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Don’t you feel Constitution, Republic, Sovereignty are too intense a terminology to reflect the character of a nation? Just to guarantee us the lightest of feelings let's use the term 'freedom'. On January 26, 1950, we had the legendary tryst with destiny.
Fast Forward. Today we will unfurl the flag for the sixtieth time. But does Republic Day mean hoisting the Tricolour at Red Fort? The way it's been impeccably done since 59 Januarys ago? Yes, it does. But does Republic Day mean 'just' hoisting the Tricolour at Red Fort? Therein lies the difference. The difference we would like to witness in our country, our nation, and our homeland. Needless to say, need to look at the youth for that elusive clue, allusion or insinuation. Where do we lack? What can we do? United we stand
Much more than the arms and arsenal, is the need for the ultimate weapon of mankind, unity, feels Gaurav Gaur, 26, faculty, Department of Social Work and Commonwealth youth ambassador. He says, "India is the youngest nation of the world and we need to realise our strength in the fact. Whatever the youth think, matters. Now, we need to work on concentrated issues and work towards collected efforts." Where can the citizens step in? He says, "Just the other day I was reading, whoever becomes little knowledgeable leaves his village, little more and he leaves his country. We need to learn to give back, take pride in our roots, develop a sense of responsibility." Last thing, he equates 'Yuva' with 'Youth Unites for Valiant Action.' Actions speak louder
Transparency,
accountability, equality
Might in multiplicity
manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Power to all…
Let's question ourselves today. Do we ever bother how many times in a day we exercise our Constitutional powers? How often our Fundamental Rights are infringed upon? Have we ever realised after enjoying our rights, we need to fulfill our Fundamental Duties as they are meant to be? On the 60th Republic day, we decide not to criticise the system but pledge to introspect. To inspire you to do the same, we ask some city-based personalities the same set of questions. And this is what they say:. Getting stronger
On a daily basis, we may not be exercising our rights but the moment somebody denies us the provisions, we take a stand. We feel the impact is better when there is a violation of the rights. Of all the things we do, Constitutional powers remain in the background. Also, I believe if every citizen performs his Fundamental Duties well, everybody will enjoy the rights too. Of late, what has helped us emerge as a stronger republic is the Right to Information Act. I firmly believe it empowers an individual more than any other Constitutional provision. Rana Nayyar, writer Legally empowered
Being a lawyer has helped me realise everyday how strong a Republic we are. It gives me a sense of achievement to fight for people's rights by filing writ petitions every day. What better can explain it than the fact that any individual can go ahead and sue even the state. Anybody is free to walk into the court to seek justice, which in itself is incredible. The Public Interest Litigations is another Constitutional remedy that has given people more courage to get rid of the flaws in the system. M.L. Sarin, senior advocate Right to paint
I realised the value of Fundamental Rights when my paintings were banned by a certain section of society. I am fighting against it and the Right to Freedom of Expression and Speech forms the base of my case. Painting is my form of expression. People should respect other's form of expression. They should understand that art is meant for visual pleasure and not to impart moral education. We often take our freedom for granted but realise its importance only when we are deprived of it. Viren Tanwar, artist Artistic Freedom
The recent judgment by the High Court that actors can smoke on screen is the classic example of freedom of artistic expression. But then, what happened with North Indians in Maharashtra or why Singh is Kingg was made in a certain way or putting a ban on shooting at the Golden Temple cast a shadow on our Constitutional powers. The only way to fight such injustice is awareness. At least that helps me to safeguard my freedom and fight those who try to infringe upon mine." Neelam Mansingh Choudhry, theatreperson
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Lucky by chance
Tell us about your directorial debut Luck By Chance. I had many ideas, but this was the only one that I wrote from the beginning to an end, that too in one go. I think most first films are personal and people usually write about what they know. You have your brother in the lead role. When something is right under your nose and you know he is the best, why not utilize it? How did you decide on the rest of the cast? Konkana Sen Sharma was the only one that came after Farhan Akhtar. I needed to cast the boy first. But the rest of the ensemble was always in place. They were all my first choice and am really kicked they are in the film. What was the biggest challenge of directing Luck By Chance? Once you start directing it's all Ok, but the biggest challenge for me was not get disappointed when people refused the film. Luckily I was very sure of the script so there was never an insecurity. Tell us something about the film. A starlet and a struggler meet while trying to navigate the way into film industry and end up changing each others lives forever. It is a very light film but it is a very real film. What according to you makes a good film? It needs to work in totality. Film is a visual medium and the visual treatment needs be true to the story being told. Does the film industry need more female directors? The industry needs good directors; it needs original directors. Gender is irrelevant. What will you be working on next? What I am working on is a long holiday. I need some time out. After that I shall see what turns me on. Finally, to make it in Bollywood do you need luck, the
chance or something else? All of the above. — Dharam Pal |
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Oscar-nominated film Slumdog Millionaire has been criticised for selling Mumbai’s misery to the West, but actor Irrfan Khan says the filth and poverty shown in the movie by British filmmaker Danny Boyle are nothing but the reality.“It’s the reality. Why should it be swept under the carpet? Why should Danny Boyle have been concerned about what image of Mumbai goes out when we’ve done nothing to keep our own city morally and physically clean? Danny saw a good dramatic story on Mumbai. He came and shot that story,” Irrfan said.“As far as the filth goes we’re a dead and dying society, and the sooner we face up to it the better our chances of redeeming ourselves. Look at the Satyam scandal. Can you imagine how many working-class families have been ruined because of the avarice of top brass at the company? And I’m sure there’re many other companies just waiting to do a similar con job on us,” he added.“Now if tomorrow another foreign filmmaker comes to do an expose on Satyam are we going to call him exploitative?” the actor remarked. “I saw how much my role was edited when I was dubbing for the Hindi version. My role, specially in the second half, has been drastically reduced. But I’m not complaining. Just look at the impact the film has made. I’m so proud to be part of it,” the actor said. —IANS
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Computer? Please help!
Brad Pitt has confessed that he doesn’t know how to operate a computer. When asked during Newsweek’s 13th annual Oscar Roundtable if he’s ever “googled” himself, the 45-year-old Oscar nominee replied, “Dear God. No. Never.
First of all, I don’t really know how to operate a computer.” The hunky actor said that he is glad he isn’t trying to launch his career these days, reports a magazine. “I feel for the people who are just getting into the business. It sets the wrong focus,” he said. He added that he is thankful that he is at a certain point in his career. “I have nothing to prove anymore,” Pitt said.
“The only thing that’s worth anything is when you explore something that’s interesting. I did a film a couple years ago, The Assassination of Jesse James, and it’s on the books as a failure. I loved that movie; I had such a great experience. “My point is, I am absolutely free to follow the things that interest me,” the actor adds. “I believe if it interests me, there will be a few other people interested as well. To me it comes down to discovery,” he said. —-ANI
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Meanwhile, the English actress has ditched the glamorous look for a radical image change in her new comedy drama Camille.The Factory Girl no longer sports her usual long locks as she plays the part of a person who is near death.She was made to look deathly pale and ill for the role, in which she had to shed off her clothes too. —-ANI
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Welcome the Ox
Though the Chinese community here means just about four families, the city will sure see some celebrations for a brand New Year. “Just like the world celebrates December 31 as the New Year eve we people will celebrate January 25 as our New Year eve,” says Liao Ling Yang, owner Dragon-15. Ask him how do they calculate the date of New Year and he says, “The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. Months are measured by the duration of time of rotation of the moon around the earth. Years are measured by the duration of time it takes for the earth to rotate around the sun and the lunar cycle is about 29.5 days.” That sure makes sense but why does the date change every year? “In order to catch up with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years. This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year,” he explains.
For your knowledge, each Chinese year is dedicated to an animal and 2009 is the Year of the Ox, which is also known by its formal name of Ji Chou. Ok, now to the traditions associated with the day. “New Year’s eve and New Year’s Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honour of heaven and earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. And this day we give Fung Pao to kids,” says Valentina Lim, who runs Blue Heaven, a beauty parlour in Sector 17. Fung Pao, what’s that? “It’s a red packet or a pouch that has money inside and this is given to kids and elders, as a token of prosperity and good luck.” Well, remembering the ancestors is the most vital of all the rituals, with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family. “The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on the New Year’s eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family table. The worship starts with the sun god and we pray to Guru Lachman (as you have Lakshmi) and our ancestors to bless us in the New Year,” says Liao Ling Yang. Do we have something special to eat on this day, we ask. “Yes, we do. Prawn, fish wafers and a maida matthi kind of thing that has design on it. Whole fish for togetherness and abundance, chicken for prosperity. And noodles also, but they should be uncut, as they represent long life,” says Liao Ling Lang. With only a few families here in the city we wonder if the traditions losing its sheen. And they admit, “We are a few families here and there is hardly anything that we do. Back in Kolkata people dance through the night, play cards; we have dancing dragons, Chinese crackers and lot more. All that is missing here. I have been born and brought up here and as kids I still remember going over to some friends and share a meal and get Fung Pao, but today we have nothing of that sort,” says Veena Lee Wong. “To add a few more things, the Chinese community here has to work on this day. We have no holiday here, but in Kolkata and China there is a week long celebration and holiday,” adds Liao Ling Lang. jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com |
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Mini treat
From Nimari paintings to famous Madhubani paintings, it has 10 to 12 artists who master the dying art forms, coming from rural backgrounds and putting up a fine display of their art. Detailed figures of Ram-Sita svyamvar, the day-to-day life and household of a woman in a remote village of MP and the royal history of the land of Maharajas, all make for a vibrant visual treat for art lovers. “Madhubani paintings are mostly made by village women folk. So they generally have religious themes,” says Archana Sinha, an artist from Patna. So you have large paintings depicting gods and goddesses, in different forms and figures. “Usually we make these paintings on a canvas or paper, it uses lot of lines and since we have painted them on large wooden planks, which was tough and time consuming,” adds Archana. These paintings are realistic in their appeal and their form. Similarly, it’s the daily life that inspires Poornima, a Nimari painting artist from MP. “Before you start painting, the surface has to be coated with ghero mitti,” she specifies. “Nimari paintings mostly portray the elements used in our daily life and the depiction of gods protects from any evil eye,” she adds. Apart from these arts, it has miniature paintings from Rajasthan and folk paintings from Punjab.
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Lounge it
Now, even Mohali can boast of a multi-cuisine restaurant and bar, which caters to all tastes. Imperial Hotel in Phase-1 S.A.S Nagar, promises to be the first choice choice for those travelling to Mohali in terms of an innovative product, quality of customer service, friendly and well-informed staff and above all value for money. It will cater to the requirements of business travellers, corporate clients, discerning family clientele as well as local businesses and the local populace.
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Core solution
Sachin Kalra
Your core is the midsection of your body, from your groin to your shoulders. The core includes the pelvis, abs, back and chest muscles. It is this core that offers stability, balance and flexibility. Every movement you make originates in the core - whether you are reaching for your toothbrush or running a marathon. A strong core improves your sports performance and decreases your chances of injury. Training your core muscles also can improve your posture. Core strength
Before you start to exercise your body’s core, locate your deepest abdominal muscle — the transversus abdominis — by coughing once. The muscle you feel contracting is your transversus abdominis. Focus on keeping this muscle contracted while doing each of these exercises and the rest of your core muscles get a workout, too. Once you know how to contract your abdominal muscles, begin the core muscle exercises. With each exercise, breathe freely and deeply and avoid holding your breath. Bridge
This exercise works many of your core muscles in combination. l Lie on your back with your knees bent. Keep your back in a neutral position — not overly arched and not pressed into the floor. Avoid tilting your hips up. l Cough to activate your transversus abdominis. Holding the contraction in your abdominal muscles, raise your hips off the floor. l Align your hips with your knees and shoulders. Hold this position and take three deep breaths or for about five to eight seconds. l Return to the start position and repeat. For a challenge, try alternately extending one knee while maintaining the bridge position. Segmental rotation
l Lie on your back on the floor with your knees bent and your back in a neutral position. Cough and hold to activate your transversus abdominis. l Keeping your shoulders on the floor let your knees fall slowly to the left. Go only as far as is comfortable, you should feel no pain, only a stretch. l Use your trunk muscles to pull your legs back up to the start position. Repeat the exercise to the right. Proper crunch
l Lie on your back and place your feet on a wall with a 90-degree bend at your knees and hips. Cough and hold to activate your transversus abdominis. l Imagine two dots in a vertical line on your abdomen — one above and below your bellybutton. Imagine pulling those dots together. l Use your trunk muscles to raise your head and shoulders off the floor. To avoid straining your neck, cross your arms on your chest, rather than locking them behind your head, and don’t raise your head too much. Hold for three deep breaths, then return to the start position and repeat. Superman
Also known as a prone back extension, the Superman is a great lower back exercise that helps balance out abdominal training. l Lie face down on the floor with your arms stretched out directly overhead (like Superman flying, hence the name). l Raise your arms, chest and legs off the floor and hold it there for 2 seconds and squeeze. l Lower yourself back to the ground and repeat. l You can make this exercise a little easier by alternately lifting your opposite arms and legs off the ground. Core stability-building exercises should be the staple component of any fitness routine. It’s important to do your core exercises at least three times a week. For optimal results, remember to: 1) Choose exercises that work your core muscles simultaneously. Rather than isolate each muscle group in your trunk, the best exercises for your core are those that get muscles working together at the same time. 2) Focus on quality of movement rather than quantity. You’ll gradually build up to a greater number of repetitions. When starting out, take it slow and learn how to properly perform each exercise with optimal technique. 3) Breathe steadily and slowly. Breathe freely while doing each of the exercises in your core strengthening workout. Your instinct may be to hold your breath during an exercise, but it’s better to
continue breathing. kalrasachin@hotmail.com |
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Stop blaming the bureaucracy, the administration or the system. Exactly what Sahil Nanda, 23, president, Panjab University Campus Students' Council would like to tell the youth. Says Sahil, "Youngsters are aware but they need to be more so. We shouldn't be afraid to face the root cause of our problems, can't blame the government, citizen's themselves need to take action, be responsible, come forward." There are abundant changes, he would like to witness, peace and harmony being the foremost. "That's the need of the hour. Fear is one factor destabilising the nation at the moment. Also, being a bit of a communist myself, if we can reduce the gap between rich and poor," he adds.
Small steps, practical goals and achievable targets are what we need to focus on, according to Rahul Bakshi, 18, junior golf champion. Not to miss the countless changes he wishes in sports, "We need to recognise the good players, lot of times they suffer because of the lack of connections and contacts. Also, the money and training programmes meant for the sport should actually reach them, which, sadly, is not the case." 
"We are extremely smart as individuals but stupid collectively," feels Vikram Jain, 20, local committee president, AIESEC, international student exchange body. He adds, "Inter-state river disputes are just a case in point. We fight amongst ourselves whereas what we need to do is take pride in our cultural and intellectual diversity, use it as a tool to overcome hurdles." The citizens and the youth need to understand spirit of India is unified, he feels. Too soon to comment on anything but seems the thought process of 'our young' is on the right track!
It will be interesting to see the talented Farhan Akhtar's sister Zoya Akhtar directorial debut movie Luck By Chance, set to release on January 30. Born in 1972 to renowned script and lyricist Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, films have always been home to Zoya. Having assisted the brother Farhan for Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, she went on to produce Honey Moon Travels Private Limited. In a conversation, Zoya Akhtar talks about her movie Luck By Chance, which is a contemporary tale set in a world desperate to escape its own reality.
Hollywood actress Sienna Miller is set to make her Broadway debut this fall, according to her representative. The 27-year-old actress will play the role of Miss Julie, one of only three roles in After Miss Julie, which will be staged beginning in
September. It will open up at the Roundabout Theatre’s American Airlines Theatre on New York’s famed 42nd Street, reports
People.
Happy Republic Day and a very Happy New Year to you all. Wondering what? Yes, it’s the beginning of another year and as we all don’t know it’s the Chinese New Year; that falls today—on January 26. Though the date varies every year, courtesy the moon, Chinese people calculate the date according to the lunar and solar movement and some astrological calculation.
If you are an ardent lover of the rich traditional art forms of India, then Kalagram is the place to check out. Known as an artists’ hub and the ethnic feel, it has gathering of artists from Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, who are busy putting their creativity along with their skill on canvas. The ongoing folk painting and miniature art workshop is a precursor to the preparations for the upcoming national-level folk dance festival planned by the North Zone Cultural Centre and Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
The hotel has guest rooms with modern A/C units, LCD flat-screen television, 24-hour room service and offer a “Wi-Fi High Speed System” for fast, free and wireless Internet access. The Spice Lounge restaurant and bar caters to all tastes with a menu that has 30 covers providing breakfast, lunch and evening dining. According to Ramprakash Saini, manager operations, “ The lounge area with its uniquely styled open air space is ideal for birthdays, graduation parties, engagements, weddings and club events.” According to Riobrinder Singh Gill, the CEO of the Company in India, “Mohali is an important business hub with a large population centre, good access to a growing transport network and close proximity to the sites and sounds of Northern India.” — TNS
Most people equate ‘core’ with abs and when they think of training the core, they usually think of doing crunches. While crunches are a great way to strengthen your abdominal muscles, they are only a small part of the equation. Most of your core muscles lie deep within your torso.