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Mayor shining A pearl or diamond-studded necklace will be the city mayor’s new adornment. But, what happens if the next mayor is not a lady? We find out Your drive into a paid parking lot may actually be helping the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh in travelling towards the colonial past where the rulers wore heavy stone-studded ornaments around their necks to distinguish themselves from the multitude. Oh yes, you may feel the pinch in paying Rs 5 to the parking lot attendant every time you leave behind your car. But the corporation is considering the feasibility of picking up a nice necklace of pearls or diamonds for the queen… oops, the mayor. Now if you are wondering what the parking of car has got to do with the purchase of necklace for the mayor, you do not have to catch pearls of wisdom while looking for an answer. It’s plain and simple. “Money earned from the auction of parking lots across the city is the major source of revenue for the cash-strapped corporation,” explains a senior MC functionary. Elaborating, he says, “You pay. That’s why the contractors go in for the lots in open auctions and offer several lakhs of rupees to the corporation.” So it’s your money, through the parking lot contractors, that finds its way into the corporation’s coffers and eventually goes into buying stuff like necklace of authority for the mayor. In case you have missed the news that has left so many residents dazzled, the corporation is all set to consider during the Friday’s General House meeting the possibility of purchasing a gold necklace studded with 35 diamonds or pearls, each gem representing a counsellor. Well, the city may not be shining, but MC’s logo set nicely and properly in the adornment will surely stand out. The necklace, part of the mayor’s ceremonial livery, will be worn on national days, out-of-the-ordinary functions and other occasions. It will be the corporation’s property and will be passed on to the next incumbent, regardless of the gender. The cost and the precise design will be worked out only after the General House gives its final nod to the move. And what’s the justification behind the glittery idea? Those overwhelmed by the ornament’s glitter say the entire move is aimed at lending the institution a distinctive entity. Such customs and traditions are indeed prevalent in countries like British Columbia. Well, the mayor there wears a broad belt, but that’s another story. Justifications notwithstanding, some of the residents are criticising the move quite vocally. “To a discerning ear, it, of course, sounds silly,” says Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate Anil Pal Singh. “The next mayor may not be a woman after all. And the idea of a man wearing around his macho neck a gender-based symbol in form of a diamond-studded necklace does not appear bright. In any case, one thing is for sure. He won’t leave you bedazzled!” Well, in the end you can only say necklace or no necklace, long live the mayor! saurabh@tribunemail.com |
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Coming of Age They danced, they acted and they collected old newspapers from your homes to sustain their activities. The media loves them for their enterprising nature and we adore them for their never-say-die attitude. Yes, we know them as Zulfiqar’s kids, who work as shoeshine boys in various markets during the daytime and meet at the Government High School-24 in the evenings under Theatre Age for their activities. If you are wondering why are we telling you the story of these happy-go-lucky children once again, there is a context. They were locally known so far, but are all set to go global now, via the Internet. Zulfiqar Khan, the founder of the organisation, and his team on Thursday launched their website called www.theatreage.com. The organisation has been actively working for the education of street children since 1992. According to Khan, this is the first step towards the dream he has been nurturing since a long time — to make Theatre Age an institution for street children. Through the website, Khan and his team expect to get fundings from foreign agencies. Designed by Karanpreet Singh Gill, the site traces back the history of the outfit, enlists its aims and objectives and highlights the success stories of some of his children. “The whole thing started just for fun. I wanted to do a play called Raja aur Kishan with some street children as a part of my UGC project,” says Khan, who is a passout from the Department of Indian Theatre of Panjab University. One thing led to another, and before he realised the gravity of his responsibility, Khan was neck-deep into the situation. “It is not funny anymore and now that I am committed to my cause, I would like to create more success stories like Vir Pal, a shoe-shine boy who now works as a make-up artiste for television channels or Vicky Raja, a reformed juvenile delinquent who now works as a BSF jawan or Geeta who joined us as an illiterate girl from one of the slums and is now teaching the Theatre Age kids,” he says. His dreams are big and resources are meagre. But with the goodwill he has generated over the years in the city, his dreams do not seem too impossible to realise.
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Aviators are the latest fashion buzz Sunglasses two to three sizes bigger than your eyes can be spotted on anybody’s nose these days — right from our film stars to college-going dudes or chicks. However, it is not only big designer sunglasses, which are in vogue. Your dad’s good ‘ol aviators would do too. If you are still in not sure what we are talking about, then think about Esha Deol in Cash or Tom Cruise in Top Gun or more recently Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Smith. If you think only faujis wear these teardrop- shaped dark shades, you are wrong. Most people are waking up to this fad. With Hollywood and Bollywood celebs promoting the-se, how can we lesser mortals not follow suit? Ray Ban, pioneers in Aviators, and other brands like Chanel, Gucci, Parada etc. have come up with a makeover for these 1936 originals. Like other glasses they are being made in colourful lenses. The lenses are polarised and obstruct harmful UV rays. The shapes and styles have gone through a change too. Now we have square aviators, ovals, with sprung hinges, mirrored, degregated and wrap-around styles. According to our fashion gurus these comfy shades that provide extra protection to the eyes have become quite a style statement and will continue to be a hot property in 2008. Grab one and feel the
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Against all odds Life dealt a deadly blow to Manish and Kiran, but these two bravehearts have overcome their shortcomings to prove to the world that if there is a will there are several ways... Meet 20-year-old Manish Kumar, a second year student of electrical and electronic communication at Punjab Engineering College. He is not just another engineer-to-be, but one with the conviction to become a leader. A victim of polio, Manish requires leg braces to help him walk. Although living with post-polio residual paralysis has not been easy, it has never been a hurdle either. “My parents taught me to live with my disability and work around it. There is no place for self-pity,” says Manish. Tackling disappointments is important for Manish. “There are times when I feel low. But, when I foresee my future, bright and meaningful, my problems seem insignificant,” he confidently says. Manish, who loves chilling out with friends in Sector 17, believes life should be lived to the fullest.
Doing big in life means being his own boss’ and to achieve that Manish plans to open a company of his own. “My vision is to open a consultancy firm by 2008,” Manish says confidently. That’s not all. With help from Varun Kashyap, his partner, he plans to launch a newspaper soon. Refusing to divulge the name of the paper, Manish smiles, “That will be revealed when we officially launch it. There has to be some element of surprise.” To add to his plethora of initiatives, Manish has also written a book on his life. “It’s the story of my journey in life,” he says. The idea to pen down his feelings surfaced after he fell in love with a girl, but couldn’t confess his feelings to her. The autobiography will be released early next year. His never-say-die-attitude is inspiring. “Everybody gets a chance to go to the top, but only one does. I will be that one,” is his parting shot. Light at end of the tunnel It was with tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat that this young woman stepped forward to accept the commendation certificate that the UT education department was awarding her on Teacher’s Day. The long journey this visually impaired lady had traversed, finally seemed worthwhile. Kiran Kumari was just another nurse in the making when the unthinkable happened. In was 1992 when Kiran was doing her second year of BSc Nursing at CMC, Ludhiana, a fever robbed her of her eyesight. Several visits to specialists failed to produce results. “Initially, my family and I were hopeful that my blindness was a temporary problem, which would get cured with time,” the pretty lady says. But, in 1993, the doctors gave their verdict: Put her in a blind school. “It took me two years to accept that I was blind. But that was also the turning point of my life. I was transformed from being just another normal girl to one who wanted to prove to herself and that her dreams would still become a reality,” remembers Kiran. The next step was to learn Braille. By adjusting to the idea of never seeing light again, Kiran put all her fears behind her and began studying. Now, 34-year-old Kiran teaches young children at the National Institute for Blinds. Kiran is pursuing her Ph D from Punjabi University after clearing the UGC test in 2005. So how does this spirited lady spend her free time? “All I do is study and motivate others to do so.” Kiran believes — ‘If you work sincerely, blindness is no bar. If you know what you want, nothing can stop you’. archana@tribunemail.com |
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Youth
speak
Kudos to the Indian cricket team for winning the Twenty20 World Cup after 24years. What is commendable is the fact that we won it minus the bigwig trio. The celebrations that were organised by the BCCI were just given the way the glory of our country has been redeemed. Only such a convincing hard fought victory could have erased the scars that our pride suffered six months back when we lost in the World Cup. As money, bungalows and cars are being showered on the players by the generous association and sponsors the players are set to get bagful of new endorsements and get richer by crores ardent fans like me feel scared. It was just months back when we were out of the World Cup that the public responded with rage and fury. The companies that now will rush to sign anyone who was part of this glorious team took all the advertisements with cricketers in them off air. The same BCCI meted out step-motherly treatment to the players and the ugly cracks within the Blue Brigade were made public in the most undignified manner. Not taking away the moment, as we celebrate, it’s our responsibility to understand that the Men In Blue are very much human. It’s a game and wins and losses are part of it. We must watch the game with zeal and fervour but not forget sportsman spirit. We must learn to take failures and successes in our stride. Praise the team when they do well, but don’t embarrass them when they lose. Feel strongly about something? If you are under 25, this is the forum for you. Mail us your views in not more than 300 words along with a passport photograph at lifestyletribune@gmail.com
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New releases Dil Dosti etc Director: Manish Tiwary Starring: Shreyas Talpade, Imaad Shah, Nikita Anand, Smriti Mishra, Ishita Sharma THE flick explores the nature of friendship, male bonding, voyeurism, sexual perversion, love and betrayal. Full with realism and black humour, it shows the coming of age of a young man and explores the ambiguities of an entire generation. Set around the students of Delhi University through two hostellers – the rich and cosmopolitan Apurv (Imaad Shah), and, an old-fashioned Bihari Sanjay Mishra (Shreyas Talpade), it juxtaposes the liberal and the conservative in our society. Ambitious and focused, student-politician Sanjay represents the romantic and the idealist. While Apurv’s life is directionless, he looks for meaning in life through amorous escapades with various girls. The three female leads — that of a prostitute, a schoolgirl and a rich model- provide a myriad of social and emotional backdrop to the film. Vaisali (Smriti Mishra), an attractive prostitute, claims never to get emotionally attached to her customers. Precocious schoolgirl Kintu (Ishitta Sharrma) remains coquettishly noncommittal to Apurv’s flirtations. Prerna (Nikita Anand), a rich South Delhi babe aspiring to become an international model, finds herself attracted to the charismatic Sanjay. Showing at: Fun Republic — TNS Johnny Gaddar Director: Sriram Raghavan Starring: Dharmendra, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Rimi Sen, Vinay Pathak
An ensemble of five men, Seshadri (Dharmendra), Vikram (Neil Mukesh), Prakash (Vinay Pathak), Shardul (Zakir Hussain) and Daya (Shiva), has their fingers in various activities. The story starts with Seshadri getting an offer to make a fortune in four days. The gang is up for it, as it will hurl them into the big league.The youngest member Vikram, for whom money is everything and is willing to get it irrespective of the means, plans to disappear to some unknown city and start life afresh with his college sweetheart Mini (Rimi Sen) when a devilish thought crosses his mind. What if he grabs the entire jackpot? As he plunges into his diabolical plan he realizes that the stakes in this game are high. And the only losers he can afford to leave behind are dead ones. The movie has Dharmendra in a pivotal role. The film introduces 24-year-old Neil Mukesh, grandson of legendary singer Mukesh, and son of Nitin Mukesh. Showing at: Fun Republic
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Silver haze What started off as mere curiosity has become a passion for this jewellery collector
However, the climax remains the same — somebody discovering precious baubles from the place she least expected. And then of course, (who said our remake didn’t have a sequel?) going on to collect more than 100 such pieces. For, don’t we women tend to hoard, provided we get a good bargain? “Mine was the classic case of falling prey to an inherent passion and not bargain,” clarifies Gitanjali Gill, flaunting her antique, silver trinkets.
And so, Gitanjali set off on a collector’s trail, hunting for jewellers who’d sell antique pieces to her. After two years, the lady could boast of more than 100 exquisite pieces: 50-year-old anklets, jhumars, swirling neckpieces, kanthas, rani haars, (with intricate meenakari) buttons, massive rings covering all five fingers, rings with mirrors, et al. “There’s even an antique hairclip and an ear cleaner in pure silver, sourced from Banikhet in Chamba,” avers the proud collector. Now, that’s what we call ‘old-world-charm’ in a jewellery aficionado’s dictionary. anandita@tribunemail.com
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Mad about
mountains Their canvases are splashed with the majestic glory of Himachal. Meet the artists
Russian artist Nicholas Roerich is just a name for me. I have known him as someone so besotted with the beauty of Himachal that he moved to Naggar way back in 1923 and made this place his home. He continued to capture the moods of the mountains till his last breath. But he is not the only one. During my course as an art reviewer, I managed to meet a couple of other artists who live, breathe and paint Himachal in all its majestic glory. Prabal Pramanik for one, who left his hometown Kolkata and moved first to Dalhousie and later to Bhamlada, a small town at the foothills of Himalayas. Pramanik is not only sketching the hills and the valleys, which he keeps exhibiting from time to time, but also developing Bhamlada as an art centre through his institute. Then, there is B.R. Rattan whose paintings take you down to the ‘not so recent past’ of the places you are familiar with — Shimla, Kasauli, Manali and others. You see the mountains in different moods, the clouds and feel the breeze swaying the tall trees. He is one artist who is totally inspired by nature’s grandeur. The most revolutionary one among them is Naresh Pandit for whom, the beauty of Himachal goes much beyond the tall summits of the mountains, its lush green flora or the delicate beauty of Himachali women. Pandit’s endeavour to present the style of miniature paintings in the modern-day context has resulted in a series of mountains, which are bold in colour, with a huge sun looming large over them. Even his Himachali women do not give the vibe of being damsels in distress. They are tough, hardworking women, who can manage a home and even kill a tiger! These are the artists who have lived in the hill state for the major part of their life and took inspiration from their surroundings to develop their own style and techniques. But even for the budding artists of the Government College of Art, Himachal holds special attraction. Or maybe, it is being imbibed in them because their first field visit is almost always a trip to Shimla or Manali. Take for instance Akash Gaud, a final year student of painting, whose laptop is full of images from Manali and Leh-Ladakh. “I did this series when I visited Ladakh this July. I loved the awesome mountains and the clear sky and the clouds that descended down to touch the earth,” says Akash. This young artist draws inspiration from Roerich and tries painting the sky in dark purple and the mountains in blocks and grids. Shiv Shankar Singh, a second year painting student, is another one who was floored by the beauty Dharamsala and Palampur and did a few landscapes. “The bright sunlight lights up the snow and makes a breathtaking combination which is difficult to resist for an artist,” he says. Same is the case with Anshuman Soni, a third year student and Jagjit Dhiman, a second year student, who loved painting the landscapes of Himachal as well as capturing the women in their traditional attire. “It’s a pleasure to combine both, because while the one needs to use subtle earthy colours to paint the scenic beauty, it takes a lot of bright colour to capture the true essence of a Himachali woman. And painting the heavy ornaments that such a woman wears is indeed a delight,” they say. And the medium they’ve chosen to capture all the mountain magic is watercolour. “Only water colour brings out the softness of nature,” they say. Reminds us of Rattan’s take on this medium — nothing can bring about the freshness in a painting so well as a watercolour does. So, as the lure of the mountains continues, these fresh bloods keep up with the tradition, which the pioneers like Roerichs and Rattans have established. parbina@tribunemail.com
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Little Interview
She proved
her acting prowess in films like Subhash Ghai’s 36 China Town and more
recently in Priyadarshan’s Dhol. A dance number Dil Liya Dil Liya
features Payal as a performer. My
role is of a cabaret singer. But my hair, make-up or overall persona is
not loud, something which I was associated with earlier. It is a
glamorous role. I am just hoping that the film does well because it
really means a lot to my career. I don’t have any other release for
nearly one and a half year. Breaking away from an image is not easy. What kind
of challenges have you faced? Well, let’s
say good things in life do not come easy. One has to have patience. I
don’t come with a famous surname and I am trying to make mine one. In
that process, one has to experience failures and success. As I have
realised what kind of cinema not to do, it has definitely sorted my
professional decisions. But I do realise I need to prove myself as an
actor. What
else are you doing? I am working with the
directors like Pradeep Sarkar. I have shot two ad films with him. I am
personally meeting directors and producers whom I want to work with. — Dharam Pal
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Part(Y)ing Crowd Party animals in town seem to have gone into hibernation Grooving to popular hip-hop and bhangra beats at discotheques is no longer a fad with the youngsters in town. Look around and you’ll find the crowds diminishing in the parties. No wonder, it’s turning into a bad business for the organisers, who are spending big money on the dance parties. Chandigarh’s been a party destination among the city youngsters, and has around 10 clubs where party hopers can dine, wine and dance. But the attendance in the city discs has declined considerably. Explaining the trend, city-based organisers blame the lack of innovative ideas and freshness, besides the miniscule involvement of celebrities in the parties. Music too, has failed to evolve. Assert DJ AJ and DJ Varun, “Music is the soul of any party and the attracts crowd. Without good music, you just can’t rock.” “Chandigarh dance parties are more of a stunt now”, says Saransh, an event organiser, adding, “Youngsters have become too demanding nowadays and want the dance party to be a theme party and go on till the morning hours. But, with the number of visitors going down, no organiser is willing to invest money.” Very few theme-based parties are being organised in the city. Some years back, Chandigarh had only a few discs, where people would go and enjoy their weekends. Partying was more of a dating platform, where couples came together. But now, its back to the canteens and classroom benches. “With things opening up and social networking sites serving as a platform to bring people together, few people need to visit a disc,” says Amit Garewal, a student from DAV-10. |
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Vivacious Vocalist
As the enraptured elite audience rose for a standing ovation after her entrancing performance at the Royal Festival Queen Elizabeth Hall during the London concert, vocalist Sunanda Sharma expressed admiration for her guru, the magnificence of Indian classical music and her upbringing in a musical family. She maintained that but for the blessed tutelage of Padmabhushan Girija Devi of Benaras gharana, nothing was possible for a shy girl brought up in a sleepy village of Himachal to make headlines in newspapers. An exponent of the purity of tradition of Benaras gharana, Sunanda has emerged as the leading vocalist, with specialisation in the Thumri, Tappa, kajri and other genres immortalised by her gharana maestros. A visiting professor and performer at the SOAS university of London and Royal Akademy of Music, Sunanda has extensively performed abroad. She admits that stalwarts like Pandit Ravi Shanker, Vilayat Khan Saheb, Hariparsad Chaurasia, Zakir Hussain and others have explored the treatise of our music to foreign audience. The lady has just returned after a tour of Sweden and Norway as an ambassador of the Spic Macay, where she shared stage with great stalwarts of music like Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. In city for a concert, Sunanda shares with us her voyage to the pinnacle of glory. Recalling how she developed a passion for classical music, she says, “I spent my childhood in the cradle of nature at a remote village Dah near Pathankot, in a family devoted to Indian music. At home, I always had the company of sat swaras , drone of taanpura and rhythmic patterns of tal while learning the rudiments of music from my guru and father, Pandit Sudershan Sharma.” As music flowed in her veins, Sunanda took up music at GCG, Chandigarh. “The charismatic moment of my life came at the Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, where the legendary Girija Devi after listening to my performance, took me under her tutelage. During the nine years spent at her Benaras residence, she groomed me as complete artist, imparting all the finer nuances of vocal music through strenuous riyaaz. “ Music is a performing art. It represents the magnificence of our creative spirit, which spontaneously manifests itself in the style of improvisation,” explains Sunanda. Gharana, she says, literally means a particular music tradition belonging to a family for a specific period having its influence at least on three successive generations. She is not averse to fusion till the Indian musical ingredient and flavour is retained in composition. Away from the City beautiful, she misses the geri route, shopping and chaat, golguppa sessions in Sector 17. Awfully busy in riyaaz, performance and propagation of music right now, she hasn’t yet given a thought to her marriage. lifestyletribune@gmail.com
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Unmasked! Using bright colours and limited symbolism, Vadhera has executed feelings he experienced while in Hardwar to perform the last rites of his brother. “It was not a happy experience, for there was a constant conflict between divinity and human greed,” the artist says. The expressions on the faces say it all — a Panda in bright red showing his wife the head of his latest ‘catch’, a green human figure moving fast in the cycle of greed and yet another one playing with his victims who are tied up with a string. So why is he not using his trademark masks anymore, we ask, as we see reminiscences from his mask days all over his Sector 18 home-cum-studio walls — in paintings, photographs, including 3-D ones. “Masks will always be an integral part of my art. But now that I have matured as an artist, I am trying different things, like lesser symbols and no-frill type of works,” he explains. But the motto on which he had started his work remains the same: ‘We are not what we show’. “It fascinated me to see how people cover themselves with layers and layers of masks. Just one slip and everything comes hurdling down,” says Vadhera.
Considering that Vadhera’s journey into the art realm began with street plays and stage shows, his eyes have been trained to detect minute changes in facial expressions. “In fact, this is how my mask-making started. We needed masks for a certain stage show and being an alumnus of the Government College of Art, the responsibility to provide these fell on my shoulder,” Vadhera says. He delivered and in the process, learnt the uniqueness of contemporary mask-making. “There are several craftspersons making traditional masks all over the country, but very few make modern ones. Our city can enjoy the uniqueness of becoming one of the few,” he says. Modern masks, according to Vadhera, suit the characteristics of the city. “As Chandigarh has a contemporary ring, this kind of masks can be added to the city’s distinctiveness. This in turn, can be utilised to promote tourism,” he says. For that, he recommends an Apna Utsav kind of fair to give the art a platform.
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SIDELANES
Three memorable days at Mussoorie! The trees dripped. Mists swirled and settled around our feet and then rose to cap the hills. Occasionally, the sun did manage a beam hold. I had been invited over by a friend, Dorothy Irene Riddle. She is into R&D in the Service Industries; has created the Riddle Scale on Homophobia and is currently working on Spiritual Evolution Assessments. She has studied and advised on the services sectors of 81 countries and the power point presentation shows her hobnobbing with presidents and prime ministers, who believe in her path-breaking contributions. The first photograph on the screen is of two six-year-olds on tricycles. One is blonde, the other brunette. We met in Jalandhar where her family arrived from China. Chairman Mao undertook the Long Walk and drove out foreigners. A good 57 years later, I cheered as my friend received a citation and shawl from her alma mater. It was a proud moment for both of us. Honoured, too, was a statuesque woman in a red Punjabi suit — Bhavenesh Kumari Patiala, an aunt of Amarinder Singh. In the teeth of family reticence and tradition, she studied law and helped broker deals between the Indian Government and the rulers of Sikkim and Hyderabad. Known at Woodstock as Lena Badmash, today, she works for social causes amongst the under-privileged. Dorothy loves burfi. I took a box of Gobind’s best kaju for her. Her friends Val, Judy and Barbara were hooked onto Mughlai food from the first whiff of masala. Val works with Dorothy at Vancouver. She has a very funny bone! Judy and Barbara live in Panama. They ride horseback to remote villages, offering medical care. They spoke of a miracle herb that has cured cancer and various parasitic skin disorders. Pharmaceutical companies have been called to observe the results but turn deaf and dumb after the first visit. Not enough lucre in herbs and cures, which are a threat to the powerful allopathic lobby. Val roamed Connaught Place, head in the air. She landed in a pothole and broke her ankle. At Woodstock, an ancient dandi was brought out, dusted and cushioned. Val was carried into Parker Hall (named after Dorothy’s grandfather) in state. We Indians look down to avoid banana peels, dog, cow and monkey poo, potholes and loose masonry. Val’s ankle taught lessons on both sides of the Pacific! Dorothy has returned to India again and again. She feels very comfortable here. She was a part of the American Psychological Association Task Force, which was responsible for the official change in status of homosexuality from a psychiatric disorder to a lifestyle one. Our country could learn something from this to improve our fast fading reputation for tolerance. At Woodstock I realised how little we contribute towards the community. We need to take stock of ourselves. I am humbled by meeting this group of remarkable women. |
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Clooney takes bachelor vows
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Soft beds cause strain on all the muscles and ligaments and should be replaced with a firm mattress. If possible a plywood as big as mattress be placed between the mattress and the bed. — Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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TAROT TALK
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Confidence is the first thing what you notice about him the moment you strike a conversation. 
SET in Mumbai’s underworld and notorious nightlife, the film is a tingling tale of crime and betrayal, love and murder. It’s a caper thriller directed by Sriram Raghvan who has broken free of Ram Gopal Varma’s influence. 
Her story could well qualify for the remake of Ali Baba (of the famous Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves) discovering potfuls of glittering jewels. The setting, though, is a lil’ different-all that glitters here is not gold, but silver. We have the twisting-twirling Himachali gallis instead of Ali Baba’s dark, spooky cave, and yes, our humble, Arabian Ali Baba himself has made way for a more regal, Indian woman. 
“It all started when I was vacationing in Dalhousie around eight years back. I saw a local woman wearing unique kanthas and jhumars in silver. This triggered off an interest in the jewellery and I suddenly wanted to collect it,” said the social worker with a penchant for collecting jewellery. Gitanjali then takes us on a nostalgic trip. “My local chaukidaar warned me from approaching these women directly, as selling off their ancestral jewellery for financial reasons was a taboo; lest they bring a bad name to the family. Most of these women were selling their jewellery to local goldsmiths and jewellers, who further melted it to make more modern designs,” she said. 
Payal Rohatgi, with her drop-dead looks, has made a mark
in the hearts of cine-goers. She was a Femina Miss India Finalist in
2000 and also won the Supermodel Miss Tourism World title. 
He does not disguise his emotions, but reveals them through masks. Yes, that’s what Vinay Vadhera is known for — initiating the art of contemporary mask-making, a trait, which he later incorporated into all his paintings. But now, he is taking a detour from his signature style. Vadhera’s latest series is on the dark side of Hardwar, especially on the unmasking of priests.
Faces are distorted and so are the bodies. Colours are bright with a generous amount of green thrown in. Green, because it is the colour of prosperity. And looking at the faces, one has no doubt as to what kind of prosperity the artist meant to portray. Vadhera plans to exhibit this particular series in Delhi.
Actor George Clooney has revealed that he decided to remain a bachelor for life on the advice of a dying drunk uncle. The 46-year old said he was moved by his uncle George, who inspired him to live life to its full without family responsibilities. “I decided I wasn’t going to wake up one day in my sixties and say, ‘What a waste’. I was going to grab as much out of life as I could,” Clooney was quoted as saying.
— ANI
ARIES: Six of Swords indicates balance and harmony, after an upsetting phase. Hard work and extra responsibility should be welcomed. Media exposure and involvement in the arts are exciting. Lucky colour: Crimson. Tip Of the Week: Don’t waste an opportunity by not exploiting a contact even if it is from the past.
LIBRA: The Emperor indicates success through self-discipline and practicality. There could be stressful moments at work. Disagreements on the way forward could escalate if you push your views aggressively. Spend time with friends to relax. Lucky Colour: Purple. Tip: Don’t feel guilty about not being in a hurry.
TAURUS: The Hanged Man indicates positive changes. The focus is on the present. You can achieve everything with a light and playful approach. Family and children are independent and supportive but need appreciation and love. A Pisces will take care of your emotions. Lucky colour: White. Tip: Use your instinct to get into the top circle of power.
SCORPIO: Page of Wands indicates something young, growing, a seed planted. Determination and persistence will help you progress on difficult assignments. Personal relationships are a highlight and discussions can sort out issues. Lucky colour: Royal blue. Tip: Arrogance and pride won’t be rewarded.
GEMINI: Your card Judgment indicates clear judgment at this time. Give up old beliefs and attitudes and adopt new ones. You will be successful in all that you do. Be firm about making a positive change. Don’t get disheartened. Victory comes after surmounting obstacles. Lucky colour: Red. Tip: Results are guaranteed if you stick to plans.
SAGITTARIUS: The Sun shows light has arrived after a long dark night. The card symbolises gain, triumph, pleasure, truth and success. Intellectual energies will blend with the youthful ones and result in clarity of mind. Lucky colour: Silver grey. Tip: Feel free to change your mind.
CANCER: The Wheel of Fortune spins good luck and new opportunities. Concentrate on professional endeavours. Listen to your wisdom. Be prudent about future plans lest others block you. Taurus gives you optimistic advice. Lucky colour: Jade. Tip: Must learn to accept responsibility for self and others.
CAPRICORN: The Queen of Wands indicates a trip or making a real career. You will gather your thoughts and settle down. Be discreet about new ventures till plans materialise. Your partner will support your endeavours and will be a valuable source of help and advice. Unexpected expenses are possible. Lucky colour: Yellow. Tip: Try to focus on newly started ventures.
LEO: The Nine of Pentacles showers blessing on lovers. Your destiny may help dreams come true. Chance meetings could bring past memories and make you think about the current state of affairs. Network when socialising as you could build valuable contacts. Lucky colour: Orange. Tip: Lethargy hampers your plans when you need to act for yourself.
AQUARIUS: The Moon says you might be going through a period of emotional trial and must not ignore it. Avoid drugs or alcohol, trust your intuition and indulge in something creative. Duties and obligations seem burdensome. Lucky colour: Yellow. Tip: Do what is right, watch your interests.
VIRGO: The Ace of Pentacles shows a time for wishes to come true. Be careful of jealous people. Your positive and upbeat mood will attract attention. Romantic relationships will be good. Singles will be in demand. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Tip: Capitalise on your strength and do not trust others.
PISCES: The Wheel of Fortune depicts the cycle of life. It shows the need to be adaptable. Your lightness and sense of humour saves you in sticky situations. An Aries person can be catalyst for a change. Remain dedicated to long-term goals. Lucky colour:
Black. Tip: A positive and caring attitude heals wounds in a relationship
and partnership.