Love’s labour lost

The City Beautiful’s fashion designers are lapping up cheers on global ramps. However, the artisans, who infuse glamour and glitter into designer fabrics are leading non-existent lives, miles away, from the glamour and limelight, reports Anandita Gupta

The slim by lane is narrower than a supermodel’s waistline. The dirty, grimy street calls for much more media attention than the spotlight kissed ramp. And the stench of poverty is stronger than the perfume of the pinewood wardrobes of page 3 socialites.

Still, the narrow uneven lanes, small rickety slums and their dearths die a silent death every day. Before the strong spotlights, passionately kissing supermodels sashaying down the ramp, ‘their’ sad plight pales into insignificance. The ‘creators’ of the city’s most glamorous, rich and intricately worked upon outfits are easily forgotten. And the designers get it all—publicity, power and payments from diamond dripping socialites.

Brewing anger

Hashim, a Lucknow-based karigar, voices his discontent, “I’ve been embroidering and embellishing clothes since 1992 when I came to Chandigarh. But there’s no value for my hardwork or talent. The designers expect us to purchase the raw material, choose the colour combinations and even deliver earlier than deadlines.”

Laments another angry karigar Mohammad Azraf from Daddomajra, “ But when it comes to payments, they bargain a lot. As it is, we get a meager money as compared to the work we do. But they don’t want to spend that much too.”

Adds Nasir, another karigar specializing in Aari, Zardosi, Stonework and hand work, “I’ve got three other karigars working with me. We work for minimum eight hours a day and it could be even 12 to 14 hours. But all we end up making is Rs.200 or maximum Rs. 300.”

Don’t they feel bad about it all. “Yes, we do,” replies a sad Hashim adding, “We are not fools. We know that the outfit for which we are being paid Rs.500 will be sold by the designers for Rs.20,000 or more. But we are too poor and insecure to raise a voice.”

Says Azraf, “The competition is great with lots of karigars from Bihar, Kolkata, MP, UP and Bengal having come and settled here. We have karigars in Mohali, Panchkula, Daddomajra, Manimajra, sector 40 and Burail. Most of them are living a hand-to-mouth existence and the fear of unemployment prevents them from raising a voice.”

And what do the city designers have to say about it? “It’s our brand name that sells. We have the knowledge and creativity and these karigars just put it on cloth. They can’t survive without us” comes the haughty feedback from a famous city-based designer (name withheld on request). Well, one just feels like snapping back, “If karigars can’t exist without you, can you exist without them?”

Sensitivity waking up

However, a section of the fraternity has woken up to their needs. Informs city based designer Salil Gulati, “I’ve got about 200 workers working under me and I ensure excellent working conditions for them. Their work area is carpeted, well-lit and I give them mattresses and meals.”

Adds another designer Dimpi Gujral, “My workers eat and have tea with me. I never hold back anybody’s salary and pay them a bonus and medical bills every year.” Good effort , but is it really enough? Is it sufficient for the people who infuse glamour and glitter in the designers’ garments, and more importantly, in their lives ? One wonders.

So the next time you put your hands together for a beautiful, richly worked upon outfit clinging to a gorgeous model’s body, remember something. Behind the glamour and glitter, ramp and model, choreographer and high profile designer, there’s somebody who deserves a thank you, a pat on the back. It’s the karigar, who’s sitting at some secluded, non-descript corner—crunched, bespeckled and deeply engrossed in intricate embroidery work with stiff fingers and a nagging back pain! 

End of the road
Saurabh Malik

Tears rolling down her fair cheeks wash away the excitement of wearing a saree at the school farewell party as Tarika Khanna (name changed to protect identity) realises that the meandering road she has traveled along with so many of her friends through the complexities of youth has come to an end.

Until a few years ago, students like her studying English literature and other subjects in colleges and schools would have continued exchanging notes, and books, till the end of graduation. But now, she and all her friends know it is adios right after the plus two examinations even for the Arts students because so many parents are simply against their little ones doing plain graduation.

The reason behind the eagerness of parents to get them admission in professional courses is not hard to see. “Men today want their wives to do everything their mothers did for them, plus earn money,” says former Miss India-America Priya Warrick, running her own finishing school in Delhi with 28 centres across the nation, including Jalandhar.

Agreeing, young socio-psychologist Ranjan Verma says, “Most parents are aware that plain simple graduation, or even post graduation, is just not enough for enabling the girls to make a career out of their marriages. In fact, they know that guys these days prefer girls with professional degrees.”

Heaving a deep sigh, he asserts: “That’s, perhaps, the reason why the parents want their daughters to take up professional courses like fashion designing after plus two and do graduation side by side through correspondence, instead of just taking up once-lucrative professions like teaching after acquiring a degree in Arts….

“Even in case of guys, the parents want them to choose and settle down in a career, as early as possible. If the students wish the try their luck in the civil services, they still have options”.

Explaining the trend, he says: “In good old days, the phenomenon was limited to the science students. For, they used to apprehend the parting of ways after the results of plus two examinations as competition prevented them from staying together at one place. Some would get admission in engineering college at Chandigarh. Others would go to Patiala, and even Bangalore, for pursuing careers. But now things have changed. It is goodbye even for the Arts students.

Back to Tahika, up till now the daily routine of jotting down the notes after sitting on the hard wooden benches and the stress of examinations had prevented the feeling from sinking in, but today seeing them all decked up in suits and sarees, the though of the end’s beginning has been sending shivers down her spine.

Well Tarika and other students! It’s a tough world. The sooner you realise, the better it is. 

For a grand entry

Verandah, porch, portico, balcony are responsible for creating those all important first impressions about our lifestyle to the visitors, who have just rung the door bell. Let’s design an impeccable entrance for your beautiful home.

How about hanging brass bells at the door for an alternative visitor arrival announcement?

Light up the entrance with traditional lanterns, coloured glass lampshade or experiment with a ‘mashaal’. Hang lattice pattern lampshade at the ceiling level. It will create magical outlines above and fascinating designs on the floor when put at floor level. Ensure all floors and walls are scrubbed clean.

Let sunlight catch every angle of the crystals you hang in your portico and enjoy natural light dancing through the day. Hang bird feeders to invite the winged guests.

Why light up earthen diyas for only special occasions? Hang one multifaceted diya in the outer corner of verandha and light it up to treat yourself every evening.

Greenery of the plants and riot of colours from flowers offer the best possible fresh look you can achieve for the visitors, apart from creating a quite heaven for yourself. Ensure that pots and plant holders are well painted. Create contours with plants and place them at varying heights to avoid a straight laced look. Light up some special plants from the base for heightened drama in the evening.

Hanging baskets from pillars, posts and elevation itself is a remarkably inexpensive European look to achieve. Match it by installing window height troughs to hold abundant bloom of seasonal flowers or even fragrant herbs for the kitchen!

Brighten up recessed niches in the porch by putting small busts and figurines, ethnic artefacts, flower bunches or even trailing down plants.

Think of artistic murals on walls for modern appearance, natural wall effects for fusion and mud finishes with ‘Sanjhi’ for a traditional look.

Paintings and prints in complementing schemes always lend a helping hand to complete the look.

A couple of rattan, cane, wooden or stone furniture coupled with a little self contained water fall is just picture perfect for your entrance. 

Braving the odds in a man’s world
Chhavi Bhatia

Destiny’s cruel joke brought this homely lady into a field dominated by men. Meet Madhu Sharma, the only female mess contractor in the Panjab University. She runs the Savitri Bai Hostel mess.

Her life took an unexpected turn when four years ago her husband Ashok Sharma, the sole bread-winner of the family, was diagnosed with brain haemorrhage. With hardly any help from her in-laws, she wasn’t willing to jeopardise her children’s future. An ailing husband and three children, she couldn’t be anything but be strong.

Initially she started with a boutique in Savitri Bai Hostel but, “The money that came was not sufficient to give good education to my kids and to meet my husband’s medical expenses.” That’s when she decided to benefit from her husband’s long-term experience in this area and forayed into the same.

What makes her stand out all the more is that the workers in all the messes are males too. Being a female mess contractor among 32 others required a lot of grit and determination. She says, “I faced a lot of hurdles deliberated by my male counterparts. They were unable to accept a woman’s entry into their space.” Yet, without any hands-on experience, this graduate from a small village near Hoshiarpur, is still going strong for the last two years.

Madhu attributes her success to the then hostel warden, Mrs Veena Sachdeva. “It is because of her constant support and confidence in me that I am self dependent today.” Ask her how she manages at the home front and she smiles, “My husband is the source of unflinching strength.” And she equally thanks the hostel staff. She agrees, “There is no substitute for hard work and nothing like being independent.”

She envisions a bright future for her sons. And as for her own she says, “I want to die in the university doing bachchon ki seva”.

Plants for a hanging garden
Joyshri Lobo

Constricted spaces require a map or layout plan for a garden. Unless trees, shrubs, lawns and flower areas are pre-planned, a mess is likely to occur. A computer grid, marked out with various sized plants, should be fun to make. Or just take a paper with squares and draw in your containers and plants with colour pencils, mentioning future heights and circumferences.

Ready made home fountains can be bought. As mall rockery with cacti and succulents would add variety to a sunny corner. Add a wrought iron, all weather swing and a bamboo gazebo to make a luxurious roof garden. But remember the principle of contrasts. Each plant should show up its neighbour. Too many plants can create a khichdi.

Unless in containers, do not choose plants with a tap root systems, which need to go deep down into the soil. Grass has fibrous roots and runners. Most seasonal flowers and bulbs are a safe bet as they spread their roots along the surface. Borders of mint, coriander, tulsi, baby’s tears, Wandering Jew, red and yellow leafed border plants are recommended to create special areas of planting. Ferns are ideal as they have surface A roots. However to grow ferns and flowers, we need shaded areas. This is when you have to choose appropriate trees in large containers. Pines (which flourish in Chandigarh) and Junipers are dense, low growing and robust. They are also wild resistant. Bougainvilleas allow light to filter in. Place these plants in strong spots-over beams, joints and walls.

Anchor the containers with rocks or weights so that they do not topple over in storms. Once your trees are placed, plant ferns and flowers under them. As I mentioned before, areas should be demarcated with herbs or border plants. Neatness is an essential ingredient in a small roof garden so frequently trim and prune extra branches and leaves.

Remember, never to throwaway discarded leaves. Use them to make compost as they are full of plant nutrients. Introduce earthworms in your garden as they aerate the soil.

Flowers can be grown directly in the mud or planted in pots.

Don’t forget to hang a few baskets and pots of trailing vines along the railing. Creeping geraniums and begonias are wonderful options which require filtered sunlight. For the more adventurous, low slung, reading lights or hanging lanterns would create a beautiful area to relax and read in, after dark. For more shade and filtered light, cover a small area with net on and allow a grape vine to grow over it. You will be surprised at the amount of fruit you will get.

Healthy postures

In hatha yoga there is nothing more splendid than the practice of the twelve postures that form the Surya Namaskar, which literally means sun salutations. Each posture promotes balance in the physical body, increases vitality in the pranic body and enhances the efficiency of the chakra body. Every posture is done with complete awareness of the physical stance, the breath and attention on the chakra it works on. Later a mantra (sound vibration) is added to the practice. Do not attempt the following postures without guidance from a yoga teacher.

Finding Balance 2: Stand with back straight, feet together heel to toe touching. Keep the shoulders back as if touching a wall in the rear, chest slightly protruding out. Both hands are hanging to the side. Now without changing your stance, bring both hands up to join the palms together in a namaskar at the back of the body. Push the hands up as far as they will go between the shoulder blades. Keep breathing normally and watch the breath.

A taste of Italy

There is much more to Italian food than just pizzas and spaghetti, says Saurabh Malik

Italian food is pampering the taste buds like never before. And it’s not just pizzas and spaghetti that the residents are ordering in restaurants and fast food joints across the city. They are experimenting with Risottos, grills and pastas as well.

In Piccadily, it’s live cooking with the chef pampering the appetite with exquisite variety of risottos and pastas, along with pizzas and special Italian desserts. Adding to the zing are over a dozen varieties of Italian cheese.

This is not all. Adding to the international gourmet experience is the presence of a herb garden right inside the restaurant — Pomodoro. There, you can pick the herbs of your choice and the chef makes sauce out of it with his expertise.

As dinner is not complete without a glass of rare wine, you can have Antinori Bianco Toscona or even Carlo Rossi. “In fact, you can choose your own bottle and the maitre `d will compliment it by serving delicious pasta,” says General Manager Ambar Burman.

To begin with, order appetizer and salad. You can go in for salad of broccoli and prawns flavoured with orange mayonnaise by pulling out something like Rs 175 from your wallet. In soups, try traditional fish soup with loads of vegetables flavoured with saffron or else cream of vegetables scented with truffle oil. It’s good.

Order pasta, or Risotto. You can even go in for pizzas topped with spicy salami, mozzarella, tomatoes and capers. Their Boungustalia pizza is simply scrumptious. The crust is topped with mozzarella, tomatoes, onion, bacon, pepper and ham before reaching your table.

End with desserts; go in for a hot apple strudel with vanilla sauce and ice cream. You can also order Torta Di Mandrole — almond tart served with seasonal fruits. Chocolate lovers can go in for rich dark mousse with vanilla ice cream.

In Mountview, the ambience and the setting with light music floating in the air is just right for a perfect date with Italian delicacy. You can order Cannelloni Italian or else Spaghetti Napolitaine. “The stuff is good, actually,” says General Manager R.P. Singla.

If you are going to Hotel Shivalikview, remember to taste Lasagne Verde. It’s a rich blend of pasta, spinach and tomato prepared by expert chefs,” says Food and Beverage Manager Jagan Chaudhary.

At Subway in Sector 17, go in for Pizziola sandwich, or Subway melt. Italian BMT with smoked chicken, ham and lamb salami is worth tasting. It’s easy on the pocket too. So go ahead and try the stuff. 

Sizzling delights
Gayatri Rajwade

It is a merry jig of delightful sounds and aromas to your corner at the table! As it fizzes and murmurs, steaming vociferously, the whiffs waft through and heads turn—the sizzler has arrived!

Celebrating this unique meal, Noodle Bar, Sector 26, is hosting its Oriental Sizzler Festival for a week.

Slivers of vegetables, a taste of chicken and fish, a blend of sauces, sprigs of green and a splash of colour and voila, your spread is ready to tuck into!

COLOURFUL BOUNTY: Chef Rajib Das (right) with his colleague. Photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Take a peek and make your choice, eat your fill and satiate your senses—for these sizzlers lead the way to wholesome flavours.

Here come the Punjabi lads

Gayatri Rajwade talks to the boys who have made to the regional round of the Gladrags Manhunt contest

Stars no less! For they carry their confidence on their deliciously built up biceps and flash their charming smiles to great results! Indeed, for these 13 young men, dreams grow on trees waiting to be plucked!

Of 30,000 entries sent for the Gladrags Manhunt (the industry’s most coveted model search), 13 boys from a single agency, ‘Flash Media’ in Sector 17 have been short-listed to the last 300 odd for the regional round to be held in Delhi tomorrow.

So to a blare of trumpets (in the head of course!) and flashing bulbs—here are some of the starry aspirants! Having been selected for the finals to the 12th Grasim Mr India Contest just a few months ago, Sahib Josan missed his chance at glory because the selection letter never got to him on time. India missed out on a rocking model but there is no time to waste on missed laurels! “This time my face cut is better,” declares this youngster.

Ankur Sharma believes lady luck is smiling rather widely at him these days! “I got selected for a job at a call centre and for this contest on the same day.” Having been short-listed for the Grasim Mr India Contest earlier, he believes he got eliminated because had just four abs to show instead of six! No such problem this time around for this John Abraham look-alike, for a muscle packed body it is!

Blond haired Dinesh Soi, all of 23 and a teacher at his own commerce academy in Mohali, has his answers down to pat! “I want to be a good human being then become a good actor.” Having worked on 20 music videos and currently acting in a film with Bally Sagoo, this M.Com graduate will give up the ‘noble profession’ for stardust without a backward glance!

Good looks don’t come easy—try getting up like 23-year-old Navreet Singh at 5:30 am every single day to work out for two hours at a stretch before college starts! No he is not a student, but a lecturer at his college.

Gurpreet Singh Dhillon is a lucky bloke. With his portfolio clicked just two weeks ago, his selection took him by surprise. For this god-fearing young man, (he wakes up and does his simran before beginning the day) life is on a roll with support from his parents to boot! Sharyl Godara, all of 19 years, aims to be in the movies someday. That and only that is his spurring factor. With a disapproving family, Sharyl’s destination is Mumbai no less irrespective of the Manhunt result!

Quiet and soft-spoken Surinder Sandha from Patiala, a national-level boxer has just two past-times; modelling and games! A movie actor in the making, Surinder believes his boxing is his winning star! A la Rocky!

Dino Morea look-alike Harman Varma believes he talked too much at the Grasim Mr India Contest 2005 and ended up sounding nervous hence his elimination at the regional round! However, no such chance this time for this young man working as a cashier for he plans on reaching the moon!

Although model cop Raj Singh did not make it through the regional round of the 12th Grasim Mr India Contest, he has grown his hair longer for the glitzy look notwithstanding the fact that he is in service! “I was allowed to grow my hair,” smiles Raj who believes the police force has been lucky for him. “Even the DIG said, do something and come back!”

He may not have been fully prepared for the Grasim Mr India Contest, but Sumit Gulia from Sonepat has no such problem this time around. With a lot of effort and longer hair—he is ready to rock the Manhunt contest!

“Flash Media came to me in a dream and I came here,” says Rajiv Saini who credits proprietor Prince Kukreja with changing his fortunes! His motive in life is to be an actor and nothing but an actor! With the support of his “poet father Devi Dayal Saini and God’s blessings” he knows he will make it.

As for Prince, the final words belong to him. “It is our guarantee that if I click your portfolio, you will get selected!” Hang on Mumbai, Punjab is about to take over!

FILM & FASHION
Madonna quits Britain

Pop diva Madonna is reportedly quitting Britain for the sake of her marriage as rumours about her marital discord are taking a toll on her relationship with her hubby. The ‘Material Girl’ and her family are allegedly moving back to the US for five months following reports her relationship with husband Guy Ritchie is on the rocks. The 47-year-old was allegedly upset at claims her “close friendship” with music producer Stuart Price was causing tension between her and Guy. “She feels like she is living in a goldfish bowl in Britain. She thinks an extended break will do them all the world of good and take the heat off for a while,” Female First quoted a source as telling People Newspaper.—ANI

Vanessa to star in Batman

Screen legend Vanessa Redgrave may star in the sequel to Batman Begins in which she will be playing a “female character close to Bruce Wayne and Alfred”.
Redgrave who shot to fame as Dr Erica Noughton on the series “Nip/Tuck” has just finished shooting a role in Robert Hardy’s “Cowboys for Christ” opposite Christopher Lee and Sean Astin, reports Moviehole.net. Already touted for roles in the film, besides stars like Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Katie Holmes and Michael Caine are Jake Gyllenhaal as D.A Harvey Dent, Paul Bettany as The Joker, Brad Dourif as Dr.Arkham, Emily Watson as Dr Harleen Quinzel, and Bob Hoskins as mob boss Sal Maroni.—ANI

Pamela loses charm

Have busty Pamela Anderson’s sexual charms lost their appeal? Well! It seems to have raised doubts in the minds of some, as despite being in the presence of Aussie cricketer Shane Warne, whose weakness for the fairer sex is well known, the lady failed to bowl him over.

The 36-year-old world’s leading wicket taker reportedly seemed unimpressed as he turned his back on the ex-Baywatch beauty, when they hooked up to relaunch green M&Ms in Melbourne, and test the theory that the green chocolates are an aphrodisiac, reports The Sun.

The spinner’s alleged infidelity has also been the cause for his imminent divorce with his wife Simone Warne, the mother of his two kids.—ANI

Robbie Williams dates Shakira

There are rumours around the net that pop star Robbie Williams is dating sexy singer Shakira, after being spotted stepping out in Los Angeles with her.

And fuelling the rumours is the spate of outings they’ve been spotted at, with the latest one being when they were seen completely engrossed with each other, while shopping in LA.

The Angels hit-maker had also walked into the recently held 48th Grammy Awards ceremony with the Colombian star, who has been engaged to Antonio De La Rua since 2001. —ANI

Socha na tha

POSING PROUDLY: Group members of city based theatre group Manchtantra. — Photo by Vinay Malik

Well, this bundle of youngsters had actually never thought about it. Love of theatre had, of course, always been safely tucked in their youthful hearts. But they hardly realised it would transform into a reality. And that too, so soon!

— Anandita Gupta

Carting music
Anandita Gupta

SIMPLI JUICY: Munish Jaswal’s CD’s sell as well as his juice. — Photo by Pradeep Tewari

And many of his regular customers have picked up his album while sipping their favourite frothy juice that he sells. Whether it’s their love for their fav fruit juice that he sells, or his voice, its hard to tell. But one thing is for sure. That one doesn’t need just big banners, hot shot directors, mega musical shows or squandering huge amounts to sing before an audience. All one needs is the guts to do it!