|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wear your patriotism Thou Brave, be one! Behold, take courage, be proud that thou art an Indian and proudly proclaim ‘I am an Indian…’
— Swami Vivekanand
Most middle-aged persons would have fond childhood memories of rising early on the morning of August 15 and heading straight to the rooftop armed with kites and manjha (string harnessed to keep it afloat) and spending a good part of the morning with their guddis (small kites) and guddas that majestically rose to the skies. As the day progresses, kites begin dotting the skyline of most of the villages, towns and cities of states like New Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal and Uttar Pradesh. Teams of enthusiasts come out with their patangs, manjha and chakris (wooden contraption around which the string is wound). There are plenty of friendly competitions all around and as soon as a group of fliers bring down an opponent’s kite, they jump with child-like glee.
Memory lane In those heady days patriotism pervaded the air. People hoisted the Tricolour on top of their houses. Vendors on bicycles and push-carts sold flags in many sizes. Families, with children in tow, went out in their best attire to take in the atmosphere. Being a national holiday, the festivities were all-pervasive marked by playing of patriotic songs on the radio and even on loudspeakers and remembering the great martyrs of the country who laid their lives for freedom. Times have changed. And how! For one, on the Independence Day, the Red Fort is out of bounds for most people unless you happen to be a VIP, which could mean a minister or a civil servant or a senior defence officer or a diplomat — many of whom come as part of their duty to attend the ceremony. But in this modern era, technology has stepped in to fulfil the desires of ordinary mortals, most of whom prefer to watch the celebrations from the comfort of their homes. The flickering images on the telly bring alive the festivities that mark the day when India became an independent nation in 1947. Passionate tradition A fact not known to many is that a number of old-timers still throng to temples to offer prayers and thank the Almighty for granting India its Independence. These are generally the people who have seen the pulsating period when Lord Mountbatten handed over the charge of India to C. Rajagopalachari, who became the first Indian Governor-General and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru the first Prime Minister. In these days in cities, flags still flutter atop many homes and at most traffic crossings children hawk the Tricolour that is now designed to be hoisted on the dashboards of cars and bikes. Balloons and stickers bearing the three national colours, too, do brisk business. Buzz of social media In the evening, parks and public gardens come alive with an air of festivity as picnickers come to celebrate the day when India finally broke away from the shackles of years of the colonial rule. As with every festive occasion, there is special focus on food during the festival. Many restaurants and sweet shops have special offerings for the day with each dish representing the colours of the Indian flag — saffron, white and dark green. Tricolour barfi, Tiranga poori and azadi halwa are some of the ethnic fare that can be seen in many eateries. Many fine-dining restaurants and hotels offer special ‘freedom’ brunches with an emphasis on various regional cuisines of India. Indeed, the spirit of festivity is very much prevalent on Independence Day, which comes after the severe summer months that usually keep people indoors. So, the monsoon-laden cool air is very welcome as it heralds the onset of the festival season. The best part of the festival is that it overrides all caste considerations and is celebrated alike by all communities.
|
||
|
|
New gym code As director of a Delhi-based NGO, Richa Mehta attends seminars and workshops around the country. Her hectic schedule keeps her on tour more than half a month. Her long stays in hotels and living out of the suitcase should have had a very deleterious effect on her health and fitness. However, to keep fit, she also needs something more than just exercising and jogging. What she requires is proper sportswear that not just looks good on her but enhances her workout performance. That is why nearly half of her travel bag is full of apparel she needs for her exercise regimen like a tracksuit, sweatband, sneakers and a sports cap. She sometimes carries a separate bag for this paraphernalia. Motivational factor Which is why leading sportswear companies develop training gear after extensive research and testing to make sure they are comfortable and have a positive impact on the wearer. Earlier sold extensively in the West, branded sportswear is now clocking brisk sales in India, even as its importance is being realised through ad campaigns. Proper sportswear is fast becoming a workout essential. If you are jogging, stretching or weight training, day-to-day wear is neither suitable nor comfortable and there is a danger it could put you off your daily exercises. Global appeal With deep pockets and catchy advertising, these companies are flooding the market with a mindboggling array of sportswear ranging from T-shirts to shorts, tracksuits, headbands, wristbands and an array of sports shoes. Such is the variety out there that one is left spoilt for choices. Take, for example, sporting footwear. You can’t just go and buy any shoe. Leading companies go to great lengths to design shoes suited to different sporting activities. There are walking shoes, jogging shoes, aerobic shoes. There are special shoes for playing tennis, badminton and volley ball and shoes for playing golf. There are shoes for hiking and mountaineering. In fact, every sporting activity has its own sporting pair. Weather-proof sportswear The reasoning behind this is simple, according to companies. There’s a great amount of difference in winter and summer workouts. In winter, your muscles can get stiff, which can make exercising a chore and also expose you to injuries. So it is adviseable to protect your whole body with warm clothes, especially if you are working out in the open. Apart from warm clothes, winter gear will also mean wear thermal inners, which keep you warm and also absorb sweat during workouts as also woolen socks and a proper cap, especially if you are working out in the open. Modern sportswear is dramatically changing the way we exercise. Gone are the days when one stepped out in one’s shirt and trousers — or worse, nightsuit or kurta-pyjama — for a morning walk. For many young people, workout apparel is becoming as important a part of their wardrobe as office and party wear. And leading companies are making sure these people step into the gym in style.
|
||
|
|
PACESETTER Siddhartha Upadhyay The sporting teacher Vasudha Gupta As London gears up for Olympics 2012 and we support the minuscule contingent from India, is it time for a reality check. Is it not true that sports and games are mostly treated as mere subjects in school? In the competition to leap ahead, does the passion for picking up the bat go down? “There is no doubt that like any youngster, I too, gave up playing cricket for a high-flying, white-collared job,” says Siddhartha Upadhyay, the 33-year-old founder of Stairs, an NGO. As a school-going youngster, Siddhartha was an active sportsman and realised how sports channelled his energy.
It was at this point whenn he got a regular 9 to 5 job, that Siddhartha sat and thought how sports made him a positive person. That instant, he picked up the bat and played with the street kids. Today, Stairs proudly empowers youth from an underprivileged background through sports and education. “This not only helps churn out some exceptional sportsmen but also keeps them away from social evils,” Siddhartha says. He approached coaches and help poured in from all sources. This led to the beginning of the cricket camp which took Siddhartha to Himachal Pradesh. “It was there that I came across this cricket ground in Una district and wanted to use it as a platform,” he says. His regular camps, in association with a few leading sports brands, helped him to spot talent in children. Siddhartha works on the basic principle of helping out underprivileged children by providing them a platform. “It was then that I found out that Sombhadra Khel Mahotsav (state olympics), organised every year in Himachal Pradesh, needed outside assistance,” he says. Stairs and Sombhadra Khel Mahotsav took several initiatives, including providing sports scholarships to a selected 100 students. At a later stage, Stairs came across a hurdle. “We were lucky enough to realise that cricket needed a large paraphernalia and that Delhi was a cluster of several villages,” he says. Stairs established 29 sports centres in Delhi, which encourages children to play volleyball and a Malaysian volleyball game called Sepak Takraw, which allows players to use their feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball. “Such games need less investment and several children can play together,” he adds. In last year, these centres have emerged as a hub of recreation for children from a poor economic background as more kids enrol. Today, Stairs has adopted 100 villages in Himachal and set up sports centres in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and plans more. Siddarth inaugurated the 100th centre in Haryana, recently. All in just the last 10 years. Is a decade too much to ask for?
|
||
|
|
BLING IT ON
OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD EXPERIENCE
FORTUNE CALLING
ANGRY BIRDS, MY FOOT!
|
|
Even now the azure skies turn into a rainbow of colours as many people in North India celebrate Independence Day with the same gusto which they reserve for other popular festivals. Kite flying — associated with freedom and soaring of the spirit — is still a favourite activity which cuts across people of all ages and social strata. 
The business world can turn every moment into merchandise. And the Independence Day is no different. To freeze the historical moment, Canon has launched its Digital IXUS series of three cameras in three hues of the
Tricolour.
Gelato
Italiano, too, is cashing in on the spirit of freedom. It has introduced the orange, white and green 'strawberries 'n' cream'
flavour. 
But no. The 42-year-old Richa is slim and fit and has the energy of a person half her age. Her secret of good health? Gymming regularly for an hour every morning. For one, she generally makes sure she always stays in hotels that have gym facilities. If the hotel doesn’t have one, she enquires about a neighbourhood park where she can go for an early morning jog. 
Lacoste Gym Bag
reebok tracksuit
Armani Sport Training Shorts
Ralph Lauren Classic Sport Cap
Nike Sphere Long-Sleeve Half Zip Top
Puma
Unisex Wristband
Adidas Firebird Track Top
Adidas Adipure trainer
Nike Free Run+2 Id Men’s Running Shoes
New Balance Speed Shoes
Victoria’s Secret Sport Headband
Slazenger Bioslyx Shorts
Kappa Men’s Track Pants
Apart from tracksuits, shoes, T-shirts and other sporting accessories, many global companies are bringing in light, portable newage devices, which promise to give you a great workout and build your abs, biceps, triceps and tone up other muscles of the body without the negative impact of heavy-duty machines on joints, bones and muscles. 
Got lots of millions to spare? Go take a vacation to the moon! The offer comes from an Isle of Man-based space transportation company called Excalibur Almaz. The aviation company is, in a few years, all set to take off to the moon. Those who have the moolah for this ‘spaced out’ experience will be the first humans to go to the moon after the Apollo 17 crew in 1972. The company has acquired the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Reusable Return Vehicles (RRVs) and an expendable service module designed to live and work in space. The vehicle can carry three people every trip— a commander and two passengers. So hurry the first flight takes off in 2015 but there’s already a buzz on bookings!
IT’S RAINING UMBRELLAS
THE FINAL SIGN OFF
TV IN YOUR POCKET
WRISTY HAUTE COUTURE
You’ve got to be incredibly lucky to receive this calling card. And don’t make the blunder of tucking it into a business card holder. Instead run to the nearest jeweller and encash it! London-based design studio Black Astrum has launched a range of bespoke diamond-encrusted business cards, targeting ultra high-net worth individuals across the world. With each card having a carat of diamonds they are sold in sets of 25, 50 and 100. Originally produced for a rich Saudi Sheikh, these business cards are now available to all who have money to burn!
FOR THAT COOL LOOK
UNCORKING THE BUBBLY
A ‘COOL’ SOLUTION
Ever since they first made their appearance in 2009, the Angry Birds have sold over 12 million copies. The video game developed by Finland-based Rovio Mobile Company is so popular that it has been entering into tie-ups with television series and films and also high-end merchandising. The latest to be inspired by the wingless Angry Birds is Nike Shoes. No sooner were they released that the Angry Birds Nike Dunks have caught the imagination of the young. In a range of colours, they are the current hot rage and their appeal is cutting across all age groups.
TAKE OFF IN THIS DREAM CAR