With mobile phones providing easy access to the Internet, youngsters are connecting to friends through digital platforms, says Saurabh Malik

Connected to the cyber world through cell-phones, upwardly mobile youngsters across the city are keeping their social network busy by dialing up ‘e-communities’.

You may find it incredulous if you are out of virtual advancement’s coverage area, but the little ones are just not waiting for jamborees to make pals with gals, or to twirl their way into companionship with complete strangers during late night parties.

They are adding new names to the address books by socialising on a digital platform, without stepping out of their own little worlds, by logging on to online social networking sites through cell-phones.

In fact, what started as a diversion for so many teenyboppers is fast becoming a rage with easy accessibility and opportunity adding charm of their endeavors.

Just in case you do not know, the youngsters create their own profiles, search for other profiles, chat, make friends online, and meet people of their choice on the platforms, accessible through mobiles and the Internet, provided by multi-national giants like Coca-Cola. In fact, the company only recently launched ‘the first of its kind, one-stop interactive initiative for social networking’.

“Speed jamming has been specially designed to leverage the power of digital technology,” says the company’s Gurgaon-based director, marketing Kashmira Chadha. “The initiative gives the youngsters an ideal opportunity to socially connect and interact with like-minded people.”

Back to social networking, she adds it is just not restricted to youth with computers and Internet connections. As CDMA mobile phones with Internet access are extremely popular and are not confined to any class or strata of society, they are increasingly being employed by the cell-phone users for socialising.”

And then there are other benefits of integrating a social networking site with a mobile phone. “It keeps you connected to your network of friends, anywhere, anytime,” says first-year humanities student Ritu Garg. “As people here do not have continuous Internet access, it becomes all the more relevant.”

No wonder, all routes to mobile social networking are set to get busier in the near future. “With over 150 million mobile phone users across the country, more than half of whom are youth, India is ready for a phenomenal growth in the mobile social networking sector,” a city-based web expert says. “Otherwise also, mobile is the next big social networking phenomenon, evident from the World Bank assessment. The estimates say more than two-thirds of the world’s population lives within range of a mobile phone network.”

Quoting a recent study carried out by Nielsen and NetRatings, he adds “About 45 per cent of active Web users have been to online social networking sites through cell phones — a constant companion of forward-looking and socially networked youth”. Lage raho, folks!

saurabh@tribunemail.com

When you see Anna Bredemeyer, the first thing that strikes you is the way she’s sinuously fluttering around for photo-shoots

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety. As Anna Bredemeyer rolls her head a little towards the right before swiveling her entire body to pose for the camera, you realise time just has not succeeded in defeating the enthusiasm that made her India’s first supermodel.

Back then, you would have described her as “awesome” or “simply gorgeous”. In today’s parlance, you grope for words like “fab” and “dazzling” to capture her beauty that has withstood the test of time.

As Anna — Miss India 1975 — flashes a smile before wheedling you to ask questions, you realise it’s almost infectious. You just cannot help but beam along with her. And as she talks about the need for taking time out to live, and not just exist, you realise maybe that’s the secret of her timeless beauty.

In the city Wednesday afternoon for the launch of the Mont Blanc boutique at the Taj, Anna says: “It’s imperative to spend quality time with yourself. In fact, you should stop, think, and spare moments to air your feelings.”

For Anna, that’s where the pens come in. Pushing back luscious brown tresses with her translucent fingers, Anna says she handles pens not just because she is the mega-brand’s ambassador, but because she loves to “pen down” her feelings! “If I adore someone, I will never type a letter to him,” she asserts.

“Computers have not pushed pens into the trash can of people’s memories. That the century-old brand is still making the world’s most superior writing tools is testimony to this effect,” says Anna.

Anna was the face that launched essentially feminine products in the country over 30 years. She belongs to the time when divas were self-reliant — they groomed themselves and required no one to fix a broken nail. Born to a German father and an Indian mother, Anna walked the ramp when she was just 13. And now when her son is 14, she still finds it tough to sashay away from modelling.

“It’s still my playground,” Anna proclaims huskily. “Till the offers come and I know I will not make a fool of myself, I will continue to hop on and off the glamour bandwagon.”

For her, there is no “fixed age” to quit or enter the industry. “In India, some people insist that a model’s commercial value goes down soon after she marries. They, rather, think a model should stop sashaying down the ramp after she has walked up the altar. The perception’s got to change. For, age does not matter. A model’s ability to carry herself with grace into the hearts of her fans is really what matters”. Well said, ma’am. Beauty with brains is all anyone can say after listening to your estimations. — S. M.

As we enter Piara Singh’s house in Mohali, his wife ushers us inside and asks us to wait. In the room, a study table occupies most of the space; atop the table lay stacks of coloured sheets in blues, pinks and yellows, a pair of scissors, and a glue stick. We assume that it is his grandson’s room, who is probably struggling with his holiday work. Till, we meet this curator.

Singh enters the room, switches on the music system, and lets the melodious voice of Jagjit Singh fill the room. He carefully puts aside the stuff and begins to talk. Retired curator of museums from the Department of Cultural Affairs, Archeology & Museums, Punjab; Singh’s house is a store of knowledge and glories of the past.

“I retired in 1998, and since then I have been utilising my time to put together the collection systematically,” he says. His routine for the past ten years has been to head to the stationery shop, pick up coloured sheets, neatly paste his collection on them; and get them framed. So, far he has put together 25 frames of stamps, 80 frames of coins, and another handful with pictures of the Sikh Gurus.

“History is considered boring, both by children and adults; I am trying to make my collection interesting by lending it colour,” he says. Also, he feels it will ensure that his passion lives on forever. Singh did his masters in ancient Indian history, culture, and archaeology from Panjab University and joined the department of museums in 1976. His job took him to various places and historical sites in Punjab and helped him to develop an eye for antiquity.

His collection includes coins from the Anglo-Indian period, Sultanate, Mughal, British, and also the ones signifying historical events. Also, there are coins marking events like tourism year, girl child and nutrition day. He has divided his collection of over 1000 rare coins into three, and wishes to give them to his three children. A note denoting ¼ of a rupee that was printed by the Japanese government when Subhash Chandra Bose formed the Azad Hind Fauj also finds an important place here.

The stamps too are arranged chronologically in colourful frames that include rare stamps of India and foreign countries. You will be surprised to see Beethoven on an Indian stamp or Jawaharlal Nehru on a Russian stamp.

A 150-year-old phulkari in red and maroon, which was handed over to Singh by his mother also finds place in his collection. A piece close to his heart is an unusual black phulkari, which Singh procured from a clerk at his office. “I do not spare anyone when it comes to adding to my collection,” he smiles. Also, on the wall is a 50-year-old wall clock that he picked from an auction in Patiala for Rs 50.

And, for all those things that he couldn’t lay his hands on, he has captured them in photographs. Singh has pictures of most of the antiques that he came across during his job. “The antiques were meant for museums, so I decided to capture them with the lens.” His colourful frames show rare photographs of paintings of Janam Sakhi of Guru Nanak, photographs of illustrated Ramayana and horoscope of Guru Nanak Dev. Singh now works over 10 hours a day to prepare these colourful pictorial history lessons. “On finishing, I will put an exhibition at home and invite the youngsters to catch a glimpse of the past”, he signs off.

If you too collect unique things and wish to be featured, write to us at lifestyletribune@gmail.com or Lifestyle, The Tribune, Sector 29,Chandigarh

purva@tribunemail.com

An important question haunting the minds of youngsters in India is, that whether parents or rather the ‘to-be’ parents should have the right to choose the sex of their child. If the answer is yes, the only plausible solution to this seems to be foeticide. This further calls for legalisation of hitherto illegal medical practices such as the use of sonography or ultrasound for the pre-determination of the child’s sex.

In other words, the parents would be allowed to go for such tests and eliminate the foetus in the early stages of its growth, if it is not the same sex as they desire. Would it not lead to violation of the child’s right to live?

Now, arises an even more important issue — are the masses mature enough to be given such liberty? In the midst of rampant female foeticide, wouldn’t legalisation of such tests boil down to foeticide? How many people would kill a male foetus because they’d prefer to have a girl child?

The faded picture of Vaijayantimala still peeps out of the dingy walls of The Indian Coffee House, Sector 17. Nothing has changed here in the past 50 years, right from the hands that serve you, to the aroma of sambhar, and to even some of the visitors. Many South Indian eateries have sprouted in and around the city, but Coffee House continues to rule.

And interestingly, its fan following goes back to several decades. D.P. Singh, former principal of Government College, Sector 46 comes here everyday. He says, “I have been coming here since my college days in 1960.” Singh and his friends swear by the taste of the coffee here. “Everyday, I spend Rs 40 to come down from Mohali, for a coffee priced Rs 9,” smiles Tarsem Singh, retired officer from the education department.

Vijay Uppal, a city-based architect, first came here with his girlfriend; and on tying the knot the couple continued with the tradition. “We now come here with our children, the flavour of sambhar that one finds here cannot be found anywhere else,” he says. “It is always a pleasure to come back,” he adds.

Reliving good old days, while sipping down a hot cup of coffee is what draws people here. “The place was shut down for some time around six months back, and we really missed it,” points out Balwinder Singh, ex-principal, GCG, Sector 11.

Kirpal Singh Gandhi, former assistant director of Punjab State Education Board says, “In 1968, we had a budget of Rs 2 for a meal - out of which Rs 1.80 was spent on coffee and dosas, and rest as tip.” Though, Kirpal no longer drinks coffee due to health reasons, he continues to come here to meet his friends. “Everyone knows that I am busy from eleven-thirty to twelve-thirty everyday, so no one disturbs me during that time”, chips in DP Singh.

So has Sagar Ratna and Dosa Express failed to draw dosa lovers? Says Srinivas S Bangar, manager of Sagar Ratna, “It is flavour that attracts the crowd.” There are four types of South-Indian foods, while Coffee House is from Kerela, Sagar Ratna is from Karnataka.” Bangar adds,” People have spent the best times of their lives sitting in the dim light of Coffee House.” While, running an eatery may mean focus on service, décor, menu et al; at the Coffee House it is fond memories and aroma of coffee beans that matters most.

The Big Feast comes to the town, in search of a contestant who will have the opportunity to live on the sets of Biggest Loser Jeetega. A unique reality show anchored by Sunil Shetty, the first episode of the show will be on air at SaharaOne Television tonight. The show will be a journey of 16 obese contestants towards fitness. Ten obese people from the city will be a part of a fat bikers rally and would drive around the city performing interesting stunts. The winner would also be treated to a huge spread of mouth-watering food, and the feast would be the last one before the rigorous session of exercise begins. —TNS

Actor Orlando Bloom has been named the ‘Sexiest Guy of Summer 2007’ in a new magazine poll. The poll, which led to the compilation of the In Touch Weekly list, was based on stars who will be appearing in big films this summer. Bloom acquired the top position by beating Brad Pitt, who was at the second spot. While Scott Speedman was on the third spot, Tyrese Gibson came in fourth. Josh Hartnett wrapped up the top five list of sexiest guys. —ANI