|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Play doctor Sienna Miller for Pepe Bye Bye symmetry
Breathing fashion into the City MATKA CHOWK Buniyaad then and now The Value of Vision PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS
|
|
Old boys on the Wheels
The second Georgian Car Rally, a ‘drive’ against female foeticide, got underway this morning from Taj Chandigarh amidst exhilaration, intense photo clicks and applause.
The Georgian Association (North)—alumni of the erstwhile King George Royal Indian Military Colleges (now known as Military Schools located at Ajmer, Bangalore, Belgaum, Chail and Dholpur)—comes together in comradeship and conviviality every year, but more importantly, to provide a platform to raise concerns that they can, collectively, make a difference to. This year they celebrate the girl child. The rally, flagged off by Haryana Finance Minister Virender Singh, left Chandigarh around 10 am on Saturday and completed the 150 odd kilometres by late afternoon going through Dharampur, Solan, Shimla, Kufri and finally ending at the Chail Cricket Grounds. From the deodar (the theme for last year) to the girl child, it is the cheering spirit of camaraderie that binds and the refrain is the same across all ages. “The school has made us.” What makes this awareness appeal heartening is that it goes beyond mere observance. “The association has adopted 30 underprivileged girls from Panchkula, Chail and Rattewali and we will provide for all their educational needs from now,” explains Treasurer of the association Lt. Col. Rajan Kadyan. For the girls, it is a chance at making their dreams come true. So while Alka Diwan from Government Senior Secondary School, Rattewali, hopes to be a doctor, 10th class student Roma Raghav from the same school wants to look after the country some day. Alumnus Jangvir Dadhwal believes firmly in a “reason” to activities such as these so people get attracted to participate. Dadhwal, lives in the USA and comes every year to participate in these annual get-togethers, especially the rally this year, “because this is a neglected cause.” A “cause” for celebration—these ‘boys’ certainly know how to get things going. It all started on Friday night at the alumni get-together at the Air Force Officers’ Institute, Sector 31. A musical soiree, piping hot tit-bits, encountering long-lost friends over bubbles (read drinks!) and the evening was magical. “Life was tough but disciplined” remembers Lt. Gen Ranjit Singh Dyal MVC, PVSM, AVSM, former Lt. Governor of Pondicherry and Andaman & Nicobar. Indeed as one of the wives, Poonam Sapra (her husband Rajesh Kumar Sapra passed out of Chail in 1981) puts it, “you have so many friends all over that you can never feel alone.” Founder of this chapter of the association Col Amrik Singh remembers what a “Herculean task” it was to locate people. “After much searching we found 40 persons in this region and had our first function at the DSOI in January 1997,” he recalls. For each person presents, the belief in their school is all pervading. “We cannot pay back what we have received, in a lifetime.”
|
|
Charming the Scorpions
If you think eating earthworm juices or sleeping with worms for money happens to be only firang daredevils’ cup of tea, then you are terribly out of sync with time. The much-watched Fear Factor on AXN has inspired our own brave hearts and guess what? Now we have our own desi Fear factor on Sony TV. And doing us all proud is our own Punjabi munda Gavie Chahal, who won the very first Fear factor title! Proud of his achievement, Gavie, the handsome hunk of Punjabi cinema, is all too ready to show off his Fear Factor T-shirt these days. Considering that he had to climb a 200-feet statue of a lion, roll on a hanging glass cage and sleep with scorpions for solid two minutes, his euphoria about his win is justified. An adventurer to the core, even taking part in the event was a dream come true. So how did you do it, we ask as still trying to conjure up images of him with scorpions crawling all over him. “What is fear? It’s all about adventure and my only source of fear is the Almighty,” counteracts Gavie. A little hard to digest but as he assures us that this is the attitude that sailed him through the preliminary audition where 10,000 fearless men and women in Mumbai, we give him the benefit of doubt. “Fear is a state of mind,” says Gavie, who wan born as Navdeepak Singh Chahal in Mansa and later became famous as Gavie in the silver screen as well as in modeling world (He is playing the lead in Punjabi film Punjab and also in Mehendi Wale Haath and busy posing for Maruti ads). All it took him was solid concentration to be with his scorpion friends in a glass cage for two minutes. One or two did sting, but the will to win was stronger than the pain, and he did manage to bear it without a wince. With a hectic schedule prior to the competition, Gavie did not have much chance to practice. “For two or three days I swam rigorously as the final stunt involved jumping into the sea. Apart from that I work out in the gym for two hours every day,” he informs us. The shooting was done in Malaysia. “Though this version of Fear Factor has been devised for Indians only, the concept as well as the technical team is the same as what you see on AXN,” says Gavie. The same goes for the stuns as well as safety measures. But what is that attracting so many people from the glamour world to try out Fear Factor? Is it just about Rs 10 lakh prize money or just another the latest fad for the Bollywood’s bold and beautiful to remain in news? “It is true that a lot of people from film and TV are taking part in Fear Factor. It is difficult to generalise, but love for adventure can be one major reason,” says Gavie. At least for Gavie, the national-level Kabaddi player, the game gave him a chance to explore the adventurer side of his nature; “Living in an academic environment all my growing up period (Gavie has a degree in mechanical engineer), my adventurer streak was suppressed, but I knew I had it in me and now that I proved it, I am looking forward to do it again.” Well so much for love for adventure!
|
|
Play doctor Being proved as a less expensive and much convenient alternative to a visit to a doctor’s clinic, self-testing diagnostic and monitoring devices are booming in the market. Devices such as `one touch ultra and one touch horizon’ for monitoring blood glucose and blood pressure kits have enabled them to monitor conditions like diabetes and hypertension. While the pregnancy test kit continues to dominate the home test market, others too are fast picking without the need of a `docs prescription’. For Geetika, a marketing executive, a neat investment of Rs 50 in a pregnancy test card is something, which comes with huge returns, speedy result, inexpensive and less time consuming. Adding up to her super woman status, the pregnancy test kit is something she relates to, fast, convenient and easy to procure. But there is more to these adjectives, an earlier confirmation will also provide her with an opportunity for counseling on different options available and on harmful behaviour like smoking. At Apollo Pharmacy, which offers 24-hour services, the sale of pregnancy test kits and one touch blood glucose testing strips is very regular. While some attribute the increasing popularity to their open display and over the counter and online availability others just find it more convenient. For Ramesh Sharma, a diabetic, a casual visit to the local pharmacist and a passing look at the blood glucose-monitoring device resulted in the purchase of the device. “I saw it at the shop and enquired about it and after discussing it with my wife went for it,” said Sharma. However, so easy was the process that the family has two such devices now and also recommends it to others. However, this technology driven trend too comes with its own limits. Promilla Shanker, a private tutor and a frequent user of blood glucose test kit admits that over a period of time she has become addicted and obsessed with the usage of such kits which involves pricking too. According to Dr Adarsh Kohli, clinical psychologist at the PGIMER, though the home diagnostic kits can be administered quite easily but then a patient misses out on doctor’s advice and pre and post counseling. She adds ailments like diabetes and blood pressure have an overlay of psychological problems and the expertise of a health care provider cannot be compromised on. According to Dr H.M. Swami, Director Principal, GMCH, Sector 32, the users should follow the directions, test-kit labeling and instructions. He adds the kits are popular but not perfect and the doctor’s advice must be sought.
|
|
Sienna Miller for Pepe
In the thirty-three years of Pepe’s history, it is the first time ever that a Hollywood star of such a stature has been signed for an ad campaign. Pepe Jeans London boss Carlos Ortega says, “We wanted a strong, positive, female British figure to head the advertising campaign, and strongly believe the choice of Sienna Miller was the right one.” The 24-year-old star’s ad campaign debut has been shot by Mikael Jansonn and Karl Templer in Paradise Cove, California. The concept behind the images is inspired by the 1950s classic hit ‘And God Created Woman’. Sienna has been shot opposite international super model J.R. Gallison. Commenting on the new face of the brand, country head of Pepe Jeans, India, Chetan Shah, said: “Sienna Miller is not only a Hollywood super star but also a fashion style icon. Her personality and her screen presence are so enigmatic and enticing and this makes her the right choice for the brand.” Miller was born in New York City. Her father is Edward Miller, an American banker; her mother is Jo Miller, a South African who ran Lee Strasberg’s acting academy in London. Miller moved to England as a child and attended the Heathfield School in Ascot, Berkshire and later studied for a year at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City. She considers herself culturally English. Prior to her professional acting career, Miller worked as a photographic model. models Pepe Jeans, and posed for Vanity Fair magazine’s 2006 Hollywood Issue topless and smoking a cigarette. She had a recurring role in the television series Keen Eddie. Miller appeared in supporting roles in the 2004 remake of the 1966 movie Alfie as well as in Layer Cake (2004). She played the female lead in period drama, Casanova (2005). Miller plays 1960s socialite and Andy Warhol’s muse Edie Sedgwick in the biopic Factory Girl, set for a September 2006 release. In 2005, Miller made her West End debut as Celia in Shakespeare’s As You Like It to mixed reviews. (The Guardian commented “if she were in a girls’ school show, rather than the West End, you would think her well above average.”) She played the role of Rosalind for one performance, when Helen McCrory, the actress playing the lead, fell ill. Miller’s relationship with Jude Law has frequently featured in the entertainment press. On Christmas Day of 2004 they became engaged. However, on July 18, 2005, Law issued a public apology to her for having an affair with Daisy Wright, the nanny of his children by his former wife. Despite attempts to salvage their relationship, the couple parted in time for Miller to celebrate her single status at the UK premiere of Casanova in February 2006.
|
|
Bye Bye symmetry Sprinkle a little madness over dollops of zing. Play with wispy, flowing touches. And romance the fluid georgettes and fanciful chiffons. Let your outfits gracefully slide down your curves for an alluring fit as you dump symmetrical cuts. Yes! Asymmetrical cuts are the magic mantra that saves your old outfits from getting into the deadbeat section and adds a charming twist to your new outfits. Kurta crazy If Rajesh Khanna had thousands of Indians swooning over his trademark kurta, city designers are not far behind. They’ve pepped up the Kurti, the hip cousin of the humble kurta, by letting it flaunt asymmetrical cuts and flowing fabrics. Some of the spirited options available across the city are- Mid-thigh length kurtis Adds city-based designer Dimpi Gujral, “My tops and kurtis, besides sporting asymmetrical cuts are flaunting interesting detailing like lace trimmings and light embellishments.” “My indo-western kurtis in georgettes sport a bias cut with double and triple layering, which adds drama and romance to regular fit kurtis,” informs designer Mini Singh. Most of these kurtis are available in printed cottons, chiffons, georgettes and chicken. Colours flooding the apparel store racks are whites, crèmes, skin-tones, beiges, light mushrooms, aquas, lemons and mauves. Available at most leading apparel stores in the city, including Salil Studio, Sham Mall, Poshak, Ten West, Urban Rootz, Sweet Sixteen, Meena Bazaar and Kapsons. Price range-Rs 2,000-4,000
|
|
Breathing fashion into the City Bela Sahgal being multifaceted could be given more than one introduction. A perfect homemaker to her family, a haute couture consultant to many, a theatre impresario to the city and a complete woman to me. She voices her observations meticulously, clearly and animatedly. “Fashion is not just to do with clothes. It’s like a trend that seeps into every place – clothes, accessories and language. Or even habits you pick up. It is not a uniform that you don, it’s just an expression. You can either choose to adapt it or create your own. To me fashion is spiral, repetitive yet progressive.” Bela, who also dabbled in modeling, haute couture and theatre, believes in a 100 per cent commitment to everything that she does. Something that is very evident by the fact that she is a fitness freak and trust me she is fit as a fiddle. “ I have come a long long way. Born and Bred in Amritsar, I am extremely proud of my roots and my upbringing. Schooling in Lawrence School, Sanawar introduced my innocence to a world that I wasn’t acclimatized to. And barely in my 20s, traditional norms had Vikram come and introduce himself to me as a prospective groom. And then, life introduced itself to me.” Bela, extremely nonchalant about her economic and social status, is married to one of the leading industrialists of the region. But that was only something that was factual. It did not deter her from taking up a modeling assignment with Bata, and various other ventures. “I just couldn’t get myself to mould into what looks hip society. I wanted to do something different. And I did. So whether it was modeling or starting my own fashion label Yasmin, I did it and made sure it was successful. I started a store in Delhi titled ‘Kabella’ and I progressed into supplying to bigger cities.” Chandigarh, some time back did not have such avenues.” But I managed. I got out of the Delhi hang up. I evolved. There had to be a life if you couldn’t connect to people with the same wavelength. So came Yasmin. Bringing in the country’s best theatre to the city was welcomed with roaring success. Of course, initially, technical glitches did lead to questions on my sustenance. But I took it head on and succeeded.” Positivism seems like Bela’s middle name. “I believe human psyche is same all over the world. We are all conceived in a womb. And we are all shades of grey. “
|
|
MATKA CHOWK I have a brother-in-law who fondly jokes that tandoori chicken is the state bird of Punjab. I have always loved this Mughlai specialty and ate it all over the world – even in little holes that passed off as Indian restaurants. But the tandoori chicken heaven is right here – my daughter will vouch for that! Tandoori chicken is very popular in the USA. Even in the middle of cowboy country, amidst defunct oil wells and firearms shop, you would find a small Indian restaurant selling tandoori chicken. Big cities have Indian restaurants with terribly trite names like “Star of India” or “Taj,” that offer the standard $6.99 lunch buffet, hugely popular with office goers. You would see the plates piled with tandoori chicken pieces - of a sickly pink hue – courtesy, readymade dip and a quick roast. And of course, it tastes like a distant cousin of the real thing! Our American friend who came to visit us wanted to eat some tandoori chicken. He took one bite of the golden brown leg and exclaimed –“This is not tandoori chicken! This doesn’t taste anything like it!! This is wonderful! This is something else!” We have eaten tandoori chicken in many places here. In fact, some of the best tandoori is found in places with no linen napkins or finger bowls. We found great tandoori chicken in Dharampur as well as a Café Coffee Day, nestled right across the dhaba. Our American visitors could not believe they were sipping Lattes after a tandoori meal– overlooking a hillside overrun with gangs of overzealous hens and grungy pigs. Can you ask for a better fusion! A long time ago, I was taking a flight to Canada. As the Delhi airport lounge filled out with the passengers, I sat up and reflected on the interesting cross-sections of Punjab, the flight was going to represent. A young boy around twenty sat next to me. He spoke no English and conversed in broken Hindi and explained to me that he was going to Canada to seek his fortune. He was from a village near Gurdaspur. He was already homesick - his eyes moistened at the mention of his parents and his younger sisters, he has left behind. As we were about to take off, he took out a small package wrapped lovingly in a clean cotton handkerchief. Inside reposed some earthy looking parathas and a large piece of tandoori chicken. He offered me some – I refused. I wanted him to relish allof that little piece of home he was carrying with him. I looked away and tried to catch the last glimpses of India thorough the frosted glass, while he ate his tandoori chicken - all the time trying hard to stop the spilling tears.
|
|
Buniyaad then and now
No one ever thought that the serial ‘Buniyaad’ would be such a big hit. Once the people began to view it in totality, they realised that it was Ramesh Sippy’s best work. ‘Buniyaad’, the show that captivated Indian hearts that still had the ghastly hangover of the Partition way back. ‘Buniyaad’, that portrayed the struggle from the scratch and create a home in a foreign land; the struggle of remaining true to principles overcoming temptations — makes its presence felt once again on the small screen at Sahara One. Ramesh Sippy recalls the experience of the second coming of his popular soap and says: It is sheer nostalgia. It brings back a lot of memories. Buniyaad had a captive audience. It was released at a time when there was only Doordarshan and not many players making serials too. We had a wonderful script by Manohar Shyam Joshi (who recently passed away) and we did the best we could. Technology was not as advanced as it is today. We have given it a few technical changes to upgrade it to today’s level. ‘Buniyaad’ has always been very special to me. I met my wife Kiran Juneja on the sets and the rest as they say is history,” says the soft-spoken Sippy. ’Buniyaad’ is a drama - unparallel in its poignancy. It is not time bound. It relevance remains as it was back in the 80s when it was first showcased on Doordarshan. It ran about 110 episodes in those days and had captivated the audience. The new generation has got a good chance to see this serial. It has all the ingredients that appeal this generation - values, romance, partition, nostalgic feeling, and drama – added with the rustic touch.” Sippy says, “Back then, I had just completed Sholay and the expectations were high. Twenty years later, we just had a rerun of Sholay, which was quite successful. Now we are doing a rerun of Buniyaad. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.” “Buniyaad is about the pain of the Partition seen through the eyes of a single family. When the first few episodes of ‘Buniyaad’ ran on television in around April – May 1986, a furore was created. Critics called it a revolution of the television industry and it gave TV a much-needed boom. It was a great moment for us as a unit together,” Sippy concludes modestly. — D.P.
|
|
|
The Value of Vision One of the qualities, especially in technology businesses, that an entrepreneur must have is the ability to envision the future. Vision might seem a lofty goal compared with the hard (and sometimes, harsh) realities of running a business. But without vision, navigation and decision-making becomes difficult. Vision helps simplify decision-making and an entrepreneur has to get hundreds of decisions right to have hopes of being successful. Without a view of the big picture, making even a small decision can appear to be a mountain to be climbed. I have attached a lot of value to vision in my career as an entrepreneur. Sometimes, one gets it right. At other times, I have been plain wrong or a little early. I feel very uncomfortable without a long-term view of where the world is headed and how the things we are doing will make a big difference. I like to think of vision as a game-changer … one which sets us apart from others because it gives me a clearer perspective on tomorrow’s world. There is no single view of the future. What I endeavour to do as an entrepreneur is to define a view of the future … and work to make that a reality before others. It is easy to underestimate the importance of vision. When one is faced with the nitty-gritty of making daily decisions to ensure that cash comes in quickly, the short-term gains take precedence over the long-term. Even vision is set aside to focus solely on execution. But the question is whether one is running the right race. To build a vision of the future requires a lot of time and effort, and this can have an impact on the near-term. Successful entrepreneurs are those that can strike a balance between both, combining vision and execution. So, what is vision? To me, vision is painting a picture of tomorrow’s world. It is about imagining a day in the life of your user …with the products and services that you are making, and keeping in mind the changing competitive landscape. It is about thinking through pain points and crafting breakthrough solutions. It is about giving users an experience they may not even be asking for today. To build a vision of the future, one needs to come at it from multiple dimensions … because technology and competition do not stand still. Why is vision so important? For an early-stage company, one cannot compete and win the near-term battles, however well one executes. Others have a far better entrenched position. The entrepreneur needs to look beyond to the next cycle of disruptions that will come and build a vision around those. That is the time of dramatic upheaval - and opportunities. The entrepreneur needs to prepare for that. It may take time for these opportunities to manifest. The enterprise needs enough cash - and patience - for the intervening years. It is not easy because today’s pressures and deadlines will tend to take precedence. Entrepreneurs have to make sure vision is not sacrificed at the altar of the present. I was not a believer in vision when I started my career as an entrepreneur in early 1992. At that time, I just wanted to go out and do something quickly. But a series of setbacks over the next two years made me realise that a random set of moves is not going to get me anywhere. It was then that I read CK Prahalad and Gary Hamel?s ?Competing for the Future.? It was that book which convinced me of the importance, power and necessity of envisioning the future. Since those two days in 1994 when I read the book, I have always kept these words from that book in mind: Competition for the future is competition to create and dominate emerging opportunities - to stake out new competitive space. Creating the future is more challenging than playing catch up, in that you have to create your own road map. The goal is to develop an independent point of view about tomorrow’s opportunities and how to exploit them. Pathbreaking is a lot more rewarding than benchmarking. One doesn’t get to the future first by letting someone else blaze the trail. There is not one future but hundreds. Getting to the future first is not just about outrunning competitors bent on reaching the same prize. It is also about having one’s view of what the prize is. There can be as many prizes as runners; imagination is the only limiting factor. In business, as in art, what distinguishes leaders from laggards, and greatness from mediocrity, is the ability to uniquely imagine what could be. Other people and companies may have more resources, more money, more everything, but what you have as an entrepreneur is your vision, your imagination, your passion. Define what will be, define tomorrow, envision the future. And then make others play according to the rules you set…. — Courtesy: Rajesh Jain, Managing Director, Emergic.org
|
|
|
PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS Healthier looking skins, smoother shaves and youthful appearance is no more an uncommon sight! Times have changed; today more and more men are aware of the importance and benefits of a perspective skin care regimen. Though men have always been admirers of beauty but in the past little did they do to groom themselves. But growing media awareness, celebrity endorsements of grooming products, as well as people in the entertainment business, are helping to break down any residual taboos surrounding the use of toiletries. With all the makeover shows, new anti-ageing cosmetics and general obsession with staying young have attracted men towards the use of toiletries. Men are open to new products. It is no longer a female thing to have treatments done! Survey after survey shows that men’s skin care product sector to be the most dynamic of all categories and a steady climb of 4 per cent until 2009. Majority of men feel uncomfortable talking about skin care but when they realise that basic maintenance can keep ageing and wrinkles at bay, they welcome the idea! Skin care ranks high among the young, while the 25’s are more prominent in this category, the 45 to 50 year old are looking for products that make them look good for their age. Also men do not have patience and time to sit through elaborate skin programmes. Simple and hassle free yet effective treatments is the answer for them. Remember, the comfort of your shave is tied to how well you take care of your skin. There are special needs of men to be addressed. The skin is naturally oily, large pores, thicker and rougher and has copious hair growth. In the summer, men’s skin becomes oilier because its moisture content rises with humidity. Men’s skin is 20 per cent oilier than women’s and has significantly large pores. This suggests that men during hot months must take care of their skin. Follow the golden rules during summer time and healthy-looking skin is yours! Cleanse: Men are more involved in outdoor activities, exposing themselves to sun, wind and pollution to a greater extent. Therefore, cleansing becomes an essential step, it keeps pores clear and also promotes health of the skin by getting rid of pollutants and germs. Your facial cleanser should be a product designed for your face: gentle and right for your skin type. Soaps are a big no as they rob the skin of natural oils and lead to premature ageing, deteriorating your skins natural healthy appearance. In hotter weather clogged pores always lead to blemishes. Look for face washes with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, alovera, vitamin A,C and E. Toning: Clears the skin from any hidden environment debris and pollutants which have an impact on your skins ability to remain elastic. Toning keeps your skin firm and clear. An astringent tonic with glycolic or alpha hydroxyl acids would work wonders, this can help reduce the pore size and help with ingrown hair Moisturize: I have said it a hundred times-moisturise! Moisturising is a must after cleansing, toning to put the suppleness back. It should be a must after shaving and must be put on the neck as well. Vitamin E proves to be a good moisturiser. Exfoliate: Finally to stimulate circulation and cleanse pores of impurities such as pollution, dirt and perspiration, an exfoliating scrub combined with a deep cleanse mask is essential to rejuvenate and tone the skin. Dead skin cells give complexion dull and grey look making it look rough and dry. I recommend use of a face scrub, which should feel smooth on the skin, not rough or heavy. The scrub takes off the dead skin and is essential for flawless glowing skin. Protect: Exposure to sunlight can diminish skins vitality. It might come as a surprise to know that 90 per cent damage done to your skin is by the sun and 10 per cent happens naturally. Skin needs to be shielded from the influence of factors such as sun and environmental which are extremely damaging to the skin. Avoid overexposure to the sun; apply sun block, sunscreen creams, and lotions before venturing out in the sun. Apply SPF 15 or more before stepping out in the sun. Stay away from smoking, alcohol, drugs and highly processed food. Remember man’s appearance is the reflection of his character!
|
|
WRITE TO RENEE I am a 35-year-old woman where emotional and physical abuse has been a pattern over the years and down the generations. Right from my grandparents to my parents the kids were either beaten or shouted at. It was considered a way of life and we were told that it was a way of disciplining the children. As I grew up it took me years of working on myself to be able to get out of my depression and physical ailments, which would overwhelm me. Now that I feel physically and emotionally stronger I find it very hard to accept all the oppressive junk thrown on me by my family. I do feel love for them but I feel constantly pulled down in their presence and negative thoughts start overtaking me. Please suggest how I can keep my strength going on. Ramona, Chandigarh Dear Girl, it is wonderful to know that you have managed to step out of your environmental and circumstantial conditioning by working hard on yourself. When you were a child it is understandable that your level of vulnerability was higher. Now at his age in life, you are absolutely in control of your own situation so just be strong and stay put wherever you are mentally and emotionally. You have done very well for yourself. Remember your family loves you and cares for you but also they are the products of their own conditioning. Learn to forgive their attitude, be magnanimous and life will bless you anyways. Stay positive. Do not allow them to overtake your thinking. I am a young man and doing a B.Tech degree course, I am 23-year-old and my problem is that whatever I seem to think does not seem to be working my way. If I think a particular work should be done, it never seems to get done that way, on the reverse, if I think a particular job will not be done or that it is impossible for me, it actually gets done. Why am I always so negative? I want to stop thinking about the results of what I am doing. How can I stop thinking in this way? I have lots of dreams but cannot seem to make them happen still I keep on daydreaming. I keep myself very busy to avoid these thoughts yet they bother me. Please help me. Jatin, Chandigarh Dear boy, it’s great to know that you can dream. In all my seminars I have taught people this one thing. “If you can dream you can make it happen.” But remember you have to have a positive attitude. If you learn to love yourself you will also learn to trust your self. The trust itself will make things happen your way because you only get what you believe in. You probably have been carrying some negative patterns from your childhood, which are still playing havoc with your mind but since you are aware of them and want to get rid of them you will be able to do so. Just be mentally strong and stay free from fears. Fear is the limitation of our minds. We re-create fearfull situations by dwelling on them. Stop doing so, you are the centre of all that happens around you. Love yourself though fear and everything will sort itself. I am a woman who is 30 years, but still living in the shadow of a domineering and controlling mother. I feel completely suffocated by her. I do appreciate that she loves me and has only my best interests at heart, but I also feel that I want to be free of this feeling of desperation, when I am with her. It has taken me a very long time to rid myself of my mother’s control and the control of my husband and also of other people in my life. These are all people I care about and would love to have a good relationship with but some how we don’t seem to see eye to eye on anything at all. How can I be close to any mother now as she is old and emotionally weaker without my apprehensive feelings. Sangeeta, Mohali I have always felt that when the older generation complains about their kids pulling away from them or not wanting to be with them they must realize that they are the ones who have created that situation. Parents who try to control their children put up these barriers to a loving relationships. It is not your fault that you have these feelings towards you mother, they probably stem from your childhood and having a domineering parent almost always ensures a dominating spouse as well since you are so used to that way of life. Now that you have learnt to step out of it, just affirm to yourself. “I have a loving relationship with my mother and my husband”. Forgive her for the years of emotional battering and free yourself. Reach out with love towards her, after all she is your mother, and has an unconditional feeling for you. Whenever you love somebody genuinely they will always love you back.
|
|
1. Making a Good Brain Great: The Amen Clinic Program for Achieving and Sustaining Optimal Mental Performance By Daniel G. Amen In order to make muscles grow, one must eat right, exercise and force the muscles to do new things; the same is true of one’s brain, which is just one of the things to learn from this short but informative audio book from one of the world’s leading experts on how the brain works. Works of this sort usually aren’t well suited to audio and this one is no exception. Unless listeners are studiously taking notes while listening, they will need to find a hard copy when the time comes to apply Amen’s advice. However, Amen’s friendly and warm narration relates the precepts of his brain-boosting program in a way that makes them easy to understand and absorb. The audio book becomes repetitive when Amen tries to reinforce certain points, but this production is otherwise enjoyable and will leave listeners eager to implement some of the strategies outlined. Amen is a renowned keynote speaker and frequently appears on TV, so there’s no surprise that his engaging and exuberant style makes this a fascinating exploration of how the brain works. 2. Secrets of Great Rainmakers: The Key to Success and Wealth By Jeffrey J. Fox A street-smart marketing expert, Harvard MBA and author of bestselling business books, including How to Become CEO, gives the ultimate lesson on starting a business from the ground up. Practical advice is put on the table in knock-your-socks-off directness that makes sense right away in your gut. Don’t start a business without hearing this essential lesson! 3) Tourism By Nirpal Singh Dhaliwal Bhupinder ‘Puppy’ Singh Johal - handsome, rakish and spiritually disenfranchised - has left behind the immigrant neighbourhood of Southall to mix with the elite of metropolitan London society. When rich-girl Sophie falls for him, he grabs the chance to escape his past and pursue the woman of his dreams, the voluptuous sophisticate Sarupa, who happens to be engaged to Sophie’s cousin. Using whatever and whoever he can, Puppy explores the grit and glamour of a city seething with the possibilities and politics of money, race and sex—an incendiary cocktail that explodes—changing him and those closest to him forever. Set in the long hot summer of 2002, “Tourism” is a filthy, unflinching and politically incorrect take on modern Britain. 4) The Princess Diaries: Seventh Heaven By Meg Cabot Doesn’t a nearly sixteen year old deserve a break? Apparently not! Not only has Mia made a total ass of herself dancing with J.P. (a.k.a. the Guy Who Hates It When They Put Corn in the Chilli), trying to prove to Michael that she’s a super-chilled party girl, she has also bankrupted the student council. Way to go, Princess! Just as Mia’s scared that she’s lost Michael and a ton of money, Grandmere steps in with a fund-raising plan. She’s going to stage a musical in front of the world’s hottest celebrities and the star will be none other than Mia, cast as her fearless Genovian ancestress, Rosagunde! Mia would rather eat her own crown than tread the boards. But Grandmere is an ace blackmailer and her secret scheme will ensure that Mia does exactly what she wants! 5) Red: An Alphabet By Allen Sealy Billed as an alphabet, and narrated by the nameless ‘N’, “Red” introduces us first to N’s friend, Zach. In St. Petersburg for a music festival, Zach encounters the red-headed Aline in the Matisse Room at the Hermitage and is immediately bewitched. The two of them fall in love as quickly as they fall into bed and it seems that nothing can keep them apart. But other characters also appear between the sheets; a gang of six black-shorted, grease-smeared, soot-smudged men, who take what they want, stealing money (and, on one occasion, a piece of art) from homes of the rich; a girl who tends pigs, and wants to keep what is hers; a workman whose wants are few, but with devastating consequences. Even aspects of N’s own life are revealed: his awkward relationships with his teenage daughter and her American mother. As these stories overlap and entwine, “Red” is revealed as a vibrant, violent tale—a love story and a story about the love of art, about life imitating art, about the end of love—and the end of life. — Courtesy: Browser, Sec 8
|
|
Health TIP OF THE DAY Diet Control is an integral part of losing weight but this can’t burn fat that is already stored in the body. Exercise is the most effective way of shedding stored fat.
— Dr. Ravinder Chadha
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
There is more to fashion than just clothes. Nagina Bains
talks to fashion impresario Bela Sahgal
Convenience is the mother of all invention and to some extent instant gratification too! And so the case is no different when it comes to home diagnostic tests, for these provide assurance, accessibility, anonymity and affordability, acting as the perfect phantom doctors. As a result more and more city residents are fast moving from first-aid boxes to home diagnostic kits, playing doctors in the privacy of their own bathrooms and bedrooms.
British actress and Hollywood superstar has been picked to be the brand face of the denim fashion house Pepe Jeans. The new face of the brand, Sienna is the heartthrob of millions and a darling of the media all over the world, including India. The actress and style icon has signed a contract with the brand for an astonishing US 4 million dollars. She has signed a two-year contract till Spring 2008.
Thanks to the high-voltage drama of the two annual fashion weeks (Lakme and Wills) that we witnessed recently, the passion to look good seems ignited in every fashioista’s soul. Despite many a controversies that the fashion weeks were strewn with, we saw some sparkling pools of creativity dotting the fashion’s riverbed. And for all those among us who felt like plucking off some inexplicable style from the ramp, here’s how to notch up your glamour quotient. 
These kurtis take a break from the usual ones through their asymmetrical cuts like diagonal, uneven cuts. Many of them are being offered in an overlapping cross cut at the bottom and puffed sleeves. Says Panchkula based designer Nidhi Bajaj, “I’ve played with asymmetrical cuts to add freshness to the kurtis. Plus, my kurtis flaunt interesting detailing like paisleys, animal prints and floral motifs.”