Charge of the polo brigade
Polo, once a pastime of the royals, has metamorphosed into a high-profile game of corporate czars, diplomats, and celebrities
Mukesh Khosla

With the coming of big corporate money, polo, formerly a game of kings and princes, has assumed the hue of a carnival, complete with high society parties, designer clothes and pop bands. Models and cheer leadersare there to lend glamour to a tournament.

A professional mallet could cost anywhere between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000

It is not uncommon to hear about the escalating costs of German and Arab steeds and South American Criollo ponies, even as the high echelons of society resplendent in their Swaroskis and Cartiers talk about handicaps and chukkars.

A polo tournament is a high profile event. By relating with an elite sport, corporates are busy forging a new image for themselves.

MP Naveen Jindal, chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, is an avid promoter of the game. He is also the captain of the Jindal Polo Team. His sprawling farmhouse in Noida is home to more horses than on M.F Hussain’s canvasses.

Jindal is not alone in this pursuit. Last year Sahara India launched its polo team. Called Sahara Warriors, the team, among others, comprises two renowned players Samir Suhag and Adhiraj Singh, both recipients of the Arjuna Award. In fact, Suhag is the only Indian player with a plus-5 handicap and has been part of three Indian World Cup teams.

High-profile events

Global consulting major Protivity, a Fortune 1000 company, real estate developer M3M, Yes Bank and many more companies have been besotted by the sport and are sponsoring major tournaments along with super-luxury brands like Royal Salute, Jaguar, Cartier, Rolls Royce, Bvlgari, Jaeger LeCoultre and Volvo. 

A majority of the 40 championships endorsed by the Indian Polo Association every year get a title sponsor, willing to fork out from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore for an event.

The high-end sponsors come in hordes as a game of polo is attended by the target clientele these luxury brands are looking for.

Three-martini lunches

Many of these companies also underwrite cocktail dinners. Some sponsor hospitality tents and luxury lounges at the venues where they host three-martini lunches for the elite.

Such events are common place at venues like the iconic Jaipur Polo Ground in Delhi, Rajasthan Polo Ground in Jaipur and the Umaid Bhavan Palace Polo Ground in Jodhpur. From the oldest polo club in Kolkata to swish venues in Mumbai and Bengaluru, the galloping ponies of the Carysil Cowboys of Bhavnagar and the Manipur Polo Ground in Imphal considered to be the cradle of world polo, polo as a sport is all-pervasive today.

Recently the Lalit Suri hospitality group hosted a polo match in the Drass sector in Ladakh. The Drass valley, which has the highest polo ground in the world, saw the ultra elite, led by chief minister Omar Abdullah, mingle with the locals.

Rising popularity

Clearly, polo has never had it so good. Polo grounds in big cities, till a few years back confined to leisurely training of rich youngsters, are now the venues for a slew of power adrenalin-pumping games. Events like the Hyundai Sonata Ambassadors Cup, Audi Quarto Cup, Royal Salute Cup, Standard Chartered Jodhpur Polo Cup, Vodafone Sirmur Cup and many more get a large and an enthusiastic attendance of India’s elite.

Time was when serious polo was best left to the Indian army and had nothing to do with corporate patronage.

Today, the army still has some of the best teams but so do a few top organisations. It is not uncommon to see an army team clash with the private sector in the finals — the Sahara Warriors versus Army Reds, or the Jindal team versus the Army Greens.

Polo is an expensive sport. Even now it remains out of reach of the common man simply because a sturdy polo horse can cost anywhere between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. Then there is the cost of training, feeding and grooming and above all transporting it to various venues where the tournaments are held.

That is where the blue chip companies are now stepping in. They are underwriting these huge costs, building up their own teams and setting up events. Players can hope to make a small fortune per tournament. Many teams are even flying overseas players and reportedly paying them megabucks and transforming the blue-bloodied sport into a blue chip sport.

Princely cost
A royal sport needs royal sum to play it. Equipment and gear for polo is not everyone’s sport.

* Spurs cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500.

* Special polo helmet prices are in the range of Rs 8,000 and Rs 12,000

* Special boots required for the sport can cost between Rs15,000 and Rs 35,000.

* Top-quality knee guards range between Rs 2,500 and Rs5,000.

* Eyewear and gloves are in the range of Rs 5,000 and Rs7,500.

POLO GROUNDS, TROPHIES & CHAMPIONSHIPS
One of the most important tournaments is the Indian Open Polo Championship held at the Jaipur Polo Ground, in New Delhi. The ground also hosts the Scindia Cup and the Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia Gold Cup. This is followed by the Indian Masters Polo Tournament held in Jaipur. In fact, the Pink City also hosts other important events like the Kota Cup, the Rajmata Gayatri Devi Memorial Cup, the Sirmur Cup, HH Sawai Bhawani Singh Gold Cup, the Baria Cup and many more.

The Royal Salute Cup is held at Jodhpur and so is the Jubilee Cup.

The Calcutta Polo Club, which is the oldest polo club in the World (formed in 1862), also has the oldest polo trophy in the World — the Ezra Cup.

In 2012, Bangalore held its first-ever polo season at the ASC Army Grounds with three tournaments — Base Polo Cup, Trinity Cup and the Champions Cup.

The pride of the sport is the Kolanka Cup held in Chennai which has a 6-foot silver trophy which, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the tallest sports trophy in the world.

INDIAN CHUKKARS
Though polo originated in Persia in the 5th century AD, the modern-day sport has its roots in India. There are strong references to it in Indian history especially during the Muslim and Mughal dynasties. In 1210 the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aibak — builder of the Qutub Minar — died after falling off a pony while playing polo. With that, the sport, too, lost its sheen.

The British revived polo in India

Three centuries later polo was again revived by Babar, the first Mughal emperor. He was one of the best players of his time and built the world’s largest stable of ponies in Agra. Humayun, Akbar and Shahjahan, too, were formidable polo players and the sport flourished during their time.

However, with the decline of the Mughal empire the game again started disappearing from India. During the British rule the revival of polo in India was quite by accident. In 1859 two senior British army officers, who were posted in Manipur, decided to while away a boring afternoon by watching natives play some ‘silly’ game on horseback. What they saw left them stunned. Sagol Kangjei was nothing but an Indian version of polo. They began actively popularising it and were responsible for the setting up of the Calcutta Polo Club, the oldest active polo venue in the world which not just had the British as members but also Indian royalty. Today, the sport of kings and princes has come a long way from those halcyon days. It is has transformed from a blue-bloodied to a blue chip sport.

The glass act
Give yourself an intellectual edge with a stylish pair of spectacles. Wearing glasses has become glamorous, thanks to the range of trendy frames available
Subodh Samuel

Ranbir Kapoor sported these to give his character an erudite look in Rajneeti. Arjun Rampal dons these in his latest flick, Inkaar. Hrithik Roshan flaunted these in Koi Mil Gaya! and Kareena Kapoor looked cool in these in 3 Idiots. Time was when wearing spectacles was a closely guarded secret of the celebrities. The young girls, who were forced to wear ‘granny glasses,’ quickly traded these for contact lenses in the 1980s. These days thanks to trendy frames, wearing glasses has become glamorous. Spectacles are fast becoming an essential accessory for that stylish look. In the West, prescription eyewear has become such a rage that Victoria Beckham has launched her own range. At any red carpet occasion, celebrity after celebrity can be seen flaunting these. Anna Hathaway, Johnny Depp, Lindsay Lohan are a growing list of Hollywood A-listers, who are on the forefront of this geek chic.

From cool dudes to top corporate honchos, beauty queens to housewives, they are all sporting sleek pairs of spectacles not just to see but to be seen in these. The buzzword is to look stylish, giving your personality the intellectual edge.

Elegant frames

Choosing the right pair for your eyes is the first step to make you look hep. Not only do frames come in different shapes and colours but advances in technology have also brought up a variety of new materials for lenses, which make frames durable, lightweight and elegant.

There is something for everyone. Gone are the days when you wore thick glasses if you had myopia or half-bifocal lenses where a thin semi-circle went across the entire width of the lens. Though they still exist, the newer lenses are thinner and lighter than the conventional ones. These lenses gel perfectly with your choice of smart frames making you the cynosure of everyone’s eyes. A few years ago, the size of these eyepieces was so big that these covered almost half the face. But today the look is more understated. Smaller frames are in. Subtlety is the new buzzword. Plastic frames spell class. The sedate silver-framed Ray-Bans seem to be evergreen and the frames from Armani make a bold classy statement.

Attractive look

In a very short span, “mature” has moved ahead of just being a synonym with old. And this has created unlimited options to create new designs and shapes. There are aspheric lenses for those prescribed for far sight. These are flatter and thinner, providing better vision than ordinary lenses that have a tendency to enlarge the wearer’s eyes, producing an unattractive magnified look. Frames with aspherics lessen this magnification, for a more attractive, natural look.

For those in the early forties and falling in the intermediate zone requiring bifocals, progressive lenses in trendy frames come in handy. They score a plus over the traditional ones by not only providing visual correction for distances that traditional bifocals cannot, but they also hide the fact that you even need reading glasses.

A recent survey reveals that such is the growing craze among Indians to wear trendy spectacles that they have even overtaken the sale of sunglasses. Thanks to television shows which beam the latest global trends, today people are ready to try out different styles for that ultra-chic look. Wearing the right glasses is equivalent to creating a positive self-image.

Cosmetic appeal

Global giants like Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren have brought out frames with glasses that come with additional features like anti-glare and anti-reflection making the old photo-chromatic lenses a thing of past. These coatings are similar to those found on microscopes and camera lenses. The result is that there is a reduction in glare, annoying reflections, and halos around lights. With an anti-reflective coating, eyeglass lenses appear thin or non-existent, creating a neat cosmetic appearance.

There are also scratch-proof lenses that protect these from any damage. These are made up of impact-resistant material polycarbonate and are generally preferred for kids.

However, sporting these style makers is a costly affair as their prices sometimes fall in the five-digit range. Such is the craze that those who cannot afford an Armani, Versace, Ray Bans, Benetton, or even an Oakley or a Cavalli, pick up replicas. The Rs 100-250 range eyewear, bought from small vendors, is hot among college-going students.

But, say experts, the best thing is to save up and buy the real stuff. It may burn a hole in your pocket but it can spell a whole new you.

DOLCE & GABBANA’S TIMELESS APPEAL
This stylish frame from Dolce & Gabbana is made from high quality material. It takes a formal approach in design, making it almost timeless in its appeal. Little wonder then that celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Jessica Simpson and Amanda Holden are seen wearing these frames.

Price: Rs 16,700

GIVENCHY’S 2013 COLLECTION
For Spring/Summer 2013, the Givenchy eyewear range has a rich collection of frames. The collection is modern and stylish but also has retro frames. One of the most eye-catching models, VGV742 0700 is available in black gold frame that is finely crafted from Acetate.

Price: Rs 14,200

BOLD STYLES FROM GUCCI
Gucci eyewear provides a wide array of styles and trends. The above Gucci model is bold and distinctive with high quality craftsmanship. Made of acetate, the full rim shiny black frame is both elegant and stunning. As an evening wear, it will make you stand out in any gathering.

Price: Rs 13,200 (model gg3519 D28)

DKNY’S ECLECTIC COLLECTION
The DKNY collection of eyewear has an array of head-turning high quality frame styles. Chic and sleek, these exude elegance and come in many styles ranging from the classics to the modern. Its new collection is colourful, dynamic and eclectic with each piece worth a try.

Prices: start at Rs 5,000

TORTOISE SHELL FRAME BY RAY-BANS
It is an iconic eyewear worn by rock stars and other celebrities. Ray Ban’s Wayfarers and Aviators have become synonymous with trendy eyewear. And so is its Tortoise range, whose rich red shell acetate frame, has a sleek look and is a perfect match for a sophisticated wardrobe.

Price: 80 Euros (Rs 5,700)

FENDI BROWN MARBLE COLLECTION
Step out in absolute style in these ultra-chic Fendi sunglasses. The Fendi brown marble frames are trendy and sensual with beautiful detailing design, textured finish and bold shape. The eyewear is further accentuated with a polished gold-tone Fendi ‘F’ logo on the side.

Price: $230 (Rs 12,650)

OAKLEY LIFESTYLE FRAMES
The Oakley carbon plate men’s lifestyle RX frame and eyeglasses are ultra-lightweight, made of titanium and flexible carbon fibre. These are precision crafted with definitive style, creating a great design. The ultra-premium frame showcases the very best in optical technology.

Price: $350 (Rs 19,250)

TAG HEUER’S DISTINCTIVE STYLE
The TAG Heuer eyewear has a distinctive style of its own. Its range of spectacles offers various options. Available at GKB Opticals, the frames are lightweight, elegant and graceful. Some of its popular models are worn by sports and Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan.

Price: Rs 25,415 (model th 7642)

POLO RALPH LAUREN’S TIMELESS APPEAL
Polo Ralph Lauren eyeglasses are designed for those who possess a sense of quality and ageless style. This frame from its new range comes with a pair of clear plastic lens. It is distinct and has a trend-setting style that has become a hallmark of the American lifestyle brand.

Price: $285 (Rs15,675) (model ph 2055 4245)

CAVALLI GLAM-ROCK STYLE
Cavalli eyewear is known for its glam-rock style. The label is a favourite among the young. Colourful patterns, tiger-prints and flowers adorn the rocker-chic collection available at GKB Opticals. The typical Cavalli qualities of freshness and youth can be seen through the collection.

Price: Rs 16,800 (model 277)

EMPORIO ARMANI’S CLASSIC DESIGNS
The Emporio Armani accessory collection is elegant with clearly defined lines and hip designs. Its frames create an unmistakable look by the combination of strong geometric forms and striking details. Available at GKB Opticals, these combine classical as well as youthful styles.

Price: Rs 11,315 (model ea 9781)

BVLGARI SERPENTI COLLECTION
Italian luxury brand Bvlgari has come out with a special collection of high-end frames for prescription glasses. Its Serpenti jewellery and watches are iconic. Inspired by the same central theme, the Italian brand has now launched its Serpenti eyewear collection.

Price: Rs 16,880

LACOSTE COMPUTER EYEGLASSES
The Lacoste frame and glasses, besides looking very smart, are suited for those who work long hours at the computer. The polycarbonate plastic lens with a unique coating eliminates the glare from any computer monitor and also blocks harmful UV light rays coming from the screen.

Price: $150 (Rs 8,250)

 

Frame your face Is it a challenge selecting a frame that suits your face? You are not alone. A number of people get cross-eyed trying to find the right frame that complements their face. Here are some guidelines from experts on what will look best on you Round Round or circular face must opt for a narrow, rectangular frame. This gives the allusion of length to the face, making it look thinner and more proportionate. Diamond A very rare face, the diamond face has a narrow forehead, wide cheekbones and narrow chin. Such a face would require a rimless frame to draw attention only to the eyes. Heart A heart-shaped face that has a narrow forehead and a wide chin will need a frame with a wider top and a narrow bottom to strike the right facial balance. Inverted heart The inverted heart-shaped face has a broad forehead and a narrow chin. A frame with a wider bottom would balance the face by minimising the forehead and maximising the chin. Oval This is an ideal face as it has balanced proportions. Pick a frame that is as wide as the widest part of the face. A walnut-shaped frame, too, would be suitable. Square A square face has a defined prominent jaw line and is usually as wide as it is long. A narrow frame with more width than length would suit such a face. Oblong An oblong or rectangular face is long with strong cheekbones. A large frame is suited for such a face as it makes it look shorter and more balanced.

PACESETTER Deepak Miglani
Deepak Miglani’s Legal Point Foundation serves the common man as this advocate believes in using social media to give information 
Advocating is his mission
Sunit Dhawan

the advent of Internet-based social media and mobile-phone networking has revolutionised interpersonal communication. Meet Deepak Miglani, a young lawyer, who is using mobile and Internet network to spread legal awareness among the masses. After acquiring his law degree, Deepak Miglani started practising at the Tees Hazari courts in Delhi. There, he saw that a number of litigants were needlessly engaged in complicated legal procedures due to a lack of knowledge.

Miglani, who belongs to Rohtak district of Haryana, then began to e-mail useful legal tips to his acquaintances around six years ago. Gradually, he expanded his target audience and employed other social and networking media like Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo groups and mobile SMS service to give leagle tips.

His organisation, Legal Point Foundation, gives a structured form to his mission. In the meanwhile, Miglani upgraded his qualification and acquired LL.M and Ph.D degrees in law as well. He also progressed in his career and practised at the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India. As of now, he is serving as a faculty member at the Geeta Institute of Law in Panipat.

Throughout the course of his career, the lawyer-turned-academician constantly kept on sending legal tips to an ever-increasing number of people across the country.

Many a time it is people who are already locked in a legal battle or face a situation that requires legal intervention who seek tips from Miglani. He provides legal help without charging fees. He also gives tips about various aspects of the country’s laws. His brothers Dinesh and Kamaljeet support him in his endeavour. He attributes his achievements to the support and backing of his brothers and the blessings of his parents. “What keeps me going is the constant urge to bring a positive difference to the lives of the people who have to suffer due to the lack of legal knowledge and ignorance of laws,” maintains Miglani.

He observes that law affects our life directly or indirectly in many ways. A majority of people face harassment as they are not aware of the relevant laws and legal procedures.

“This is because many laws and legal procedures are quite complicated and on the top of it, hardly any effort is made to make people aware of these,” he points out. Miglani has followed the age-old adage:“It is always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

By investing time and money to spread the light of legal awareness, he has made a humble beginning and grown from strength to strength. He has done his bit to lessen the darkness of legal ignorance to a considerable extent.

bling it on

A STREET CAR NAMED BICYCLE
What would a luxury car maker have to do with a humble bicycle? On the face of it, nothing. But the fact is most top-end auto majors are adding a bicycle to their name. British luxury sports car maker Aston Martin has now joined the burgeoning list of leading names like Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW and others by launching its own limited edition superbike named after its iconic two-door coupe One-77. Made of the high-grade carbon fibre it has sensors embedded into the cranks and frame which communicate with the onboard computer, enabling the One-77 Cycle to track the rider’s progress, delivering the ultimate cycling experience. If you are a bicycle enthusiast you better hurry. There are only 77 of these superbikes on sale.

Price: £25,000 (Rs 20.50 lakh)

MOBILE SECURITY
The smart phone is getting smarter by the day. Thanks to a growing list of apps, you can virtually see the magic happen in front of your eyes. There’s an app to help you monitor your home while you are in office, an app to set off the alarm if there’s an emergency and you are not at home. Now you can add one more to the list---an app to help you see who’s at the door ringing the bell. Doorbot IS a small, battery-operated Wi-Fi that can be fixed to your door. It has a small camera that not only lets you see who’s at the door but also allows you to communicate with your visitors by streaming the person’s live video on your smart phone or tablet. Interested? You can pre-order now. Deliveries start by July 2013.

Price: $190 (Rs 10,450)

UNIQUE PHONE CASE!
It’s a tough decision. You can either buy this iPhone-5 case or, for the same money, buy around 350 iPhone-5s. The Unique London Lotus is studded with 18-carat rose gold, pink and white diamonds with a mother of pearl inlay. The case is inspired by the exotic water lotus, symbolising strength, progress, purity and prosperity. It is accompanied with a bespoke leather clutch purse made of crocodile and ostrich skin leather lining with rose gold charms. Want to take dazzling phone case home? You’ll probably have to mortgage your home to a bank.

Price: £189,000 (Rs 1.55 crore)

BAG OF GOLD
What happens when a renowned designer-artist gels her talent with one of the world’s leading luxury brands? The result is amazing as is evident from the new Louis Vuitton limited-edition bag designed by the renowned Japanese artist-designer Yayoi Kusama. The Kusama Pumpkin Minaudière has been hand-crafted by Louis Vuitton artisans in the shape of a pumpkin, covered with the artist’s dots and made primarily from pure gold, resins and metals. Limited to just five bags, this stunning hand candy will add a new sparkle to a lady’s personality.

Price: £83,500 (Rs 68.47 lakh)

EYE-POPPING TIMEPIECE
It’s a timepiece which will make connoisseurs croak with delight. Swiss watch-maker Maximilian Büsser & Friends has launched its limited edition HM3 watch is inspired by the yellow-banded poison dart frog. The watch’s hour and minute domes studded with sapphire crystals are designed like the globular eyes of a frog which can see in every direction. Similarly, the wearer can see the time from any direction without moving the arm. The watch with 18-k gold accents and 22-k gold automatic rotor in a limited edition of 10 pieces would make you stand out in a crowd because of its extravagant design and eye-watering price.

Price: $104,000 (Rs 57.20 lakh)

A STARRY COLLECTION
They are two of the most enduring legends of Hollywood and over the years their memory has become larger than life elevating them from glamorous stars to the status of icons. Now as a tribute to Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, French luxury company S.T. Dupont has launched a new thematic edition with a complete range of products for ‘her’ and for ‘him’. These include a collection of contemporary and elegant writing instruments, lighters and bags which the company claims will make buyers feel like stars themselves.

Prices: Bogart Pen, Lighter & Bogie Bag Euros 2,300 (Rs1,65,600)
Hepburn Pen, Lighter & Riviera Bag Euros 1,650 (Rs1,18,800)

A ROYAL PRICE FOR ROYALE BOOK
No one could have imagined in 1953 that an obscure British author who wrote his first detective novel would go on to become a legend in his own lifetime and his popularity would grow manifold years after his death. Even as the publishing world celebrates sixty years of Ian Fleming’s debut thriller Casino Royale, the first edition of the book is truly a collector’s item. The first printed copies--one of 4,728 copies published by Jonathan Cape in April 1953--are now a collector’s item. Just a handful of well preserved original first editions can be found. And when found, they are usually snapped up by avid 007 devotees. If you are one of them you could buy it from one of the many online bookstores.

Price: Between $13,500 to $1,45,000 depending on the condition of the book (Between Rs7,42,500 and Rs 79,75,000)

MODEL CHARITY
For the past two decades she has been one of the world’s most recognisable faces in modelling. But there is another side to supermodel Naomi Campbell. She is the president of the charity Fashion for Relief which has launched a specially designed bag in India in collaboration with www.koovs.com to raise money for Udayan Care helping needy women and children in India. The online company will donate a part of the proceeds from each garment sold to Udayan Care on behalf of Campbell’s Fashion for Relief which since its inception in 2005 has raised millions of dollars for various causes around the globe. You too can be a part of the campaign and extend your help to a good cause.

Price: Rs 350 per bag given free with each order of Koovs private label collection

ONE FOR THE ROAD
This is manna from heaven for tipplers who like their drink on the go. The Shot Flask is a hip flask with a dramatic twist. It has a built-in collapsible steel glass that will let you have your 60-ml shot in style. The next time you want to share a drink from a hip flask with a friend just pull out the compressed shot glass and expand it with the flick of the wrist and dole the drink out to your companion, while you take a swig from the flask. Besides being a very convenient travel companion, it is also a great conversation starter.

Price: $40 (Rs 2,200)