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Congratulations, it’s a girl! WE live in a country where sex determination and sex selective abortions (despite being illegal) are deeply rooted in the social fabric. Our women become their husbands’ property post marriage, losing the right to contribute financially or otherwise, to their parental household. Men hold control in rituals and customs, be it lighting the parents’ funeral pyre or the family puja emphasising on the patrilineal descent. Forget India, our region recently revealed itself as the nucleus for female foeticide and skewed sex ratio. And yet, when it comes to opening their arms (and hearts) to an abandoned child, a baby girl remains a preference with most couples in and around the tricity. Does this trend spell some sunshine amidst the bleak scenario of gender bias? We find out: Avers Krishan Kumar Modgil from Bal Niketan-2, Panchkula, “According to our annual report’s figures, there were six girls and one boy adopted from our institution in 1999-2000. In 2001-02 again, six girls were adopted while there was only one boy. Similarly in the year 2002-03, the number of girls adopted from here was three, while boy was just one.” Agrees Kamala Rathi, in-charge Bal Bhawan-15, Panchkula, “Our annual records do confirm that more people in the region are adopting girls than boys. When it comes to having their biological child, many couples are son-obsessed, but adopting a girl seems a safer bet. I believe that’s because girls are more trustworthy and caring than boys. And while adopting a child, a couple is looking for security in a big way.” Opines Kalpana Ghai of Bal Sadan-12, Panchkula, “ It’s kind of paradoxical, how people want a baby boy to extend their lineage but when it comes to adoption, girl child remains an undisputable preference. Perhaps, it’s easier to bond well with a girl child. Also, girls today grow up as independent, educated entities, and do look after their parents. Even boys do so, but girls generally are likely to have more emotional attachment and bonding with the parents.” Reasons High Court lawyer and member of the Chandigarh Child Welfare Committee Madhu P. Singh, “Over the years, it’s not just the childless couples going in for adoption. People with a single child are also adopting a child, and more so, a girl child. Of course, girls offer more emotional (if not financial) security in old age. But another significant factor here is the time factor. Under current rules, the process of adopting a baby boy usually drags on for more than two to four years, while it takes about 10-12 months for adopting a girl child. Our bureaucratic procedures remain lengthy for any adoption, but it gets all the more cumbersome due to lesser availability of boys.” Agrees Rathi, “ Some couples I came across had to wait as long as for six years for adopting a boy, while most couples get the possession of their adopted girl within months. That’s because a greater percentage of unwanted children languishing in orphanages here comprises of girls.” And that brings us to the unhappy aspect of this sunny scenario — more girls are easily available for adoption as a growing number of newborn baby-girls are being dumped anonymously in cots placed outside orphanages. Informs Madhu, “In an initiative to deter infanticide, it’s been legally banned. So many people do give birth to girls, who are dumped in street cribs outside the local orphanages. Besides, unwed mothers also relinquish their girl child, while a boy child’s handed over to relatives unofficially.” No wonder, there’s a greater number of baby girls in the carrycots of city orphanages. While the infants may be happily gurgling, sucking their thumbs or sleeping peacefully, the older ones seem already bearing the burden of neglect. And so, any prospect of escaping to a better life, from those lonely dormitories does come as a welcome promise.
anandita@tribunemail.com |
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Stars Shine Down A
white swanky limousine with neatly kept glasses waiting to be sipped, numerous bouquets, security guards on a high alert, photographers waiting to flash at the first glimpse, journalists revising their questions and even some anxious fans – we can’t say too many – waiting for probably a chance of a lifetime. To manage a sneak peak at the ever-popular Rajesh ‘kakaji’ Khanna, hilarious comedian Jonny Lever, and current stars like Sneha Ullal – from the Lucky Aishwarya look-alike fame, budding actor from Ludhiana – Kumar Sahil, Shravan from the Nadeem – Shravan fame amongst others. The crowd grew around the arrival gate of the airport as soon as touch down was announced. Onlookers were growing, and amidst this entire star maze, families were reuniting and patience was undergoing a difficult test. At last, some movement in the press and yes they had arrived. The first one stepping out was Sneha Ullal and then Shravan, and to our horror and dismay that was all. No Rajesh Khanna, no Jonny Lever. Ok. Wait’s over. Dreams just crashed. Let’s get on with work. Moving on, we caught up with the leading pair of the film Kaash Mere Hote, being directed by B.H. Tharun and produced by Shravan Rathore. The team was to land at Chandigarh and head towards Ludhiana for a promotional event being organised there on its completion by the leading man’s father. Kumar Sahil, the hero, is a Ludhiana-based coloniser’s son who shifted to Bombay two years back and learnt acting for a couple of months in an acting school. Dressed in a blue pair of denims and a neat white shirt, he was waiting to receive his leading lady and kakaji along with the other organisers. The love triangle, which is extensively shot at Mauritius, is based on teenage infatuation and attraction in which Rajesh Khanna plays the role of a retired military man. On being asked about his experiences on working with the biggies of Bollywood, Kumar Sahil says he had a lot to learn “and not for a moment did he feel that he was a newcomer.” Casually dressed in a pair of sky blue jeans, t-shirt and a black and white striped cap, a petite Sneha Ullal emphatically announced, “I wont do anything except lead roles”. But what about a big banner? “ Banners don’t matter,” came the prompt reply. And what does she think about the stars being put through so much of scanning and the recent judgments (she having worked with Salman Khan), she said it annoys her and that she prayed for Salman throughout. Is she working with them again? “Yes talks are on” was all that we got. But she’s working with Sangeet Shivan on his next project titled Click. And, these stars whisked away to Ludhiana where a night of fun and partying awaits them.
lifestyletribune@gmail.com |
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Made in India Glamour’s fav destination, City Beautiful, had yet another pretty woman walking down it’s streets (or the exhibition Desire, to be more precise). The lady in question is Femina Miss India Athlete 2005, Gwen Athaide, who stole the show at this city expo with her warm attitude. With looks complimenting her confident nature, this young model was all praise for the city. “It’s my first visit to the city and is a sure respite from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai,” Gwen says. “Moreover, everything is so organised here; it’s just amazing.” This young gal, originally from Goa, definitely knows what she wants to do with life. “I always wanted to be successful and Femina Miss India has given me a great platform to enhance my modelling career,” the model tells. This athletic model feels just walking down the ramp doesn’t make a good model. “One has to know all the aspects of the game; from the technical details to the lighting to the make-up. Just looking good is not enough. You have to know what all goes into making the final product a success.” “Moreover, you have to be thankful for all you have, especially grateful to those who work behind the scenes to make you look good. It is very important to thank your make-up artistes and hair stylists because without them, we would not be who we are,” Gwen says. On her next venture, Gwen happily says, “I just did a small project with Farah Khan for Om Shanti Om, where I play Shah Rukh Khan’s stylist. It was a great learning experience.” For all those aspiring to be models, Gwen has a very simple thing to say: “To be successful, you have to do your homework well. Nothing comes without hard
work.”
archana@tribunemail.com |
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Clicked collectables WHEN homegrown photo-artist Diwan Manna got an invitation last year to visit Firminy in France and shoot Le Corbusier’s buildings for an exhibition called Regardef Croises Franco-inbiens (Indo-France Glances) at St Etienne, we, the Press, rejoiced at his achievements and hailed him as the hero who had done us proud.
Now after two years of Manna’s achievement, we have a few more Indians making their mark in the international photography circuit — Dayanita Singh for one, whose photograph was sold for $12,000 at a recent Sotheby’s auction in New York. Apart from this Delhi-based girl, others like Anay Mann and Jeetin Sharma created waves when they were invited to show their work at Rencontres d’Aries Photography Festival, indicating that works of professional Indian photographers are in demand. But are we ready to accept photography as collectible art yet? “Indian market is opening up to art photographs, and yes, Chandigarh is a little behind, but not too far behind,” says Diwan, explaining how once photography meant only glamour photography but is now evolving into an art form and more and more galleries are ready to exhibit photographs. Though Diwan’s artistic photography has found limited private buyers in the city, he admits that for the new-breed of talent are finding buyers among government officials, hoteliers or corporate houses.
Well, money is not the yardstick to judge one’s creativity, but we ask him anyway about how much a private buyer is willing to shell out for a photograph? “If compared to paintings, photographs are not fetching all that money, but then you cannot compare a painting with a photograph. For one thing, photography is relatively a new art while painting is thousands of years old and secondly, a photograph has too many clones, while painting seldom has a twin.” Indian representative of the Photographic Society of America Subhash Sapru is not very happy about the way things are moving here. “More and more youngsters are taking up photography and more contests are being thrown open for them. But a majority of such contests are of substandard kind and as a result, the youngsters are learning nothing except for a false sense of achievement. And when it comes to buyers, private collectors are not only a few, but their taste is also limited to just landscapes,” he adds. “True, nature photographs are mostly in demand,” says Dr Sandeep Chhatwal, an amateur photographer. “We are doing well, but as well as paintings and sculptures are doing. It will take this city another 15-20 years to catch up with the rest of the world,” he predicts. The prediction, we hope, will come true a lot earlier than that! parbina@tribunemail.com
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Actor Renee Zellweger is unwilling to quit the English curse words she learnt while filming Miss Potter and the Bridget Jones movies in England, for she loves to swear like a Brit. She picked these words over the last few years of her film career, when she spent months at a time in and around London. Zellweger insists that she loves British culture and has made several friends in England. “I love the culture. It’s fantastic and now I’ve got some great friends in England,” she said.
— ANI |
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Never say die HER words instantly transport us to Pirates of the Carribean-3 —a cutter snow ship piercing through a frozen ocean, shivering men jumping off the ship to play hockey (we bring in a lil’ Chak De in our imagination here), sun playing a peak-a-boo through the clouds just for four minutes… and just one women (among 23 men) going through it all. And well, no film or tele serial this, but the real-life experience of city-based Dr Kanwal Vilku. High on the adventure adrenaline since childhood (and a Discovery buff), this 50 plus lady always wanted to feel ‘the Antartic air, clouds and sun,’ as she puts it. No wonder, when destiny knocked, she eagerly grabbed the glacier-big chance to be a part of India’s 19th Antarctic Expedition and setting up the Maitri Station on Antarctica — the world’s seventh continent and yes, five times the size of India. “I was posted with Central Government Health Scheme, Delhi in 1999, when I decided to give wings to my dream of visiting Antarctica. My family backed me with all the preparation and best wishes and it actually happened.” So how was the feeling of actually being there? “I’d never seen a ship in my life. No wonder, actually being on a cutter-snow ship and heading towards Antarctica (a week-long journey) was thrilling. But the thrill disappeared when our ship turned by 60 degrees at the confluence of Antartic and Atlantic ocean due to the churning of hot and cold water,” recalls India’s first polar woman, who’s set a record by staying on the South Pole for 16 months. “Considering my age, my teammates warned me that I’d die. But I’d tell them, if I do, bury me here itself,” laughs the indefatigable fighter, who’s recently won the Rajiv Gandhi Bravery Award (August 20) and Zee Astitva Award (August 25) for her rare achievement (that will be telecast on September 9 at 8 p.m. on Zee TV). |
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Cool Stuff
Fashion
Health
Dining
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Wonderful Wicker WHAT
would you do if we told you that the local streetwala cane furniture is the new hip interior shopping address to be at? Roll your eyeballs in disbelief or simply scoff at the suggestion? Well, you mustn’t really, for cane indeed has climbed up the chic interiors ladder and crawled into style-savvy homemakers’ lists of must-buys. And not for your verandah and gardens, mind you (remember the moodas and hanging jhoolas you picked up from the highway), but for your living rooms, dining areas, home bars and master bedrooms. Furbishing your space with cane may not seem a very exciting idea, unless you peep into the little cluster of cane furniture manufacturing units on Mansa Devi Road, Panchkula. On offer here is customised made on order Assam-cane furniture as well as readymade pieces — chic easy chairs, lounge sofas, three-seater settees, designer beds, consoles, corners, light-weight racks, fancy coffee-tables and even a rocking chair. And forget opting out for cane if you’re thinking economy-wise. For, designer cane comes with a fancy price tag. “Anything between Rs 700 to 60,000,” avers Virender Sachar, running his cane-furniture hub for almost a decade now. “We are supplying designer cane furniture to Delhi and Mumbai. The cost is generally between Rs 30,000 and 60,000, but the designs are chic,” informs Sachar, who’s recently designed cane seating for Meeta Vashist in Mumbai. So why would anyone shell out a considerable sum for cane and not real wood? “Cane remains light, resistant and provides outstanding comfort. Living in concrete high-rises surrounded by steel and glass, one yearns to be close to nature, and cane furniture is a great way to do so,” informs furniture manufacturer Mani Ram. Agrees Panchkula-based Manjeet Sharma, “Cane’s transformed my space into a living oasis, dispelling tension and boredom by creating a pleasant tranquility.” No wonder, the lady’s house remains awashed with cane — flaunting lifestyle accessories like cane decorative, vases, sofas, seaters, sofas, console tables and moodas to magazine holders.
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* The dry condition resulting from heaters, blowers and air ducts are the enemy of cane and hence should be placed far away from them. * Mix one part of boiled linseed oil with two parts of turpentine and apply on cane furniture for 15 minutes. Do this once a year to prevent cane from drying out and becoming brittle. * A monthly water treatment re-tightens the strands: spray the cane with water or sponge it and let it dry before use. *
* Cane furniture if used in the garden should be protected from direct sun and rain as cracking occurs due to direct exposure to sun and rain. * Dusting with a brush or vacuum cleaning keeps cane free from grime and dirt.Getting started...
Titillate your taste buds with these absolutely scrumptious European starters
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Getting started... THE French savour them as horsd’oeuvres, Italians call them Antipasto and the Germans refer to them as Vorspeise. For the Danish, they are forret. And the Spanish equivalent is tapas. You can simply call them starters and appetisers. Manor Exclusive, the joint at the outskirts of the city, is offering the savory appetisers to you like never before. You can have them as first course. Oh yes, you can blend the stuff with cocktails or an aperitif. These starters are absolutely must-haves, even for the light-eaters! For, they offer you big pleasure out of small portions. In fact, it is their ‘one or two bite size’ that makes the dishes alluring. Informs Manor Exclusive’s director Manish Bajaj, “You can have it cold, or hot. No matter how you have it, the dishes served on the international platter of delight are sure to titillate your culinary desires.” To begin with, you can go in for Mezze of Lebanon. It is a typical middle-eastern meal. You can order Italian delicacies like Ensiled De Polo Al Curry and Peppered Sole Fish — these European delicacies are a treat. And the stuff is nutritious too. So you really don’t have to worry about missing a healthy meal. Also, remember to taste Leekie Al Funghi the next time you go there. It is stuffed mushroom delicately served with basil garlic dip. Marinated Olives are also worth tasting. If you choose Gambas Al Ajilo, you tastefully get prawns or shrimps in garlic wine sauce. Another dish Hammus is all about marinated chicken sticks served with spicy dip. Well, Chicken Pepper Sticks promise the foodies a mouth-watering experience. So folks, just grab the grub. It’s worth it! |
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Brilliance Unmatched High-security is what greeted me at the grand ballroom of The Taj. I wondered what the hype was all about. After all, it was just another jewellery exhibition, I mused as I collected my entry card. I was wrong. The minute I entered the room, I was greeted by the brilliance of colours and the an array of lights. It was indeed a jewellery lover’s delight. From diamonds to pearls to stones and corals: everything was under one roof.
Organised by Nitesh Garg of Ravoy Gems and Rajbrinder Singh of Tornado Events N Promotions, Desire, a three-day jewellery exhibition that was inaugurated today, showcased the creations of 27 jewellers from all over the country, including Tribhoven Das from Mumbai, Mehrasons of Delhi, Mandothiya Pearls and Jewels from Hyderabad. On display at Jaipur-based Mamta Exports were 120 kinds of stones, including jewellery made from volcanic lava, meteorites that had fallen from space in Czech Republic and stones said to be from the Jurassic period. Another attraction at the exhibition was World of Bangles; our city’s own store. “You’ll get any type of bangles here. Name it and we have it,” says store’s director Hiteish Arora. You do not know what to ask for when you stop at Mandothiys Pearls & Jewels, a Hyderabad-based store, which came to the city to explore the market here. Ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2 lakh, the variety of pearls at the store was enough to confuse anyone. About the growing menace of duplication of pearls, Agarwal says, “Government agencies should take more initiative to see that such illegal activities do not take place.” If you are bored of the regular gold jewellery, Jaipur-based Jewel Ace is the place for you. Made by using the 400-year-old Thewa technique of fusing gold on glass, the jewellery is a delight to the eyes with its wide range of colours and creations. To make a long excursion short, the exhibition was a jewellery lover’s delight. So if you are planning to propose to you girlfriend or give your mother a gift, a visit to this three-day show is a must.
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Beauty Studio
Perfect blow dry can be a real blow out, but you can never really achieve the salon look on your own at home. Good blow dry not only keeps hair in shape for days but also lends it body, and a sleek glossy look. Believe me blow drying is no rocket science; with just a few facts observed you could be your own hairdresser. Your first step towards a perfect blow dry would be to identify the right shampoo for your hair type that will work on the dirt and oil in your hair. Do not be generous with the helping of shampoo as it can strip your hair of natural oils thus encouraging the oil to come up to surface sooner than you wish. Your next step would be your choice of conditioner. Conditioner is your hairs‘ best friend as it protects your hair and the moisturising agents coat hair leaving it tangle-free. If you have fine hair, concentrate only on the ends. Blot hair, never rub. In order to make your blow dry last it is imperative that you choose the right products for your hair. Apply the product to towel dried hair and the secret is to coat each strand with the product. Dry hair must go for leave-in conditioner or shine serum. Always concentrate on the ends more. Rough dry your hair all over, separate hair into sections and clip them. Make a section from ear to ear and then take the middle parting all the way down. In hairdressers language you call it, Hot Cross Bun. Take each section at a time, start by drying with your fingers from the root as the brush cannot get in there and hair tends to frizz up. Your next move would be to use a round brush and pull through hair as you blow dry, keeping the nozzle pointing downward as it will get your cuticles all in one direction and lend a very sleek finish to your blow dry. As you make the brush travel through hair, follow the brush with the dryer attached with a nozzle. Don’t forget to lock the style in by sealing the cuticles with the cold blast air from your dryer. Follow through the rest of the sections in the same pattern and finish off with a drop of serum to get that finished look and to tame the frizzy bits of hair. n My hair has a slight kink but I love straight hair. So, I blow dry often and feel that my hair is becoming very dry and dull. What is it that I am doing wrong? Pooja via e-mail Blow drying hair more than often can get your hair in trouble. Remember to not overdo as dryness can damage the hair structure, creating splitting and breakage. Hair has a moisture content of approximately ten per cent. If the moisture content drops down below this point, you would need to do is increase the ability of your hair to attract and retain moisture. Make sure you use conditioner generously. Worse damage is done when moisture from hair evaporates through blow drying and hair straightening. Always use a thermal protector to safe guard your cuticles. Choose the protector carefully otherwise it can weigh your hair down, making you loose the bounce. Also some protectors make the oil come to the surface; make sure you select the right one for your hair. (This column appears fortnightly)
Pammy Kaul is a UK-based beauty therapist. E-mail queries to lifestyletribune@gmail.com or write to The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh
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To improve head posture move head back to bring the ears in line with the shoulders without moving the nose up and down.
— Dr Ravinder Chadha
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Actor Ashley Judd has been signed by Egoli Tossell Film and Insight Film Studios to star in the drama Helen. Sandra Nettelbeck will write as well as direct the film, the shooting of which is set to begin on October 2 in Vancouver. Helen is a story based on a music professor and a mother who suffers from an unbearable depression. Judd, who was last seen in the Lionsgate thriller Bug, will next appear in the Weinstein Co ensemble drama, Crossing Over.
Renee Zellweger loves Brits
It is natural, wholesome and healthy. Bagrrys India’s Healthy Crunch is a delicious range of breakfast cereals made entirely with whole grains. A combination of oats and wheat it is now available in three variants - Almond ‘n’ Raisin, Zero-Sugarfree and ChocoDelight. This ready-to-eat cereal is good for the entire family and is a wholesome and tasty anytime snack too. It is available in a 425 gm box for Rs 135. This heart-healthy cereal provides a strong foundation for nutritionally balanced meals with a healthy mix of proteins, carbohydrates and fibre. It has zero cholesterol and trans fats.
Egle’s collection in finest leathers and materials combines technology to meet the highest standards of excellence in quality. The latest range, Ultimate Collection is durable with elegant stitch detailing. They can be worn with a variety of looks from casual khakis to dressier suits and business attire. The collection comprises pointed-toe, chic and classy shoes. The shoes scream a fashionable and comfortable loafer with laced enclosures, and the leather sole reflects the combination of superior craftsmanship and materials with the ethos of the lifestyle. The range comes in shades of tan, brown and black priced between Rs 3,590 and Rs 4,990. 
AS insecticide-sprayed fruits and vegetables pose great health hazards, Kent promises a solution. After providing safe and pure drinking water equivalent to mineral water to households, Kent, pioneers in revolutionary mineral RO technology, have now launched a purifier which promises bacteria and chemical free vegetables and fruits. The Kent Ozone Vegetable and Fruits purifier is a simple gadget that most effectively removes residual traces of insecticides and pesticides, farm chemicals and parasites that invariably remaining on the surface of fruits and vegetables. It is priced at Rs 5, 500. 
Want to know what pizzas with a Lebanese twist tastes like? Just head to the nearest Pizza Hut and enjoy some of the best-known dishes from Lebanon, China, Mexico, Russia and many other places. The leader in western casual dining brings the world to you with the World Food Fest. To add to the festivities, flagship stores across the country will feature live-performers who will sing your favourite international songs on request The menu features mouth-watering specialities from around the world like the Mexican Tortillas, Russian Apple Salad, Arabic Chicken pizza from Lebanon and Pizza Hut Royale.
A strip in cane furniture spoils the beauty of the piece. If any strand breaks, it should be repaired immediately as each snapped strand puts strain on the next one.
If cane is to be painted, only spirit-based wood dyes should be used. Avoid paints, varnishes and lacquers.