She scripted history of sorts when Amnesty International released her book on human rights at a ceremony in Sweden. And he logged on to fame by developing a system in the UK that enables a user to command computer through his gaze. Though human rights champion-cum-lawyer Parul Sharma and computer wiz-kid Itaz Singh Virk are miles away, they are both young, successful and have their roots in and around the city. Saurabh Malik catches up with them as they bring rewards, and laurels...

“If Le Corbusier were alive, he would have been shocked and upset to see what we are doing to the Sukhna,” sighs S.P. Malhotra, former engineer-in-chief of Haryana’s irrigation department. Malhotra’s fight for the city’s man-made wonder began three years back in 2003 and seems to be now meeting a dead end with the clearance of wet dredging of Sukhna at a whopping Rs 73.51 crore.

It is not a difficult task to understand Malhotra’s trouble free plan (as he calls it), for the figures do most of the saying. The proposed and now cleared project of the UT administration is estimated to cost Rs 73.51 crore. Malhotra’s proposal costs less than Rs 1 crore!

Ask him what he feels about the decision and pat comes the reply, “The government just doesn’t care enough.” And coming from a man who has spent more than the past four decades enjoying a walk down the Sukhna and nearly the last one decade worrying over it, one cannot help but agree.

“Sukhna is in the grip of two problems, excess of silt and shortage of water,” says this former consultant with the World Bank. “I have an easy, quick and cost effective solution for it. (see box)” And, while the UT’s plan will near completion within six years, Malhotra’s will be completed in a mere 60 days.

And, if it is a recommendation and approval from the experts that matters, Malhotra has that, too. In August 2004, he had submitted the proposal to Institute of Engineers in the presence of the governor, and the same was approved after a debate held between a team of engineers.

However, today, after endless meetings with officials, innumerable letters published in various newspapers and constant discouragement from the system, Malhotra is still not a tired and disheartened man. He says, “If words cannot put my point across, then I have a caricature to explain it better.” And, well if this doesn’t work, too, he has many more ideas in the offing. Now, that’s a story of a man driven by passion.

purva@tribunemail.com

A master mariner, Capt Rajesh Sakhuja, is so much in love with his work, even his passion is an extension of his job — he collects one of the most essential parts of the vessels, the anchors.

Needless to say, it was only after joining merchant navy that Rajesh fell in love with anchors but it’s the thought behind collecting them that makes it all the more interesting.

“Anchors ensure security, instil confidence and courage. While on a board, one can completely rely on these. Since I am sailing for most of the time I believe these anchors will ensure stability and harmony just the same way while I am away,” says Rajesh.

Says his wife, Vijaya, for whom he even got an anchor as a pendant, “ when he gave me the pendant, it was to communicate that I am the captain when he isn’t around”.

So the proud owner got his first antique anchor from an old shop in a market at Taiwan where he was sailing in 1980. “It was an old brass stocked anchor which is not in use anymore,” he avers.

Perhaps the most cherished of all anchors is the one adorning his lawn right as we enter his house. This cast iron A C 14(Admiralty cast) anchor weighs a whopping 200 kilograms and is about 70 years old. “While as a student at the Nautical College, Mumbai, I would everyday pass through the massive Mumbai scrape yard, believed to be a house of many old anchors. At that time the fancy for anchors wasn’t there. Years later after getting commissioned I went to the scrape yard again only to buy an anchor. It was only after several rounds of the place for hours that I got the anchor. To transport such a big anchor from Mumbai to Chandigarh came as a big challenge and finally it arrived fifteen days later. And we decided to place it outside and scribbled Sakhuja’s on it,” he affirms. Interestingly, the anchor was without the chain and the ring at the top. So a chain was procured later while the ring on the top was specially made to complete the huge anchor.

Since then there had been no looking back for this shippie who owns another stocked cast iron anchor weighing about ten kgs.

Recalling an incident wherein his love for anchors was strengthened, he said, “I was sailing my ship in Japanese waters when I had to save it from an approaching typhoon. I took the risk and simply dropped the anchor in deep waters where many ships had collided and many ran into ground. Luckily we were saved”, he beams.

His obsession for anchors has reached to echelon wherein starting from his two daughters, wife and friends even neighbours acknowledge it so much so that one of his neighbours serving in the army even got him an ornamental lacquered rass anchor from Moradabad where he was posted. We wish him more anchors!

Showing at Batra, Fun Republic, Suraj

Well-known for his selection of unusual, sensitive subjects, Amol Palekar has chosen yet another illustrious story for his new feature film in Hindi titled Dumkata. In his 26 years’ career as a director, he has made eleven films, 5 in Marathi and 6 in Hindi.

“Two demands are repeatedly made by my fans, ‘Start acting’ and ‘Make films similar to the Basuda & Hrishida gharana. Dumkata is my attempt to make a light hearted family film.” said Amol. “Dumkata is very different from my last three serious screenplays of Anaahat, Paheli and Thaang. It is sheer entertainment.” adds Sandhya who is also Palekar’s associate director.

— Dharam Pal

She dresses down for the evening. Wide awake to fashion, under-grad Tahira Nayyar slips into a comfy pair of cotton pajamas before setting out to walk down the corridors of style, rather gorgeously.

Cool pajamas are a hot favourite with scores of youngsters living life in the fashion lane. In fact, pajamas are being seen as the perfect alternative to that rough and rugged pair of jeans this summer.

Be it the central business district in Sector 17, around college campuses or arcades along the gehri route — You just can’t miss the stunners in cheerful pajamas paired with immaculate spaghettis and even backless halter neck tops.

“The youth is extremely informal in and out of the classroom,” says Tahira. “No wonder, pajamas and sweats are the rage on the streets and even in the classroom! The style varies by the wearer, but the basics are the same.”

And if you may think that the kiddo shopping right next to you just jumped out of bed, they are not bothered about the notion. Comfort is more important than the impressions we make, chorus the youngsters.

She is bubbly, she is funny and her greatest plus is her spontaneity. That’s Aarti Kandpal, first woman challenger on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’s Season 3. After creating a history of sorts in its first two seasons, this season seems full of ‘funny’ surprises.

For the first time ever in the history of Laughter Challenge, will a woman contestant – Aarti Kandpal — give others a run for their laughter. Inspired by her own self, she says comedy is all about timing. “If your timing is right, you can play with the emotions. You can make audiences laugh and cry,” she says.

Chris rests his lean frame on his haunches like a true son of the soil. Even when he is on a settee, he sits in the same way. Just watching him, makes my chair- trained knees wobble. He lights up a fag and holds it like a bidi- with fore finger and thumb, not between middle and index fingers as done by the elegant and elite. And yet, he’s been to the best schools, mixed with the best people and visited the world. All these acquired habits are a matter of choice. He wants to blend in with the people of Tirthan Valley, a pilgrimage spot for many. Does he look like the locals? Not really! Very tanned and lean, with muscular forearms and straggly, mouse coloured, shoulder length hair, he still stands out as a Gora- a mix between Shantaram and Crocodile Dundee.

Goshaini is the entrance to The Great Himalayan National Park. Christopher and Shefali Mittra’s Himalayan Trout House is by the Parvati River, which is teeming with fish. They offer tents and rooms for those who are interested, at nominal rates. The owner is happiest turning out fishing flies on an imported machine. Tiny brass dumbbells lie strewn round, as do feathers of various kinds. Within minutes, man and machine have combined the two into very real looking -tempting for trout- flies. Want to buy some? No thanks, we’d rather look for our own earthworms but the flies are there for the keen or professional angler. I missed Shefali’s store of Natural Art as my daughter-in-law had a bad fall while helping me down steep steps. Maybe we will make up for the lapse some day. Little Kabir Mittra is home educated in a perfect nursery, built by his proud father. The village, river and backyard are his playground.

Turn left along a narrow, kutcha path from Jhalori Pass, through a dense oak forest, to touch Sarvalsar Lake with the Nag Temple by its shores. The waters are placid and clear of any leaves; surprising, considering the banks are thickly strewn with autumn’s fall. Perhaps the spring that feeds this lake is in the centre and debris floats to the sides. A log hut is neatly tucked under a rock overhang, safe from the elements. The noise decibel is high as this is home to about 500 ravens, well nourished on a prasad of desi ghee. The Nag Temple symbolizes the head of a snake. The river lower down is the body and further down the valley is its tail. All three places attract worshippers.

Reluctantly, we head back for Chandigarh via Shimla, along the Sutlej. It is an angry river- muddy, violent, unstoppable. The carcasses of vehicles that slipped from the shifting hillside above lie strewn around, often buffeted by the restless waters. I wonder what the toll was in human lives. The hillside is of shale and rounded conglomerate rock. Every driver keeps looking up to avoid landslides.

Perfect, natural beauty; pure, ozone rich air. The people work harder to get much less. They are gentle, honest, patient and tolerant. Perhaps we need to visit these areas often to find our better, inner selves. You cannot help being inspired!

Score is no longer only a nightclub. Beginning Wednesday, the lounge bar launched its lunch menu promising quality service, culinary excellence and value. Says MD Anupama Bhardwaj: “Score is perfect for business and pleasure – be it kitty party or a corporate luncheon. Foodies can choose from Indian, Chinese, Thai and continental. We also have some innovative Indian and Chinese platters and combos prepared by our expert chefs.”

Apart from a host of Indian and Chinese dishes, the continental fare impresses. Check out the pastas served with tomato, basil pesto, creamy cheese, arabiataa, bella roma and peppercocino sauces. Mocktails on offer include Blue Angel, Strawberry Kiss, Terquise Island, Melon Bar, the very tangy Italian Smooch and Cranberry Cooler. While ordering lunch, do keep ample space for deserts. Finish off the meal with a Kahlua Mousse, Tiramisu, Blue Berry Cheese Cake served with ice cream, or just some homemade ice cream in unusual flavours. For those on a diet, do check out the sugar-free Mango Mousse. With an inaugural discount of 30% for lunch for a week, it sure is a nice option. Bon Appetite! — TNS

Indian classical music is undeniably a treasure trove of Indian cultural heritage and has continued to enchant art lovers the world over, opined Rajendra Prasanna, the flute and shehnai maestro. In city, for a music concert organised by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademy at Tagore theatre, he expressed optimism about the future of music and said that there is an increase in the enthusiasts of classical music and dance, especially youngsters.

“By nature we still have the tendency to follow desi if accepted by videshi. Even I rediscovered my love for classical music when after my flute recital concert in New York, the then former US president, Bill Clinton shared intricate and technical details of the flute and shehnai with me,” disclosed Prasanna. Undoubtedly a memorable moment, Prasanna was in greater surprise when he learnt the president had a passion for music and played Saxophone.

A proponent of the guru-shishya parampara, he has maintained his loyalty to the legacy of the Benaras gharana. At the same time, Prasanna is open to the idea of blending traditions with modernity. Rather, he feels that no art form can retain its vigor unless enriched with innovative inputs from other sources. And, well bringing in contemporary music trends are his flautist sons Rajesh and Rishab, who play fusion music in their band Swaas.

Asked about the patronage by the government to the artists, Prasanna says it is equally important to know what the artist fraternity is doing for the government or the country. Known for his liberal approach, the icon of Benaras gharana maintains that earlier the artists lived on the mercy of Nawabs or Rajas and died in poverty, but now the situation has improved and the artists enjoy prosperity.

Talented sons of a famous father — flautist brothers Rajesh and Rishab Prasanna are emerging as the latest signatures in the realm of flute playing on the firmament of Hindustani classical music. Doyens of the famous Benaras Gharana, they are in perfect synchronisation in swar, lay, taal and bhav in jugalbandi. And that is what makes them a class apart.

Inheritors of the glorious legacy in flute and shehnai, Rishab and Rajesh were in town for a performance on the invitation of the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak academy. The young and enterprising musicians shared their passion and profession with Life Style.

His frail hands can barely hold onto the volumes he has authored over the years. But that does not stop him from picking up the pen once again. Seventy-nine-year and many awards old, Satyapal Gupta, surprises you by telling that he is busy compiling the letters he received from famous personalities into a book form.

“During my career as a writer and joint director of the Public Relations Department, Punjab, I was in touch with famous personalities like Dr Vishwa Nath Tiwari, Hazari Parsad Dwivedi, Dr S. Radhakrishnana and likes. I have a record of letters that I received from them, now I am editing those and want to present them in a book,” says Gupta.

Son of a well-known Urdu poet and freedom fighter, Roshan Lal Patialvi, Gupta always wanted to act as a bridge between Hindi and Punjabi. And, the opportunity presented itself when he stumbled upon a Gurmukhi manuscript in 1950, while working as a research assistant for the Department of Languages in Patiala. “My colleagues brought the manuscript to me as they were confused about its language. The script was Gurmukhi and the language was Braj. Perhaps that’s what confused all of them,” he recalls.

That was just the beginning. He got hooked on to do research on the subject and found about 500 manuscripts, which were all about Hindi literature but written in Gurmukhi. He penned many books on his findings, the first being Punjab Ka Hindi Sahitya, which was published in 1959. Among others are Gurmukhi Lipin Mein Hindi Sahitya, Hamare Rashtrapati and Hamare Pradhanmantri.

Gupta was conferred an honourary degree of Sahitya Mahopadhyaya by the All-India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag for his contribution to Hindi literature. His name also features in Hindi literature’s ‘Who’s Who’ list by Guru Nanak Dev University last year.

But, honours come secondary in his mission to put Punjab on the national map of literature. “Punjab has contributed a lot towards Hindi, and its high time people know about the treasure trove in Gurmukhi script that lies buried in the archives and religious places. I want the young generation to take up the task of preserving and translating them into Devnagri lipi so that others too get benefited from them,” he says. This is the only wish of a man remained faithful to his calling throughout his life!