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It’s all in the name Shakespeare’s oft quoted saying — What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet; needs to be revised on a priority basis. For today, it’s indeed all in a name. Simple confusion over common names like Pooja and Puja or Kapoor and Kapur are already things of the past. Talk today and the names of daily soaps , screen names of actors and your friend’s name in the neighbourhood all have undergone a change. And in the process, these new names have lost their meanings, become complicated to spell and are nothing less than good luck charms. Now, what is it that has made Anu Malik, Anu Malick or a daily soap Kayamat, Kayamath or for that matter Neha, the girl next door, Nehha. Well, some do it for luck, some for career, some for love and some for a change in temperament. Says astrologer P.K.Khurrana (earlier P.K.Khurana), “A change in name is to do with the occult power of numbers. It is called the psychoanalysis of the name.” Well, give him your date of birth and original name and watch as he ensures that the magic of an extra ‘A’ or a slashed ‘P’ casts its spell on your life. On Khurrana’s advice, 24-year-old Preetiman Kamal Singh became Preetiman Kaur. Within 65 days, this final year student became healthy, calm and secured good marks. She says,“ I used to be very depressed earlier, but have become more focussed now.” Next month, she is flying to Australia for further studies. “All thanks to my new name,” she smiles. A renowned city-based astrologer Madan Gupta Spatu too added a Spatu to his name some time back. In the last one year, Spatu has adviced and brought fortune to the lives of nearly a thousand people from the city. He says, “Perfect harmony between an individual’s name and numbers does bring luck.” But is a change in name always advisable? No. (Imagine the legal trouble, for many documents do bear your original name.) Instead you could change the name of your organisation, or your mobile number or add an extra alphabet to your house number. Sandeep Diwan, who runs an advertising agency in Sector 17, credits the positive change in his buisness to an additional ‘R’. His agency Chitralok became Chitrralok a year back and brought with it better clients and smoother payments for Sandeep. Move over to Bollywood and the name game rules. A not-so-talented Nisha Kothari, earlier Priyanka, has already been a part of ten flicks, be it hits or flops. The hardly noticed Tushar Kapoor too can be seen more on the screen since he became a Tusshar Kapoor. And then, we have instances of fixation with names and alphabets in Subhash Ghai’s launching actors with M as their initials, Ekta Kapoor, Karan Johar and Rakesh Roshan’s obsession with K soaps and more. Well, the experts say that a change in the name usually does bring a favourable change within 90 to 160 days, but then, a lot matters on your luck, time, date, place and actions. And, we agree. For afterall, Rabri Devi served three terms as a CM without any addition or slashing of alpahabets and Amitabh Bachchan is still ruling the tinsel town with the name he began his career with over three decades back. purva@tribunemail.com |
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The names in the mailing list of computer-savvy kids are bad enough to leave you exasperated, says Saurabh Malik
Sad indeed, but there is little reality some of you may eventually learn. While you are working hard to address the not-so-open issue, he may actually have "steamy names" in his e-mail account address book. Nay, that in actuality does not mean your little one is into crude talk or something with his e-mail pals. It is just that so many computer savvy kids are nowadays choosing not-so-decent names for opening e-mail accounts to exchange letters and forward messages. You can call it the "dark side of bright technological advancement" or "aftermath of overexposure to it", but the kids know they can hide behind gross names of their choice without really facing the hazard of exposing themselves to criticism, or even revealing their true identities. If you are finding it incredible, you really need to go through the addresses that appear when you click "show details" button on the mails forwarded by kids. Some names will leave you shocked. Recently, a journalist received a mail from the bright and brilliant son of a family friend. The journo' would not have been surprised to read addresses like "sohni_sexy _kudi" and " sexiest2" had she not known that the child was a Class VII student in a prestigious school. "Some of the other names included in the list of addresses were `mafialadka' and `manik_donworld'," she asserts. "Initially I though the kid must have blindly forwarded the mail to me. After all, it was on Mother's Day. But when I confronted him over the phone, he candidly told me keeping such names was standard practice". Phew! Things are apparently getting from bad to worse with children logging on to all those dreadful concepts on the Internet. But what should you be doing? Impose a parental check on mailing and other computer activities or simply talk them out of it? Young socio-psychologist Ramneeta Puri believes the latter is better. "Kids should be told not to go in for pseudonyms. Just because no one comes to know their real identities, the kids think they can move about the Internet with false names." Listen to her folks. She makes a lot of sense. saurabh@tribunemail.com |
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Meet the forget me nots... It might seem like the outcome of many weird minds at work, but Paisa Nasha Pyar insists he’s thought of his name himself. Roll your eyes in disbelief or take his self-proclamation with a pinch of salt (like we did) but this second-year B.A student of DAV-10 convinces you. “What does a man need in life, except money, passion, and love? And, that’s what my name signifies,” comes the proud philosophy-laced confession. And friends, that’s not all. Says this name-proud who has been flaunting his name for six years now, “I want everyone to know my name and so ensure it’s everywhere, from my notepad covers to Orkut to my car,” smiles Paisa… Twenty-one-year-old Dennis the Menace from Sector 38 feels happy sharing his name with his fav cartoon character. Proud of his cool name, “ I was simply crazy about Dennis and talked about him all the time. In fact, I would constantly ask my friends to watch Dennis and my behaviour pattern too started resembling this character, which is how the name stuck.” Known as Dennis since class XI, he smiles, “Like Dennis, I’m funny, cute, naughty and love kudis.” And, if you think unusual names are a very Gen-Y concept, hold on. A city-based advertising professional Surajmukhi was christened with the name of a flower 36 years back. What’s more, this Sector-10 resident’s real brother is known as Chandermukhi. “I generally introduce myself as Suraj, but we brothers have a unique identity as Surajmukhi-Chandermukhi. The names bond us well and have greater recall value,” avers Suraj, who feels the very Hindi feel of his name lends it an unusual touch. No wonder, friends and family love to call these brothers with their shudh Hindi names. Then of course, how could we forget our forever-favourite category of nicknames? (Remember how you’d ripped virtually every wicked teacher and the meanest of competitors to shreds by christening them with the funniest names on the planet?). Avers Amit Sharma from Reliance Communications-9, “Funny names are an excellent way to release work-pressure, and add some zest in a serious situation. Offices and schools have always been breeding grounds for unusual names. However, people now accept them with dignity, taking them in the lighter vein. Like there’s this South Indian colleague in office, whom we call idli-dosa.” Wondering all this a little too much? Well, not really, since a Chinese couple has decided to call their baby-boy @. That’s right. And coming back to town, it seems that we don’t really need our parents to give us an unusual identity stamp. For, where there’s a will (to grab attention), there’s a way, and city younglings sure know how to find one. anandita@tribunemail.com |
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Mouse Art Be it for fun, creative expression or pure challenge, both artists and art collectors are taking to digital art like never before
The colour of the stripes changes at a click of the mouse. His permutations and combinations with form and colour result in two headless colourful zebras in happy surroundings. And after touching and retouching the painting on his computer screen, D.S Kapoor seems a happy man too, for his first painting of the series, called Inspiration, is born! Welcome to the digital art world where lines and colours emerge from nowhere and solidify into forms, without the artist having to hold a pencil or getting his hands smeared in paints. If you happen to belong to the old school of thought, you would scoff off this phenomenon as mechanical art. Nevertheless, looking at any of the final output, you cannot deny that these are art works, aesthetically sound and visually stimulating. “They may call it mechanical art, but can you deny that there is a brain behind such creativity?” asks Kapoor, showing his other works, a canvas-finished Eye, inspired by Kapoor, who teaches at the Department of Applied Art at the Government College of Art-10, was instrumental in introducing computer graphics at the college, way back in 1995. “No other medium gives you so many options as different versions of Corel Draw or Photoshop do. And the best thing is that digital art is easy to reproduce,” says the artist who admits having winded up his studio room in favour of the computer. “In fact, when I create something good, I offer flowers to my computer.” His statement is a little difficult to digest, but true. Kapoor is ready with his Inspiration series and another series of posters, which is ready for exhibition. Another city-based, self-taught artist, who loves digital art, is Rajesh Chadha. “I took up digital art way back in 2002. It was a new medium and I wanted to take up the challenge,” he says. But then, Chadha had a great beginning. He created two paintings and showed them to Arpana
Caur, who gave them nine out of 10. According to Chadha, artists who used to laugh at digital art at that time, have switched over to this medium now. “In fact there are so many veteran artists who have reproduced their original paintings in digital form,” It was her love for camera, which made Manmeet, a passout of the college and now Delhi-based artist, take this up as her medium. “I was closer to photography, so naturally I got attracted to digital art. It is a moving media and one can experiment so much, so easily,” she says. Even the Department of Applied Art is getting more and more popular among the younger generation artists. “As we are more comfortable with computers, our first priority is digital art,” says C. Dorji, a fourth year student of Applied Art, who has been experimenting with posters and illustrations. “True, exploring those tools and colour combinations is so much fun,” seconds Yasmin Dhillon, a third year student of graphics. And if the price tag is considered a yardstick of success, then the digital art works by well-known artists are fetching as much as Rs 15,000, which is quite a respectable sum for a city like Chandigarh. parbina@tribunemail.com
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Simply
South From Tamil newspapers to dosa batter, name it & they have it The minute you enter the store, you feel as if you have just taken a flight to the South. On the shelves is everything a South Indian would want. New Singla General and Provision Store — the name does not sound Tamilian, or Malayali. The young man at the counter even counts in Malayalam. Surprising, right? Indeed. Owned by city-based Suraj Prakash, this shop in Sector 47 is a storehouse of South Indian goodies. Suraj has not only proved to be good businessman, but shown language is never a hurdle. “I can understand Malayalam,” he says. So how did this venture come about? “We started as a provisional store with nothing South Indian in mind. Initial demands for certain specific Kerala foodstuff taught us more about the tastes of our customers from the South. The endeavour to satisfy our customers, has now become a business,” says Suraj. This store is keeping the South Indian community a satisfied lot. “It’s been an interesting business. Whenever a customer asks for something new, we try to get it. That’s how we have learnt about South Indian food,” says Suraj, who has been running the store for 38 years now. Helping in the store are Vivek and Vipul. “I joined my father in the business two years ago and it’s always a new experience,” says 27-year-old Vipul, who is a business graduate from New Zealand. Vivek, who is the only one to have gone to the South, found it a different experience. “I wanted to find out what else was there, we could offer to our customers,” the MBA graduate from Australia says. So does this South Indian experience rub off at home? “We love South Indian food and that’s what we mostly have,” says Vipul, who also tried learning how to read and write Tamil and Malayalam, but gave up, because, “Malayalam is exceptionally tough.” For the typical South Indian, there is the Hyderabadi Priya pickle, the Melam pickles from Kerala, coconut water from Karnataka, original coffee powder, the famous black and orange halwas, tapioca, red rice , idli-making containers, and even vegetables from the land of the backwaters, including drumsticks, sambar onions and white ashguards! Another surprise is fresh idli and dosa batter. This is a delight for the working mothers. Just buy the ready-to-cook mix and breakfast is ready in five minutes. If you thought this shop offers only food items, here is a surprise for you. On offer are almost 25 different magazines in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu. Two of the South’s most read newspapers also beckon you. To top it all, the store also offers a huge cache of movie CDs in Malayalam and Tamil. To add to this, there are also the typical white towels and gold-trimmed dhotis. A complete South Indian shop indeed! archana@tribunemail.com
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Rising Star Hailed as the ‘Golden Guy’ in musical circle, Naval earlier had bagged gold medals at the zonal and inter-zonal youth festivals of Panjab University in 2005. He repeated the triumphant feat in 2006 by adding two more golds and maintaining the tradition of excellence with the title of best ghazal singer. He was initiated into the world of music at a tender age by his uncles Deepak Vaid and Rummi, both classical musicians. He made his family proud by winning a state-level competition organised by the State Institute of Education where he secured three gold medals in geet, bhajan and ghazal categories for two consecutive years when he was still a school student. ”But the guidance of Prof Sunita Chodhury and Guru Baldev Narang really honed his performing skills,” says Naval, talking to Life Style after his performance at the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Panjab University. “Ghazal is the ultimate in lyrical expression with its delicacy of ideas and literary beauty of couplets. Each couplet, redolent with its respective thematic essence is a complete form of verse in itself,” maintains Naval. “Since ghazals are pregnant with meanings and emotions, it appeals to the audience and the singer too draws pleasure singing them,” he adds. But it is important to have in-depth knowledge of Indian classical music and imbibe the intricacies and finer nuances of raag and taal before one aspires to have a career in any genre like khyal, ghazal, dadra, thumri, folk, filmy or even pop. ”I take my riyaz of music as a holy mission and it empowers me with purity of thought and confidence,” says Naval, recalling his success in the MH-1 channel’s reality show Awaaz Punjab Di-2005. Same year he won the second position in DD-Jallandhar’s talent hunt competition. “Channel Punjab has featured my eight ghazals in Sajri Sver for foreign viewers and I have won a national scholarship from the Ministry of Culture Affairs,” claims Naval. “But still, I am striving hard to illuminate the horizons of melody with the precision of swar, which is a life-long quest of a performer,” says Naval before submerging into the soulful tune of the tanpura.
lifestyletribune@gmail.com
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NEW RELEASES GO
Director: Manish Srivastav Starring: Gautam Gupta, Nisha Kothari, Kay Kay Menon, Rajpal Yadav Titles at Ram Gopal Varma’s factory are getting shorter. So after D, the next shortest film from this camp is Go. Two lovers, Abhay (Gautam) and Vasu (Nisha Kothari), run away from home, little realising that they will soon bang into a bunch of colourful characters, including a rogue cop, a mean killer, a crafty conman and a chief minister who kills his own deputy. As the stakes get higher and the chase picks up, it’s up to Abhay to save the day. It’s a racy story; teamed up with heady action, super scares and compelling humor. Rajpal Yadav plays a small-time conman, Kay Kay Menon (with a moustache) is a corrupt cop and Ravi Kale (who played Bachchan’s loyal henchman Chander in Sarkar) is a dirty politician. After a while, the feel switches from an action drama to a love story. A young face is introduced. That’s debutante Gautam who romances RGV’s latest favourite, Nisha Kothari. The duo is all set for a ride until they make one mistake. An accident connects the lovers to the killers and their lives change. Loads of action, fights, gunshots and murders follow. Directed by debutant Manish Srivastav, Go has Sneha Khanwalkar as the main composer with Amar Mohile, Prassanna Shekhar and DJ Aqeel chipping in the title. The theme track Band Baje De sounds promising. Here is hoping that Ram Gopal Verma doesn’t ‘Go’ bankrupt after this venture! Showing at: Fun Republic — TNS |
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Youth
speak Yet, I feel the media should write more about Jammu and Kashmir, other than about the war situation in the state. All that is mentioned about Kashmir is about terrorism and people dying. Therefore people feel its some remote, dangerous place. There is much more in the state than just that. The culture and beauty leaves lots to be explored. Thus, there is the need for more awareness among people here about Ladakh. Several people do not know where the place is. One person even asked me if a visa was needed to go there. If the media writes more about the good of the state, the scenario will change and people will not have misconceptions about Ladakh. And I guarantee you; a visit to Ladakh will be one you will not forget. It’s also the aim of all Ladakhi students here to study to the best of their abilities and use the expertise gained for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir and we are glad Chandigarh is giving us just that opportunity. 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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It’s a Pink World Ever since the Chhote Nawab turned brand ambassador for pink, the colour is unstoppable! The bubble’s been burst. Finally. And minus any crackling, fizzy, funny sounds. Well, lest you mistake this bubble being the metaphor for some myth getting shattered in the light of reality, lets make it clear—our bubble here is a full-bloated tacky pink bubblegum’s bubble. The same bubble, that we all, as kids, loved blowing out-of-proportion, till of course, the pressure of air inside would rip apart it’s fragile, sticky skin. And here, bursting of the loud-pink-coloured bubble signifies puncturing of the age-old fixation — pink is a girl’s colour. In case you are wondering how, we clue you in. Most of us have grown up watching expecting masis and chachis declaring the arrival of a baby girl with soft pinks (right from frilly li’l frocks, cotton bed sheets, snug blankets and rose-coloured cots). One advertisement we’d perpetually make fun of, yet couldn’t ignore was that of Nerolac Paints, in which this bugging lady would settle for nothing less than mere wala pink. And yes, didn’t we girls feel a vicarious thrill when sadi Preity Zinta hopped on her cheerful-pink scooty and gave it back to a snooty bunch of rotten-spoilt brats (Pink se panga mat lena). Fast forward to 2007, and we’ve got a young bunch of happening girls (a la abla naris) who party hard, munch KitKat and rue, Ab hamein pink bhi tyagna hoga kya? Well, do we need to mention how pink has actually been a girlie delight, a colour that’s been a must-have in every woman’s wardrobe. Pink walls, pink furnishings, pink socks-shoes, pink frocks, pink purses, pink dolls and pink bridal lehngas…hasn’t pink been summing up the life cycle of a woman? Well, almost. But recently, pink has crept into men’s morose worlds, and how! A few years ago even Govinda's ardent fans would not have dared to wear pink on a date. Today, it's a thumb rule for it supposedly brings forth a man's sensitive side. These days, Saif Ali Khan (post Salaam Namaste) has become a sort of ambassador for pink. And, no wonder when an international magazine, Man's Health, did a survey last year, on colours in which women like their men the most, pink topped the list. Men are bidding goodbye to boring blues and thinking pink. Even high-end apparel brands have introduced pink in their prêt collections, which are big sellouts. Men today are experimenting with everything, pink formal suits, pink Satya Paul ties, Van Heusen and Louis Phillipe pink shirts and mother of Pearl’s powder pink cufflinks. Marks & Spencer traditionally known for their subtle colours launched a vibrant summer collection called ‘Pink and Purple.’ Even the designers are dabbling in varying hues of pink — coral, beige rose, rose, rosewood, pale, strawberry, shell, cerise, raspberry, fuchsia, and other candy shades. Internationally, Ashton Kutcher's bubblegum pink suit and Tyson Beckford's bright magenta stripes appealed to the global audience and inspired many to follow suit. Informs Supreet Dhiman, city-based interior designer, “Many people like to do their rooms in Arabian and Moroccon themes, which means a lot of pinks and fuchsias.” Not to miss the gadgets that are fast getting wrapped in the fancy trimmings of this hue, right from pink and fuchsia cell phones (remember Moto Razr) to Sony’s hot pink laptops, all are a rage. Well folks, pink is the new fashion statement. Fashionistas, what else do you do but forget your blues (pun intended) but rejoice!
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SIDELANES
AS we threw Chuck’s ashes down the slope below the hotel at Mussoorie, Dorothy shed tears for a loving father. He had guided her and she lived up to his greatest expectations. He was a man with feet firmly planted in the soil. Chuck was one fourth Cherokee. He passed on that earthiness to his children. The grainy ashes flew around, whipped up into a cloud by the wind. I saw a peach coloured, wild dahlia, which would now be nourished by them. A little ahead, some waste paper lay strewn around. Knowing Chuck Riddle, he would be laughing. The scenario was so true of the India he had lived in and loved. Chuck had brought his family through a harrowing evacuation from China. He started Vocational Guidance at the Panjab University even before the subject was understood properly at Chandigarh. His wife Kittu’s recipes were tried out on friends and the best found their way into a book. She continued writing in the USA, edited a magazine and helped formulate the national policy on health and nutrition. Their three children, Dorothy, Bill and Patty, have shown persistence and courage in all they have touched. James McMegan , an American student, came out to India. He skin scraped a finger and Dorothy stitched a little bag to protect it from germs. James asked me to the movies. My parents chaperoned us from the row behind. Christmas at the Riddles’ was fun. Baubles and buntings hung on a branch hacked off from the cyprus tree, as Kittu served waffles with ice cream and hot chocolate sauce. What we did not realise was that a missionary was never well off financially. Santa gave the Riddle children small presents. They drew pictures of what they would like to have. They talked about those things and enjoyed the dreaming. I went up to Landour with Rev. Ernie Campbell. Alfie and the children quartered there for the schooling at Woodstock, while Ernie pastored the church at Jalandhar. Dorothy was at the same school. I attended a Square Dance and tripped over my two left feet. I never quite got the hang of the great American folk dance. The atmosphere at Woodstock was energetic. Girls and boys interacted freely. The few Indian students spoke with a greater twang than the Americans themselves. My visit was to test the American way of life. When Chuck offered to arrange my going to college in the USA, my father refused. A Cambridge man, he felt the new world represented everything that was frivolous. Having met Dorothy again, a flood of memories hit my mind. Two little girls on tricycles, screeching, throwing tantrums; loose hair streaming, swinging through the hot Punjab air on a hand tooled swing; Chuck and family, all above six feet, silently surrounding my father who was just 5’-7” and then collapsing with uncontrollable laughter as Baba looked up in surprise at the human wall around him; Jimmy Campbell having to cook and eat the parrot he shot so that he learned to kill only for food. Indian flavours still haunt Dorothy enough to return to this country with her friends. We meet up each time, because that part of the USA she brought to my childhood, still lingers on. |
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Little Interview
Hungama, Hera Pheri, Phir Heri Pheri, Bhagambhag and, Malamaal Weekly are just some of the feathers in his cap. Paresh Rawal, who has offered a varied bouquet of bravura performances in these and many more Hindi films, is the man being talked about. The innocence with which he plays the characters and the dialogues delivered brings tears to the viewer’s eyes; those of ecstatic joy, not sadness. An actor who has done negative roles as convincingly as comic ones and one who gives precedence to quantity over quality is now coming up with a third serial produced by his Playtime Creations. In a chat with Life Style, Paresh Rawal talks about his serial, Mein Aisi Kyun Hoon, that tells the story of today’s changing times.
Why did you choose the backdrop of a Maharashtrian family for the serial? I have found Maharashtrian girls to be both beautiful and intelligent. Moreover, a Maharashtrian subject adds an array of colours as its culture is varied and there are lots of festivals that abound the state all round the year. Tell us something about this serial? Mein Aisi Kyun Hoon showcases the struggle of a 26-year-old Maharashtrian girl from a conservative family. It is also the story of an extremely hyper and imaginative young woman who has a modern outlook towards life. How many episodes have you shot so far? We have shot about 30 episodes and have been allotted over 200. Do you feel that the current crop of new TV actors is good? Yes, they are good but do not get a chance to explore different themes as they work more than 15-16 hours a day. You need plenty of time and varied roles for the actor in you to flourish. Theatre is your passion, right? Yes, it is the only stage where I feel I am really able to showcase my acting abilities. Which is your most-awaited movie? I am waiting for Priyadarshan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa. It will scare you, but will also make you laugh at the same time; a very rare combination. — Dharam Pal
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Halle Berry plans ahead
She has one baby on the way, but Halle Berry is already planning for baby No.2. The Oscar-winning actor appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show and told her host that she and partner Gabriel Aubry were going to try for another baby soon after their first child made his or her appearance into the world. Berry also told Oprah that she and Aubry did not know the sex of their baby, and would be waiting to find out. “There’s so few genuine surprises in life anymore that, why not have a huge one? And I like fantasising one day it’s a girl, one day it’s a boy,” she said. As for marriage, well that is still off the cards, but the actor insisted that she felt ‘more married’ now than during her previous two marriages.
— ANI
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Commemorating 60 magnificent years of India’s Independence, Coca-Cola India launched India Extraordinaire, 60 Years, 60 Luminaries — a special edition of the Limca Book of Records. The first-of-its-kind book catalogues the contribution of 60 Indians. Commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath and Coca-Cola president & COO Muhtar Kent unveiled the special 152-page edition. The new website of Limca Book of Records was also launched by Bharti Enterprises CEO and CII president Sunil Bharti Mittal. The book incorporates achievements of 60 stalwarts across 13 disciplines. The luminaries were drawn by experienced panelists like The Tribune Editor-in-Chief H.K. Dua, and professor Dipankar Gupta of Jawaharlal Nehru University. The book begins with the freedom struggle showcasing the contributions of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, moves on to literary pieces of Rabindranath Tagore, melodies of Kishore Kumar and the business strategies of
J.R.D. Tata, and Narayana Murthy. Renowned lyricist Gulzar has penned the book’s foreword.
— TNS |
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People sleeping in side on position should concentrate on having sufficient pillow support between the head and neck, not the shoulder. — Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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TAROT TALK
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YOU have been scratching your pretty little head with exhausted fingers thinking of ingenious way to expose your child to "sex education". After all, you understand the need, but the school he is studying in is not really excited about introducing the course. 
It can’t get funnier than this. Rewind to the last decade, when you’d often find kids brooding about their names, “What the hell made you name me Pappu/ Prince/ Pinky? Do you have the slightest idea how much these bullies ridicule me at college?” And the poor parents would line up some unconvincing excuses for having chosen these names for their kids. Fast forward to 2007, and whoa, the city’s younglings are proudly christening themselves with unconventional, even funny names. Move over Babloo, Pappu, Pinki, Prince… its names like Pyaar, Nasha, Disney, Dennis the Menace and Rolly Polly that adorn the notepad covers (and even cars, in some cases) of city youth. We catch up with a few of these city-bred namesakes, for whom, names mean creative nirvana.
Each genre of music has its own aura and mood, thereby alluring the art aficionados with its appeal. Promising Naval Mehta, an Indian classical music addict, chose ghazal. This BA final year student at the Government College for Men here, Naval is the proud winner of coveted top national honour in light classical singing contest at the inter-university finals in Chennai this year. 
Chandigarh is an education hub not only for students from the neighbouring region, but also for those from far off places like Ladakh, where I come from. It’s a pleasure to study here. I am grateful to the city for providing education to a large number of students from our state. Although, it’s not easy to settle in a new place, it’s been quite comfortable for us here. 
ARIES: Knight of Swords indicates a change that could be at the personal or professional front. You are likely to hurt someone with sharp words; so be careful. You resolve business and professional matters effortlessly with expertise. Lucky colour: Turquoise. Tip of the week: Versatility and quick thinking will bail you out of any situation.
LIBRA: Seven of Cups indicates moving or taking action. You will let go of an old relationship. Timely support and friendly visitors from overseas will surprise you on Tuesday. Watch, wait and pick up the perfect moment. Lucky colour: Sky blue. Tip: Frankness and the ability to state the truth are your strong points.
TAURUS: Two of Pentacles shows that you are likely to be juggling between finances, checkbooks and jobs. The card promises development, insight and knowledge. A reversal of fortune should work out in your favour. Lucky colour: Metallic grey. Tip: Balance in all aspects is recommended.
SCORPIO: The Fool represents the beginning of a journey. It lays emphasis on spontaneity, trust and hope. Be prepared for the unexpected. An opportunity to make an important contribution to a project will come your way. Lucky colour: Pink. Tip: Don’t do anything at the cost of your health. 
GEMINI: Page of Swords represents a problem; either solved or unsolved. You might get a message about someone’s illness on Saturday. Do not repent, as you cannot turn the clock back. Work on your own and keep yourself out of trouble. Lucky colour: Silver gray. Tip: Focus on the better to mitigate the bitter.
SAGITTARIUS: Two of Wands invokes mental power and intelligence. You will find unexpected patience within yourself. New ideas backed by good networking increase your profits. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Tip: Be positive and think carefully before taking any action.
CANCER: The Moon indicates the subconscious mind. It portrays your fears and uncertainties. Your dreams have been trying to convey a message to you. You want to feel emotionally secure in your relationships and tend to be unreasonably possessive or jealous. Lucky colour: Chocolate brown. Tip: Do what is right and watch your interests.
CAPRICORN: The Hermit warns that if you are living as a couple, beware of an extra-marital adventure.Your career will be on the upswing. Working out a schedule will help. Lucky colour: Pale yellow. Tip: Prevent trouble by taking timely action.
LEO: The Magician represents the infinite energies of the universe. The card indicates self-confidence, diplomacy and clarity of mind. This is the right time for you to undertake a new project. Take a brief vacation and enjoy some meditative moments. Lucky colour: Ebony. Tip: You can be successful by applying your mind.
AQUARIUS: The Princes of Wands makes you a winner in difficult situations. If you rely on someone else, you will find yourself in a bind. Be patient and diplomatic to avoid tensions. Lucky colour: Scarlet. Tip: Keep your eyes on the future.
VIRGO: The Star radiates a sense of peace. It lays emphasis on future while retaining faith in the present. Positive changes are likely to take place. Some difficult phase in your life is about to end. Meditate on your dynamic
energy. Lucky colour: Rusty red. Tip: Don’t reveal your plans.
PISCES: The Knight of Swords instigates you to be active and clever at work. What happens now will make you aware of what you need in your relationships. Lucky colour: Lime. Tip: Capitalise on your strength and
do not trust others.