Tweeting for a better world
A lot has been discussed and written about the ills of social media but a community of aware citizens is using it to build a better society
The ice bucket challenge  went viral all over the world through social media Vibha Sharma
T
hat social networking has taken the whole world by storm is no exaggeration. Relationships, socialising, sharing, etc. have been completely redefined in the light of social networking. While a lot has been discussed and written about the ills of social media and how physical socialising is being compromised at the altar of being virtually social, one cannot turn a blind eye to the innumerable blessings that it has bestowed upon many.
The ice bucket challenge went viral all over the world through social media

Gold that doesn’t glitter
The timeless appeal of antique jewellery never fades. Though genuine pieces may be hard to find, jewellers and designers are reviving vintage designs and bringing out retro lines
Sonali Seth
B
esides wine, there are a few other things that get better with age. One of these is jewellery. There is a huge market for genuine antique jewellery and its demand has been continuously spiralling. Most of these vintage pieces cost far more than the inherent value of gemstones or precious metal they are made from as these mirror the trends and craftsmanship of bygone eras. Antique jewellery is usually passed on as an heirloom piece from one generation to another. For the same reason, what you find in jewellery stores might be just antique in design and not in make. Also referred to as estate jewellery, even if it is available in the market and is guaranteed to be genuine, it is so exorbitantly priced that it is beyond the reach of a common man. It is also one of the reasons why jewellers are reviving old designs and making jewellery, inspired from antique designs.

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Tweeting for a better world
A lot has been discussed and written about the ills of social media but a community of aware citizens is using it to build a better society
Vibha Sharma

The social media played a big role in spreading awareness about Daily Dump, a simple way of managing waste and converting it to compost
The social media played a big role in spreading awareness about Daily Dump, a simple way of managing waste and converting it to compost

That social networking has taken the whole world by storm is no exaggeration. Relationships, socialising, sharing, etc. have been completely redefined in the light of social networking. While a lot has been discussed and written about the ills of social media and how physical socialising is being compromised at the altar of being virtually social, one cannot turn a blind eye to the innumerable blessings that it has bestowed upon many.

Networking is slowly coming of age. The initial frenzy of being virtually connected, the euphoria of finding long lost friends, the jubilation of seeing ever-increasing friend list — are gradually settling down as a routine. Social media is being used by many to give quick impetus to their fledgling businesses, new initiatives and even new ideas and thoughts. So one can call this phase of networking as that of substantial consolidation.

Young India is rising. Educated, tech-savy, gadget wielding, tweeting, Facebook regulars, Instagram users, Flickr members and bloggers are instrumental in building a community of aware citizens. This is nothing less than a revolution. Its pace may be too slow for the world to register but annals of history would surely recognise this phase as trend setting.

Manju Latha Kalanidhi (R), a Hyderabad-based journalist, started the rice bucket challenge
Manju Latha Kalanidhi (R), a Hyderabad-based journalist, started the rice bucket challenge

How else would one explain the spread of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) ice bucket challenge like wild fire? More and more people dumped bucket full of ice water on themselves and posted the videos on social networking sites while challenging others to follow or donate money for the ALS cause. The challenge started in Massachusetts with former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2012. It soon became viral all over the world through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

An Indian philanthropist, Manju Latha Kalanidhi, a Hyderabad-based journalist, who aims to save water and feed the hungry, gave the ice bucket challenge a new twist — the rice bucket challenge. It involves donating rice to a needy person. "Cook or buy one bucket of rice or biryani and feed the poor in your locality. If you cannot do this , donate medicines worth Rs 100 to the nearest government hospital," Kalanidhi wrote on her Facebook page. Since then the campaign has gained popularity among Indian netizens and the social media is flooded with the pictures and videos of people donating rice to needy and challenging their friends to follow suit.

Another campaign which gained momentum and support on the social networking sites is that of The Ugly Indians. The campaign is working on the philosophy — 'Kaam Chalu Mooh Bandh’ (Stop Talking, Start Doing). Interestingly, they have chosen to remain anonymous but are executing their belief that there is no magic wand to solve the problem of growing filth in the cities. Their drive gained strength when they flashed pictures of the transformation of filthy places into shiny clean and tastefully decorated public spaces on sites like Facebook.

While our cities are struggling to manage the burden of garbage that is getting generated by huge amounts every single day, people need to be just aware of solutions like Daily Dump. It is a simple technique of managing the waste by segregating it and treating it and converting it to compost — the natural fertiliser. The social media plays a big role in spreading the awareness about it. When one user uploads a video of sifting the home-made compost on any of the social sites, it invariably inspires many others to adopt this better way of living too.

RJ Meenakshi of 94.3 FM began a campaign 'Women Without Fear after a being harassed right in the heart of Chandigarh last year. She says, 'Without social networking sites the campaign could not have gained the kind of recognition that it did'. Many NGOs, educational institutions and organisations lauded her effort and pledged their support to this drive.

An initiative which needs special accolades is that of Child Sexual Abuse Awareness (CSA). A casual discussion among parents became a serious mission of spreading awareness against child sexual abuse which is plaguing our society at its most vulnerable spot. It did not take long to use the blogosphere as a medium to spread the message of Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention. Now five core people work on blogs, Twitter, Facebook and handle CSA mail account, interact with NGOs and take the initiative offline. April has been designated as Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month (CSAM) and during that month survivors send in their stories and experts in the field post on issues related to this peril.

Many more support groups on the social networking sites are providing uninterrupted help and support for others in similar situations — whether these are cancer support groups for survivors or research groups or support groups for parents of ADHD kids. The members of these groups become part of an extended family and though virtually, one tends to get a feeling that one is not struggling alone.

Social networking is here to stay and is being instrumental in much more than fun and entertainment. It is contributing to the society in a big way by being a platform for making people aware of their social responsibilities. A small initiative goes a long way whether it is sharing calls or tweeting for blood groups, lost and found, finding support or joining hands against social ills.

Survey data consolidated by Georgetown's University shows that social media does motivate people to contribute to a cause beyond just likes and clicks. It is studied that more than half of the survey respondents (55 per cent) who engaged with causes via social media have been inspired to take further action. The most common actions taken include donating money (60 per cent), volunteering (53 per cent), donating personal items or food (52 per cent), or attending or participating in events. The main motivators are the authenticity of the causes and people get inspired by photos, videos, along with seeing family and friends taking further action.

Main akela hi chala tha janib manzil magar, Log saath aate gaye aur kaarwaan banta gaya — Majrooj Sultanpuri (I had started off alone towards the goal, people began joining and formed a caravan). In today's world when we are co-existing with social media, one does not remain alone for long and need not wait much for the caravan to get formed. Inspiring thing is that young generation is rising up to take the social responsibility in its own unique way and technology is coming across as a great facilitator in this endeavour as well.

Responsible network
Social networking is here to stay and is being instrumental in much more than fun and entertainment. It is contributing to the society in a big way by being a platform for making people aware of their social responsibilities. A small initiative goes a long way whether it is sharing calls or tweeting for blood groups, lost and found, finding support or joining hands against social ills.

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Gold that doesn’t glitter
The timeless appeal of antique jewellery never fades. Though genuine pieces may be hard to find, jewellers and designers are reviving vintage designs and bringing out retro lines
Sonali Seth

Besides wine, there are a few other things that get better with age. One of these is jewellery. There is a huge market for genuine antique jewellery and its demand has been continuously spiralling. Most of these vintage pieces cost far more than the inherent value of gemstones or precious metal they are made from as these mirror the trends and craftsmanship of bygone eras. Antique jewellery is usually passed on as an heirloom piece from one generation to another. For the same reason, what you find in jewellery stores might be just antique in design and not in make. Also referred to as estate jewellery, even if it is available in the market and is guaranteed to be genuine, it is so exorbitantly priced that it is beyond the reach of a common man. It is also one of the reasons why jewellers are reviving old designs and making jewellery, inspired from antique designs.

Such jewellery goes through a process of oxidising and is sometimes buried in mud to give it that antique, regal look. The demand for it increases manifold during the wedding and festival season.

Divine inspiration

One of the primary reasons behind the popularity of Indian ethnic jewellery is the variety it comes in and diversity of designs. For example, the designs of jewellery pieces created in Rajasthan greatly vary from those popular in Kashmir or Punjab. Every region developed its own styles and motifs that were different enough to render jewellery a unique appeal.

Take temple jewellery of South India for that matter. It is believed to be invented in the ninth century. It got its name when devotees began adorning deities with beautifully designed ornaments made of gold, silver and precious stones like diamonds, rubies, pearls, sapphires and emeralds. These timeless designs have never gone out of fashion. Even after centuries today, antique jewellery is still considered the finest handiwork of skilled craftsmen of southern states. Ranging from rings and necklaces to earrings and accessories for hair, feet and even plait, temple jewellery still makes for an elegant style statement as it did in ancient times.

The evergreen designs

Another fashion that has stood the test of time is ancient jewellery designed in the desert state of Rajasthan. Starkly different from temple jewellery, it reflects diverse culture of the state. There are stamps of different dynasties and epic battles that the state witnessed and the influence of the Mughals. A hallmark of antique Rajasthani jewellery was the fine polki and kundan work, which is as much in demand today, as it was centuries ago.

Stamp of the regions

Similarly, all other regions of the country have cast their influence on jewellery. In older times, Kashmiri jewellers got their inspiration of design from their beautiful surroundings and were mostly nature-inspired. Many had motifs of mynas, sparrows and bulbuls. Some were even designed in the shape of almonds, grapes and cherries, the fruits the beautiful state of Indian is known for.

Tips to buy

Buying genuine antique jewellery can be a tricky affair and if you are not taking the help of a professional, then it's important to keep in mind the following points:

  • Use a powerful magnifying glass to detect any cracks or corrosions, which can considerably reduce the value of an antique piece.
  • When buying jewellery that is studded with precious stones, make sure there is no cloudiness in diamonds, rubies, sapphires or gemstones.
  • Though scratches can be removed from gold, silver and platinum, it is very difficult to repair blisters, cracks or holes.
  • Remember that extremely worn plating, missing parts and chipped or scratched enamel will lower the value of the antique piece.
  • Make sure hinges, fasteners and clips on brooches, pendants, waistbelts and kadas are in a working condition and have not been soldered or repaired.
  • In case you are buying a vintage piece from a jeweller, you must insist on getting an authentication certificate verifying its make.

Antique jewellery pieces from other states too bear the local signature. Gujarat has been known for its intricate meenakari work, Hyderabad for its pearl-encrusted jewellery and Punjab for its jadau sets. Despite the diversity, ancient Indian jewellery has evolved as an art form and has a great historical appeal and significance. It has stood the test of time and the brilliant artistry and creations of yore are reflected in contemporary designs.

Leading jewellery brand, Tanishq recently created a special wedding collection with designs inspired from different regions of India including Bihar, Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat to the coast of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kannada, Andhra and Kerala. It was all about the ancient jewellery designs, which are still preferred by brides-to-be because of their intricate patterns.

Check the price tag

Usually, antique designs brought out by leading jewellery brands and designers are slightly more expensive than their contemporary counterparts. The price variance could be ranging from a few hundred rupees to a few thousand per gram. However, genuine vintage jewellery is an altogether different proposition. Though there is no rule book for selling or buying vintage pieces, it can be an expensive affair and sometimes even priceless depending upon its origin. Antique jewellery can fetch a fortune at international auctions. Leading auction houses like Christie's, Sotheby's and Bonham's regularly put vintage jewels under the hammer. At a recent Christie's auction, a 1910 circular-shaped ruby and diamond ring weighing 9.20 carats was sold for a mind-boggling Rs 21.70 crore. In the same auction, an antique diamond necklace made in 1870 by Garrad & Co. of London fetched Rs 18.35 crore.

That explains why antique jewellery attracts some of the renowned collectors of the world who throng auction events. Antique jewellery prices can go up substantially over a period of time and prove to be a sparkling investment for these collectors.

Secret wishlist
Flaunt your refined taste in fashion with this stunning royal-antique necklace. Embellished with exquisite polki crystals and ruby, this necklace is available at www. gemNjewelery.com. It surely has a timeless appeal.
price: Rs 2.55 lakh

A gift forever
For so many years now, gold necklace with engraving of Goddess Lakshmi has made for a popular and auspicious gift for women. Considered a part of the famous temple jewellery, it is supposed to bring prosperity to the house. This necklace by Vammudi Jewellers revives the timeless magic of the past.
price: Rs 1.50 lakh

Vintage appeal
This classic, antique bangle is studded with kundan and polki stones to make it weigh 60 grams. Its vintage design takes you back in time when such designs were popular. The 22 carat bangle is studded with bright-coloured stones that add a different dimension to it. It also makes for a great statment jewellery, especially when you team it up with ethnic wear.
price: Rs 1.95 lakh

Dash of neon
Royal in design, traditional in craftsmanship, this kundan kada reflects the mystique and magic of a bygone era. The antique-finish kada is encrusted with rows of pearls. The eye-catching front of the kada is embellished with neon-pink tourmalines, green gemstones and sparkling kundan and weighs around 66.50 grams.
price: Rs 2.18 lakh

All that sparkles
This elegant, blue diamond ring was custom-designed by Bulgari for a European collector in the fifties. The owner gave the ring to his wife, who then sold it. Since then, it has been doing rounds of the auctions. It has a 9.87 carat colourless diamond perpendicular to the fancy vivid blue 10.95 carat diamond.
auctioned for: Rs 94.20 crore ($15.70 million)

Right for the bride
This 22 carat bridal, gold waist belt by GRT jewellers is embossed with the image of Goddess Lakshmi and peacocks motifs. It is studded with rubies, pearls, emerald stones and diamonds. The spectacularly designed waist belt weighs around 315 grams. It is worn as a traditional piece of jewellery in some regions and has of late inspired many fashion designers to come up with their versions of it.
price: Rs 10.05 lakh

Colour coordinated
This classic, gold kada promises an antique finish and is embedded with blood-red tourmalines. Swirls of green-enamel work are complemented with white kundan. The timeless design can be coordinated with any ensemble. The gold screw ensures a perfect fit.
price: Rs 1.88 lakh

Rise & shine
Attractive, round in shape, made of 22 carat gold, set with many precious stones, the jadau forehead pendant available with the online store, www.ebay.com, has a silver loop to wear it on the forehead. A genuine antique piece, weighing around 51.5 grams, of the mid 20th century, it is truly a collector's delight.
price: Rs 2.37 lakh

On the popularity charts
The design of these bell-shaped jhumkas was very popular about a century ago. This exquisite design has been revived by jewellery designers, making these once again an object of desire. A number of leading jewellery designers and jewellers admit that jhumkas have once again become very popular and are usually a part of bridal jewellery collection.
price: Rs 1.10 lakh

Dual purpose
Elaborate workmanship comes to the fore in this pendant, which has an important place in the history of Indian jewellery. Exquisitely and expertly crafted, this precious piece is available at www.nathella.net. Though primarily a pendant, it can also be used as a hair accessory.
price: Rs 2.08 lakh

Style weds grace
These elegantly-designed royal, antique earrings in 22 carat gold with kundan and meena work help make a subtle style statement. The earrings have been studded with gemstones, which make these a genuinely classic pair. Coloured beads with gold caps add to the beauty of these earrings that weigh around 15 grams.
price: Rs 43,000

Old world charm
This antique-finish gold choker highlights the beauty of traditional gold-filigree work. The collar in gold is embellished with green and red stones in this bib-like necklace. The selling point of the choker necklace is kundan set in floral pattern with a tourmaline centre-piece. A pair of matching earrings completes this sparkling regal set.
price: Rs 5.90 lakh

Bling and beautiful
This vintage, bow-shaped necklace is an epitome of rich craftsmanship. Twenty two carat gold and precious gems have been used together to make this beautiful piece of jewellery. Along with matching earrings that weight 170 grams in gold, it is guaranteed to make the wearer win compliments with its stunning design.
price: Rs 5.40 lakh for necklace

Crafted by finesse
Beautifully handcrafted, this intricate antique-haram necklace has its design inspired from peacock motifs. Swirls of gold beads add elegance to this vintage necklace, which is studded with innumerable uncut rubies, uncut diamonds and emeralds. It was a staple bridal jewellery a few decades back.
price: Rs 7.20 lakh

Modern in design
Swirls of gold appear in these long and elegant eardrops. The green and red tourmalines add twinkle to the kundan crowns, lending a magical charm to these eardrops. The retro-inspired long earrings with a contemporary twist by VBJ Jewellers have been very aesthetically crafted.
price: Rs 1.48 lakh

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Bling it on

ALL-TERRAIN FLIER
It's a bird…It's a plane…No its Lisa Akoya, a French single one-engined ski-plane that can take off and land as easily on water or snow or on the ground or on any other surface. The two-seat amphibious ski-plane with a wealth of features is a dream-cum-true for people with adventure on their mind. It can travel up to 2,000 kilometres on a single trip at speeds of up to 250 kmph. The Akoya lands on a less than 650-foot field and folds its wings to be parked in a garage much like a car. And the best part, it costs a little more than a top-end car!
price: Rs 2.10 crore ($3,50,000)

Credit cardworthiness
Your true worth is revealed when you pull out your credit card. Platinum, gold and silver are fair indicators of your social standing. But imagine if these cards were actually made of these precious metals? Absurd, you’d say. But there’s nothing absurd about the credit cards of London-based Pure+Solid Ltd. The company has issued cards made from real platinum, gold and silver! These unique pieces of jewellery represent a new form of luxury. And though with a minimum talktime balance of €100 (around Rs. 8,100), you don’t have to be a millionaire or a billionaire, but the cost of the card is quite another matter.
price: Platinum card — Rs 22.95 lakh (€28,690); Gold card — Rs 11.75 lakh 
(€14,690) & Silver card —
Rs 11.90 lakh (€1,490)

BAG OF FORTUNE
Over the years, Louis Vuitton has shown that the demand for its products keeps travelling northwards despite its somewhat stupendous price tags. The French luxury brand’s latest crocodile lady bag is an example. A party of its Fall 2014 collection, is made entirely out of made entirely out of crocodile skin and features two finishes-croc black and a rich cognac brown. Interestingly, unlike most of the brand’s products, this exotic high-end beauty doesn’t feature its signature LV monogram splashed all over. But then, when you have a LV dangling from your arm people know instantly, monogram or no monogram!
price: Rs 32.70 lakh ($54,500)

SUPERMAN'S VINTAGE APPEAL
The vintage comics of superheroes like Superman, Spiderman, Batman and others are hotly pursued by avid collectors who pay megabucks for popular comics of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, which have been preserved in mint condition. Last month, a rare copy of Superman’s comic-book debut shook the world of collectors by creating a record. For many collectors, this copy is the holy grail of comics — the 1938 edition in which the superhero first appeared. Comicconnect.com, an online auction site purchased the issue from Darren Adams — a collector who runs a comic shop in Washington making him an overnight millionaire many times over.
price: Rs 19, 25 crore ($3,207,852)

BEAR WITH THIS
It’s a collection that will gladden the hearts of kids around the world. Even adults will find gathering of bears fascinating. English shirt-making company New & Lingwood has teamed up with African atelier Taunina to create a stunning collection of loveable teddy bears. Every bear is made of exquisite silks in vintage paisley, vibrant camo and signature skull and cross-bone prints. Hand-embroidered individually by Taunina artists with its signature appliqué detail, these one-of-a-kind cuddly bunnies will make gorgeous presents for any little boy or girl.
price: Rs 42,000 each ($700)

CINDERELLA SANDALS
In her latest movie Maleficient, she may have played a vengeful fairy but in real life Angelina Jolie looks like a stunning princess in her high heels made so famous by the film. Created by Christian Louboutin, the sandals may have added value to her role of the Mistress of All Evil but now these are making fashion waves around the world. The French shoemaker has released a limited edition of the sandals. He has retained his signature red sole and the heel is sculpted to resemble the tendrils of smoke. Each pair is hand-made and being sold only on a made-to-order basis. If you, too, want to experience the Cinderella syndrome, go ahead and make an advance booking for these magical sandals.
price: Rs 96,000 ($1,600)

FINGER DAZZLER
It’s a ring that’s guaranteed to make any woman swoon. The Tsarevna Swan Ring created by the celebrated Lobortas Classic Jewellery House of Kiev in Ukraine has set the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most cut-diamonds. There are 2,525 diamonds that range from 0.001-0.05 carats with a total weight of 10.48 carats. All of these are of G colour and range from VVS2 to VS1 in clarity. It took 530 hours to design and development it and 3,625 hours to fabricate it — almost half an year.
price: Rs 7.8 crore ($1.3 million)

Raise a toast
When you sip Domaine Romanée-Conti it can be safely assumed that you have moved into the exalted social circles. The world's best and most expensive wine takes decades to mature. The special grapes for the wine are grown in a five-acre vineyard in Burgundy. Believe it or not the cultivation of these grapes was started by the Romans a couple of millennia ago and ever since then there are around 500 cases produced every year. Little wonder then that sipping a Domaine Romanée-Conti puts you in the league of some of the wealthiest people in the world.
price: Rs 4.80 lakh for a bottle of 1970 vintage ($8000)

No popping this bubbly
This is great news for people who enjoy a glass of wine but also worry about how to prevent the rest of the bottle from going flat. The Coravin System allows you to access, pour and enjoy your favourite wine by the glass whenever you would like, without pulling the cork. The contraption inserts a thin, hollow needle through the cork. Once the bottle has been pressurised, the wine flows through the needle and pours into the glass. In this way, wine from the same bottle can be drunk over weeks, months or even more without it losing the fizz. So go ahead, be adventurous and raise a toast to this gadget.
price: Rs 18,000 ($300)

ROAD SCORCHER
It is a rideable work of art. The woody scorcher combines form and function and its minimalist design incorporates clean lines, a basic drive-train and chunky tires. Made by the Denver-based Connor Wood Cycles, the hand-sculpted wooden bicycle is tough enough for everyday use and will guarantee a smooth ride. Its heavy tyres, disc brakes, carbon drive belt system, and a single gear ensure not just a great drive but a very stylish one as well.
price: $4,500 (around Rs 2,47,500)

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