The prodigal returns
Hans Raj Hans is set for a comeback with an album — Ik Ishara
The allure of azaan (the call for prayer) proved much stronger than the corridors of power he was forced to walk in. So, after a couple of years in the political arena, Hans Raj Hans is back to where he belongs — the poetry of Baba Bulle Shah, Rumi, and music that spreads love. He is all set to mark his comeback with an album Ik Ishara, scheduled for release soon. So what was the ishara that told him to quit politics and come back to the wondrous world of music? "I didn't understand it," says Hans Raj as he makes himself comfortable as a guest at The Tribune office, and by that he didn't mean his ignorance about the state of affairs but his role in it. We probe a little more - what precisely about politics that he did not find palatable and his answer comes straight from the heart, "When I did not understand it, what was there to like or dislike?"

Spreading wings
Gurpreet Dhindsa, a paraglider, is the first Indian to get an instructor certification from internationally acclaimed associations
For Gurpreet Dhindsa, life at one point of time was about taking a pick between two simple choices — whether to be or not to be! Without getting into the whirlpool of skepticism, this man didn't take much time in zeroing in on his choice that decided the course of his life. The choice was 'to be'. To be confident enough to leave a settled career, to be brave enough to have the guts to follow dreams and look fear in the eye. To do what he always wanted to — glide in the air. This is how Gurpreet Dhindsa, a paraglider, the first and so far only Indian to get his instructor certification from internationally acclaimed association (British Hang-gliding and Paragliding Association) and only certified tandem instructor in the country (from Hungarian Free Flying Association), chronicles his journey so far.

It’s comforting!
There’s no substitute for home-cooked food? Not any longer, for it's the era of ‘comfort food’
After a tiring day at office, what is the first and last thing you want to think about? Let's give it you — food. Sometimes, people who binge throughout the day would want to have food that isn't too adventurous, but at the same time, is comfortable and pleasing to the eye. This is how Neeraj Chaudhry, executive chef, food and beverage manager, Hotel Taj, defines the concept of 'comfort' food as. "Food that one can connect to, that is comfortable to eat, that isn't drastic or way too experimental," he explains.

Truly global
Sukhna Lake wears a festive look on Monday evening as AIESEC members set up a 'global village' with 50 interns from as many as 20 countries. Each stall from countries like Ghana, Vietnam, England, Russia, Germany, China and many others had its nationals proudly sharing their country's flag, facts, symbols and traditions. Curious visitors, from children to senior citizens, thronged the stalls to know about their respective cultures or simply get a picture clicked. Photo by S. Chandan

Once Upon a Time in PU!
While the poll issues remain more or less the same, the face of PU elections has changed over the years
They entered the hall of fame, if not essentially the roll of honour. Every year a name is added while each year the name changes. There's a towering list of those making it to the council, in the campus presidents office. While scrolling through, some ring a strong bell, others fade away into oblivion…

Rallying around
Bikes followed by cars, cars leading open jeeps, students spilling out of every jeep, while sticker behind each vehicle! Campus election rallies are a shrieking, screeching statement of strength. Thrown in are placards and posters for colour, slogans for that perfect photo.

Graduating to marriage!
About 70 percent of Chinese college students want to marry immediately after graduation while 46 percent want a rich spouse, a study has found. "I would rather cry in the back of a BMW rather than laugh on a bike," said a participant in the survey conducted by matchmaking website hongniang.com. It's quite popular among youth to marry the rich, but it also reflected a gloomy view of marriage and love, a publication reported quoting the study.

Liar Liar!
Britons tell 657 lies a year, and most blame bankers and MPs for their dishonesty, a survey has revealed. In the study, commissioned by Chartered Insurance Institute, four in five of those polled said lies were now a part of day-to-day life. Despite the recent outcry over MPs' expenses, 41 per cent admitted to over-claiming at work. Nearly half of respondents also admitted stealing a small item from a shop, travelling on a train without a ticket or purposefully damaging purchased goods to get their money back.

In the right spirit
Orra has launched its 13th collection in the spiritual series, the Vignaharta Ganesh Collection of pendants. This collection is an eclectic series of pendants inspired by the eight incarnations of Ganesha. The incarnations namely Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Mahodara, Gajavaktra, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnaraja, Dhumravarna have been beautifully crafted into 22 karat gold and platinum pendants. These stunning pendants are adorned with precious stones like rubies, emeralds, pearls and pure Belgian diamonds, combined with spiritually significant stones like pearl, rudraksha, coral and the holy navratnas. Vijay Jain, CEO, ORRA commented on the launch, "The Vignaharta Collection is a very special collection and I foresee it to be one of ORRA's most successful spiritual collections.

Trousseau treat
Bridal Asia 2010, Asia's biggest exposition for all bridal finery, apparel and products is back with the best and the widest range all under one roof. Celebrating 12 years, now Bridal Asia 2010 is bringing the finest of the fine.