTH SPEAK MATKA CHOWK Heady
without hangover
Film & FASHION
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Sukhna jaisi kahin nahin Even the alleys in the town were a no-no as a morning walker could be knocked down by a pampered NRI’s son testing the speed limits of his 350 CC motorcycle. My poor father did not realise this and he paid for the folly by undergoing a painful hipbone replacement surgery that eventually shortened his life. Walking around the house would have invited undue attention from the neighbours in a state, which leads in psychiatric disorders. With no other option, I abandoned the thought of a morning walk. Fortunately, I did not have to give up my practice. The next day news came that the Communists had given a call for a day’s “hartal” in protest against something like the WTO regime. Of course, the Kerala High Court had decreed that “bandh” was unconstitutional. That’s why the political parties quickly christened it “hartal”. What’s in a name so long as no shops and establishments open and no vehicles ply on the roads? I borrowed my young nephew’s bicycle and went for a ride that lasted an hour. In that state of ecstasy, I would not have minded if the “hartal” had lasted a few days. Again, the Left parties did not disappoint me. Two days later, they gave a call for a “hartal” in the town. This was because one of the Marxist leaders was not invited for an official function. He could have written a letter in protest to the organisers of the function. But in Kerala, it is an affront to dialectical materialism and cause for a “hartal”. Again, I found myself on the bicycle exploring the town. How could the Congressmen remain silent? They gave a call for a “hartal” in protest against the Marxist “hartal”. For a third day in one week, I could have a hassle-free cycle ride in the town. Of course, all this is nothing compared to the Rose Gardens, the Leisure Valleys and the Sukhna lake. It is with some measure of authority I say this because I have explored other comparable spots in many cities in the country. Take the famed Dal Lake in Srinagar. I enjoyed the long walk, from one end of the lake to the other, for a week that I stayed in the strife-torn city. But I could never be at peace with myself with gun-toting security personnel holding positions all along the stretch. And then there was the fear of the terrorist lurking somewhere. In terms of sheer pleasure, the long walk from Belle View Hotel, my favourite destination in Guwahati, to the Vivekananda Kendra along the banks of the Brahmaputra takes the cake. There is considerable drama in the fishermen bringing ashore their night’s catch, which is immediately auctioned. But, then, there is the danger of getting engrossed in the drama and forgetting altogether the constitutional. But ask a Kolkatan, he would claim that the lake near Hindustan Park in central Kolkata, which, the residents insist, is where Comrade Jyoti Basu was born, is the ultimate. He may not be wide of the mark but I found the area overcrowded for a morning walker, who needs some space and escape from the chatterboxes. But for those who are accustomed to periodic Marxist rallies when Kolkata’s roads are chock-a-block, it may be “heaven on Marxland”. The Capital has many spots from Buddha Jayanti Garden to Nehru Park but the pride of place goes to the Lodhi Garden where many go not so much to walk as to boast about their walk. For the voyeurs, these parks provide ample opportunities of witnessing what the censors delete from Hollywood films before they are approved for screening in India. In terms of space, Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, on the banks of the meandering Ganga, provides an ideal arena for the morning walker provided he is ready to confront the morning squatters, who find the rates at the Sulabh toilets nearby unaffordable. The same problem I noticed when I perambulated the Upper Lake in Bhopal, which remains a poor country cousin of the Sukhna, though it is larger. But as lakes go, the Watson lake in Shillong provides a good setting for the morning walker who can go round and round the still waters and not know how much time was spent. But as memories go, the most enrapturing walk was in the Ramoji Rao film studio in Hyderabad where one morning I saw some people shaking a “railway” compartment to give the impression that actor Govinda and his “girlfriend” were travelling in it. Where else can you see a river, an ocean, a Mughal garden, a palace, a north Indian village, a city street and many others in one walk? The early-morning shooting was as hilarious as a young man scaring away birds by beating on an empty tin in the Punjab Agriculture University campus, which provides a treat for the morning walkers. No less breathtaking is the Guru Nanak Dev University campus in Amritsar where a new person is lucky if he is not accosted by fellow walkers and asked to give his whole family details. I thought this was peculiar to the Electricity Board residential campus in Bathinda, where I had a morning walk and where in the years of yore, I am told, some terrorists had created a problem when they occupied a flat. But all this is nothing compared to the Sukhna where there are separate paths for the walkers and the runners. Here, the walker can set a target – walk to the middle or the end of the path, which is clearly measured in metres. But once you are there, you have no option but to walk back. This means an assured walk for the health conscious. As for amusement, there are the overfed ducks so lazy that they wait for bread suppliers, instead of hunting for fish in the lake, and policemen on the lookout for those attempting to commit suicide. Surely, Sukhna jaisi kahin nahin!
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A common (wo)man’s car
The bells of recreation ringed enthusiastically. As many as 125 glamourous women, melodious numbers (burning a slight hole in eardrums, though), and lighthearted family conversations— all warming up a mellow Sunday afternoon. Soon, however, the leisure and laughter gave way to gaiety and excitement, as the men gave away the driving seats to women drivers. The event was an all Women’s Fun Drive organised by Maruti Udyog and the mood jovial. We tried to capture a few moments for you Ally on the road of life Ask this lady what ‘it’ means to her. Better still, say something negative about ‘it’ and watch her reaction. She’ll erupt with volcanic angst or smile down at you with contempt. She may even stare at you defensively, giving you that what-do-you-know about-‘it’ look. Praise ‘it’ and see the glow on her face return unabashedly. Wonder what’s this prized possession that makes its possessive owner’s adrenaline shoot up? A woman’s best friend? A Diamond? A cuddly pet? Naaaww! It’s rather her street-smart companion on the road of life (quite literally)—her chic car. And for letting such women car fanatics flirt around flamboyantly with their passion to drive, Maruti Udyog Limited offered a chance. And go-getters grabbed it well. In fact, about 125 women car freaks flooded the Maruti regional office at Madhya Marg this Sunday. Far away from geeks that are absolutely clueless about cars and computers, these women looked confident and in total control as they fastened their seat belts. Yes, they were all set to embark on the exclusively women’s fun drive organised by Maruti Udyog, that was flagged off at 9 am by Ms. Anu Chathrath, Mayor of Chandigarh and Mr. H.S. Brar, Manager, Maruti Udyog limited.
Slow ‘n’ Steady The drive, meandering through Sectors 8,9,10,16,35,36,37 and finally Dara studio was all about fun. Meenu Dhir, a city based Software Engineer beamed excitedly, “ I have a special attachment with this car as it brought me to my in-laws place. I love to go for long drives in this car , mostly to PU, where I’d met my hubby. And today, I’m thrilled about participating in this rally for the first time.” Waved Avinash, a housewife whose been driving for 9 years, “I’m participating in this event for the sixth consecutive time. With maximum speed limit being restricted to 40 kmph, the event teaches you patience and slow driving, which brings in the leisure element. Saruchi Sood, an Architect by profession smiled, “It’s a nice relaxed outing for a warm December afternoon. In fact, such a slow relaxed drive is therapeutic for those always rushing around.”
But for Veena Madan, working with Spice Telecom, “It’s the gesture of celebrating women drivers that’s touched my heart. I felt amazing seeing my husband getting so enthusiastic about my being in the hot seat!” she flashed those pearly whites. “Finally women drivers are being taken seriously. We are driving for fun, but still are required to follow our route and speed directions, besides the traffic rules. There are gift vouchers for the winners, who’ll accumulate the least number of penalty points. All this has added to the excitement,” added Dr Abhiruchi Makkar, another participant. Well, women no longer are blamed as bad-behind-the-wheel. The city can finally boast of a breed of all such high-powered women who drive their cars with the same passion that drives their lives. They don’t have MUV’s to brag
about, never mind. But they’ll take you for a smooth n stable ride through all the puddles and kachcha dirt tracks. Don’t dare doubt their driving. They surely know how to drive. For, don’t they drive men crazy?
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Wedded to theatre
The day came laden with hope and encouragement for Sahib Singh, the noted actor, director and playwright.
After putting so many years of hard work, rather body and soul, in theatre, his reward came in the form of the Ishwar Chander Nanda Natak Purashkar, which was bestowed upon him by the Language Department in Patiala today. “It feels great to be honoured by the Punjab Government body which promotes art and literature in the state. It gives me encouragement to carry on the mission I started with,” says Sahib, who started his own theatre outfit Adakar Manch in Mohali in the year 1995. The award was given for his book Parinde Jaan Hun Kithey. For a qualified medical doctor, who left this lucrative profession to embrace theatre, his state of elation is easy to understand. The year has been kind to him. The play Andhe Hai Hum, written and directed by him, is gong to represent Chandigarh at the national youth festival to be held in Goa. Another of his play Bandh Andhere Mein just won the first position at the regional round of the inter-university drama festival and now going to compete at the national level. Besides Parinde Jaan Hun Kithey, Sahi has penned down another book Mein Zinda Rahanga, 15 plays, an equal number of tele serials and two films. He was earlier awarded by Punjabi Akademi with the Best Actor Award for five consecutive years. What does theatre means to him? Does he see it as a tool to change the society? “Theatre per se cannot change a society, but it can make people aware about their problems and generate awareness towards change,” says Sahib, beaming with the success he just attained. So his motto is to give the audience something to take home to through his plays, something they can relate to. It was his enthusiasm to present something meaningful to the city audience at regular intervals, which introduced the concept of chain performances. “We started our chain performances for which we created a permanent audience and asked them to contribute a little amount. We carried out this for almost two years but later had to discontinue it for lack of funds,” he says. So what’s next? Plenty, says he with a twinkle in his eyes, “but first and foremost I want to start my own theatre repertoire so that I can carry on with my mission,” he adds. He concludes the interview but leaves behind the note of optimism, which is almost infectious.
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Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin When talking about cricket, Chandigarh can hardly be ignored. The place has given fine players like Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, Dinesh Mongia and Yuvraj Singh and been able to make a mark on the World cricket map. The cricket fever is high not only among boys but also among girls. Idolising Mithali Raj, girls are aspiring to reach the Indian team and play for the country. They want to prove the world that no sports, be it shooting, weight lifting, tennis or cricket, women are equally talented. The Women Cricket Association in Chandigarh is promoting women cricket in the big way. The association has formed an academy in MCM College in Sector 36 this summer. It is the first academy of its kind in Chandigarh. Archana Sharma, Secretary of the association said, “Our girls are performing well in all categories whether it is junior, senior, under 16 or under 19 teams. We have organised a lot of tournaments last year. Our endeavour is to encourage more and more girls into this field.” Mamta Negi and Shalini Gupta have played at Rani Jhansi Trophy, equivalent to Ranji Trophy. Shalini says, “Cricket is a religion in India but glamour has cropped in. The girls are also smitten by this bug. There is plenty of scope for the players if taken seriously. The media can help more in popularising it.” Surely the media has contributed to attract girls into this game. The appearances of Mandira Bedi and Anjum Chopra made people to sit back and think that even women know about cricket. Cricket, which was dominated by men, is surely getting new followers. The high spirit among the girls gives an impression that nothing can stop us. Coach Manoj Rajan remarks, “The future of women cricket is very bright and lots of girls are pursuing it in a great number. Chandigarh has a lot of talent and potential. If this potential is tapped and directed in the right direction, the girls will surely prove themselves.” Supriya, a student of MCM one of the budding cricketers, has already made her mark. She is thankful to Chandigarh for giving her a platform. Supriya who is thinking of pursuing cricket as her career, requests to the authorities, “to promote women cricket at national and international level.” Right now the feeling is that women have not been given their due by the media as far as cricket ias concerned. But who knows one of the future women captains may be from Chandigarh!
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YOUTH SPEAK
May be, the insomnia was partially due to the curiosity and partially due to the fear which our near and dear ones have put in us. Their queries “Is it safe?” or “what if you encounter a terrorist?” were at times annoying. One friend also asked us to bring along a terrorist on way back home. Our journey started at night on a private bus and ended temporarily in Jammu, the city of temples, from where we hired a taxi. En route we crossed Udhampur , Kud, Batole, Ramban, Jawahar tunnel, Avantipur , roadside waterfalls and narrow bridges. After covering about 305 km, we reached our dream destination. No doubt the journey was dead tiring, but the reward was equally delightful. As the saying goes ‘ No pain no gain’. But the pain was not over yet. The summer capital of J& K, appeared more like the capital of India. Bumper to bumper traffic. The only relief was the climate which seemed to be was compensating for our agony. After a great bargain, we got a houseboat costing us Rs 1100 per night. After having tea served to us by the houseboat owner, we went out for a ride of Dal lake. Let me tell you, the impression which we were carrying of Srinagar as a deserted, terrorism striken state was totally shaken. The scene was of any other hill station, tourists were enjoying singing, dancing, shopping, taking photographs, feeling the serene water of Dal, that it was hard to believe that the same city was burning in the flames of terrorism a few years ago. The next morning me and my friend ventured out alone for the Shankaracharya temple. When we reached the temple which was about 5 kn uphill, group of seven BSF jawans asked us if we had completed the whole length on foot. When we replied them in positive they were dumbstruck. We went on. Kashmir is still not free of terrorism and the BSF jawans are very well prepared to deal with the tourists like me and my friend. Our journey was complete and we felt fulfilled. A major disappointment though, I could not bring a terrorist for my friend. — Supneet Virdi Young and bubbling with creative vibes? Have something to say? Well, send your views on something you feel strongly about to lifestyle@tribunemail.com or Lifestyle, The Tribune, Sector 29-C Chandigarh. The best will find place in Lifestyle
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MATKA CHOWK I have discovered the beauty of affidavits after coming to Chandigarh, or rather, India. The term “Affidavit” actually means a sworn statement furnished in good faith and utter honesty. I had a need for an affidavit recently and hence, set about to procure it. Veterans duly informed me that you could obtain affidavits for an uncannily vast range of things here. One lady energetically narrated her experience of needing an affidavit to show that she was indeed her father’s daughter. I made my journey to the courthouse on a beautiful bright winter morning. On reaching, I was instructed to find the notaries outside on the courtyard. On reaching the courtyard, I was amazed to find scores of people in black coats sitting in wooden table-sets under big mango and guava trees. I stopped by a table with a nice looking lady in a clean black gown and explained to her what I required. A young boy appeared in seconds – listened to what I wanted written in the affidavit - in Hindi. He asked me for a suitable sum and disappeared with equal haste. I was left standing under the tree, enjoying the sunny breeze, despite deep misgivings I felt. Soon, he was back with a long green long sheet with stamps affixed and directed me to the typist, also under another tree – who was going to translate my subject matter into (supposedly) legal and formal English. After quizzing me about the substance, he typed away like a whirlwind and produced a document. A quick perusal of that convinced me that my English teacher would have failed him under any circumstances. The verbs, the tense, the spellings – were beyond redemption. I walked back with even greater qualms – holding the green piece of paper. Upon submitting the paper at the counter, it was promptly rejected. The paper lacked enough denominations of stamps, to be certified as an affidavit. I went back to the courthouse, armed with a great deal of indignation. The lady in black smiled beautifully and pacified me. More stamps were affixed and I was back at the counter fortified with a revised affidavit. The gentleman at the window (who was using the last vestiges of his anger-management skills – for he was receiving one incomplete document after another) had earlier been very patient with my ignorance regarding affidavits. He looked at the paper. I smiled sweetly and held my breath. Voila! He approved! My application was accepted with a fit affidavit. I can understand the miracle of affidavits now! I am a sworn believer.
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Heady without
hangover For those who are not familiar with the term hangover, a hangover is a disagreeable physical effect (as headache or nausea) following heavy consumption of alcohol. Be prepared before a night of drinking: Never ever drink with an empty stomach, because when your stomach is empty, the liver finds it harder to cope with alcohol. There is a myth that food slows down the absorption of alcohol. This is true only if your food contains fat. Fat helps in the release of hormones which in turn delay the stomach from emptying therefore stopping the alcohol from passing into the intestines. In the intestines, the absorption of alcohol into the blood stream is much more rapid. Drink milk before going out for a session or maybe try a snack that is fat based. Stick to light colored drinks: Vodka, Gin is relatively safer than whiskey or brandy. White wine is better than red. The reason for this is that light colored drinks contain fewer congeners i.e.-natural organic chemicals, which give alcohol its smell, taste and color. Incase you overdo it: Drink few glasses of water before going to bed to prevent dehydration .In the morning, try a sweet cup of tea or orange juice. Try to avoid coffee as it increases dehydration and have Daliyaa as it helps correct your blood sugar level, which eases your headache. Please try to follow this advice we don’t want you to be groggy and irritable the morning after. Moderate drinking is good for you excess of anything is bad. NOTE:
Teetotalers are apt to die at the same rate as those who have five drinks a day.
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Colour is in the air Come winter and nature presents a lot of colour. Along with flowers in their flowerbeds, different varieties of chrysanthemum in different arrangements will be on display at the Terraced Garden in Sector 33 from December 13 to 17 at the annual Chrysanthemum show. The Municipal Corporation sets up different flower arrangements on one side of the park and on the other side is the competition section in four categories for amateurs and government and semi-government institutions for different varieties in individual pots and arrangement of pots. The entries would be judged today. “We are putting up 160 pots under 36 entries,” says Manmohan Singh, SDO, Horticulture Department, Punjab. “A number of pots have arrived and many more will arrive by Monday morning. After the arrangement is complete, they will be subjected to ranking in the afternoon. The usual fare with a photo-exhibition of chrysanthemums and animal and other figures made of flowers will be there. Also, the display of different varieties of the flower—curved, incurving, spider, button, Korean, spoon etc—will be there,” says Raghbir Singh, Executive Engineer, Horticulture Department. The fountain is being filled with fresh water and “the light and sound system of the musical fountain has been upgraded,” he adds. A coat of fresh paint has been given. Cracks are being filled with cement and gravel. Labourers are getting the public conveniences ready for the fair. The show may officially close on Saturday but the flower arrangements will only be removed on Monday giving the office-goers a chance to savour them on Sunday.
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Film & FASHION Columbian singer Shakira has revealed that she has been drinking coffee for so long that it barely has an effect on her nowadays, and that needs to guzzle at least 20 cups of coffee if she wants to stay awake. The singer said in her native country people drank coffee like water, and added that she sometimes one cup of the beverage just didn’t chase away her sleep and she needed to drink a lot if she wanted to work late. “In Colombia, from the time you can grab a cup, you start having coffee. They put it in the baby bottle sometimes. So sometimes it doesn’t do anything to me. At four in the morning, if I want to keep working in the studio, I have to drink 20 cups to keep myself awake,” Ratethemusic quoted her, as saying. —ANI Playing their own music Super model Jordan and singer Peter Andre relax by playing their own version of X-factor at home.
Andre has confessed that he performs for his wife, while she plays the part of the X-factor judge Simon Cowell.
“I’ll do an audition for X Factor and she’ll be the judge,” Andre was quoted by The Sun, as saying.
—ANI Jackson strapped for cash Pop star Michael Jackson is reportedly so strapped for cash that he could face homelessness within weeks. The star, whose money problems have started since he was cleared of child abuse charges earlier this year, has reportedly missed repayments on his 156million pounds loan, which was secured against his Neverland ranch, and sources claim that a failure to pay them back by December 20 may cost him his family mansion in California. The musician is also rumoured to be bingeing on drugs, and people close to him fear that it may lead to something disastrous, if he continues to be so careless towards himself.—ANI Naomi Watt is scared of height Blonde beauty Naomi Watts has revealed that she did not know she was scared of heights until she worked on her new movie King Kong. The British-born actress, who plays Ann Darrow in the latest adaptation of the 1933 classic, had to climb to the top of one of America’s tallest buildings to prepare for a scene. “I didn’t think I was scared of heights until I went up to the top of the Empire State building. It was an incredibly windy day and has a very low ledge. “It is only about 4ft high and you could fall over. There is no safety rail” Naomi was quoted by the Sun, as saying.—ANI
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Partying with Finesse The students of the Finesse Institute for languages danced their hearts out at a get-together held in City Edge Hotel in Sector 32. The music was varied, ranging from Western to Punjabi pop and the dancer adjudged the best was Aditi Rana. There were several other dancing games and competitions. The evening started with on a shy note with girls and boys dancing separately but as the mood warmed up the segregation of sexes ended and everyone was dancing with everyone. The Finesse Institute in Sector 32 is running elementary, fundamental, basic and advance in spoken and written English. The institute also takes care of grooming the personality of the students and teaching them social etiquette.—TNS
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Health and Fitness Folic acid, iron , riboflavin and vitamin B12 help to improve memory and mental alertness . As do the omega –3 fats in fish and nuts , zinc in oysters and pumpkin seeds . — Dr Rashmi Garg is senior
consultant, Fortis, Mohali.
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TAROT TALK
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I MISSED Chandigarh when I recently visited my hometown in Kerala. That is when I set out from home for a morning walk. As the narrow main road was busy and the reputation of the Malayali driver being reckless behind the wheels, I made a hasty retreat..jpg)
It was during these journeys that I realised how comfortably placed I am in Chandigarh for my morning walks. There is a park in front of my house and there is another behind my house. And when I feel like having a cycle ride, there is a cycle track in my sector where, in the morning hours, I have never encountered another cyclist..jpg)
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Who says cricket is a gentlemen’s game? The laudable performance of the Indian Women Cricket team at the World Cup under the captainship of Mithali Raj, which was appreciated by even the masters of this game, has broken this notion. .jpg)
Sleep. It was a word which our eyes couldn’t relate to. The windmills of our minds were churning thoughts of a place which has been described as the “Paradise on Earth” and the “Playground of Asia”. You got it right. I am talking about my trip to
Kashmir with my family and one of my friends..jpg)
Winston
Churchill once said that he had taken more from alcohol than alcohol had
taken from him.
Now, I am not your guardian angel, neither a
fairy godmother but since you are going to be drinking this season of
festivity, I dispatch towards all you alcoholics some valuable information
regarding hangovers and how to prevent them..jpg)
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ARIES : You should make charities and practice some spirituality today. Confidential matters should be dealt with discretion and old mistakes should be rectified. Get dressed for success . Lucky number : 12. Lucky Colour: Burgundy 
LIBRA : You can be blamed for changing your mind. Reap the benefits of your investments in partnerships and cooperative relationships. Enjoy the love and harmony. Lucky Number : 6 Lucky colour : Silver grey. 
TAURUS : A
good day for planning ambitious projects, enrolling for some course,
and setting out on a journey. The catchword is caution all the way.
Lucky number : 5 Lucky colour : Silver. 
SCORPIO:
An off the cuff decision might have a dramatic effect on your love life. Take the time to think of all the alternatives as you will be judged for your ability to deal with last minute changes. Lucky Number : 8. Lucky colour : White. 
GEMINI : There could be an improvement in your financial position. You may also meet your life partner or decide to hitch your wagon to the stars today. Lucky number : 1. Lucky colour : White. 
SAGITTARIUS : There could be some stressful situations at home or work. You need to be diplomatic and tactful to get other’s to see your point of view. New relationships will bring happiness. Lucky Number : 17. Lucky colour : Crimson. 
CANCER : Your ambitions will be furthered and you may make new investments. Seek legal advice, attend to court matters and ask for favors without hesitating, help will come to you. Lucky number : 10. Lucky colour : Purple. 
CAPRICORN : Health needs care and finances need watching. At work you will have to juggle your schedule in order to meet all your commitments. Be clear and precise when expressing your opinions. Lucky Number : 3 Lucky colour : White.
LEO : Medicals, minor surgeries, consultations and the like are favored today. Keep your heart and head in a happy frame and become childlike in your faith. Lucky number : 12. Lucky colour : Crimson. 
AQUARIUS : Little by little your money stars are growing stronger. You will deserve everyone’s thanks. A dispute over partnership matter is on the horizon. Lucky Number : 5. Lucky colour : Red. 
VIRGO : You are in need of something new to balance your emotions. Be ready to open your eyes to new things and to enrich your experiences. Let go of the past. Lucky Number : 5. Lucky colour : Crimson. 
PISCES:
You draw “ Two of wands” to invoke mental power and intelligence to achieve professional goals. Unexpected happenings, visitors & travel are on the cards. Lucky Number : 16. Lucky colour : White.