How can you play around with your child’s creativity, inspire him to make ordinary look extraordinary, take him close to environment, meanwhile spend quality time with them on weekends. Well, don’t have to make him join half a dozen activity classes or spend your afternoons making schedule for his day. Taking a cue, Fabindia organised a two-day art and craft workshop for parents and children, which will bring the artist out of them, in an eco-friendly way.

At the workshop conducted by Ritu Beri, a teacher from Euro Kids, watch your child make colourful carry bags from newspapers, designer envelopes from hand made paper, shagun envelopes and add the fun factor by creating their own little masterpieces on the potter’s wheel. “The idea behind this workshop is to help kids be in touch with their creative side, in an eco-friendly manner. Recycling paper for simple yet trendy artwork and using all natural things for the purpose will inculcate awareness amongst them. It is also a good way to spend time with your kid and a fun weekend activity,” says Ritu. As for the little ones, they had fun making pots, diyas, and signature style paper bags.

“The first day saw very enthusiastic response. We have got calls from parents who want us to continue the workshop for a little longer. It’s a constructive way to channelise their energy as well as satisfying their creativity,” says Alka, manager operations, Fabindia. The workshop includes crafts making sessions from 11 am to 1.30 pm and pottery making sessions starting 11am to 6 pm. — Neha Walia

Many ideas of fictional influence jostle in the mind of Govardhan Lal Kaushal, a poet who discovered and cultivated his literary genius experimenting with poetry and prose but only to excel in both. He had no interest in literary art till he heard his friends sang legendary Shiv Batalvi’s romance filled song, Mainu tera shabab lai baitha at his marriage function in 1992. The enraptured Kaushal realised the power of poetry. And this is how Govardhan Gabbi, the poet, was born. He has three books to his credit now and a sought- after poet in mushairas besides being a columnist for newspapers and literary magazines.

His literary transformation from poetry to short story writing has resulted in his third book Gurdakhana, an anthology of 10 short stories of Punjabi, which was released at Chandigarh Press Club.

Gabbi shares his deepest concern over issues ailing society through stories like Ghumangheri, Morcha among others. Gurdakhana explores the fall in educational and literary set up of our country while Rishte is an autobiography of a dog. Another story Bujharat is about the emergence of extra-marital relations in our society and Prahuna is about homosexuality. Similarly Ghund, Alvida and Shatabdi too explore social, political and economical problems and an attempt has been made to analyse the basic causes and offer suggestive measures.

The trend in animation films has established the fact that when it comes to superheroes, our mythical figures are as popular, if not superior, as the West-born Ben 10s and Batmans. So, it did not come as an earth shattering news when Karanvir Arora briefed us about his Moksha comic stripe. A year old now, Moksha with two larger than life characters—Hanuman and Parashuram has been doing well, both at home and abroad.

“It’s 20 issues old and doing quite well both in India and the US,” says Karanvir, the brain behind Moksha who is in town to promote it among city kids. Karan describes it as an action, adventure and spirituality oriented stories. “You will be surprised how children are preferring it over Ben 10 or Spiderman,” he says.

One can understand children choosing mythical figures with a human appeal over hi-tech heroes, but does that make him compete with similar ones like Amar Chitra Katha at the home turf?

“Not really,” comes the reply. “Though similar in the thought process, Moksha is way above the rest when it comes to the illustration part. The guideline which we follow at Moksha is Indian art with a global touch.” And by that Karanvir means larger than life and attractive characters to go with the text.

The stories, written by Karanvir himself and illustrated by Dhiraj Varma starts where Ramayana ends. “We have borrowed only the mythical characters from the epic, their adventure and morals are our own invention and hence completely fictional,” says Karanvir. If the concept grabs you, you can see the previews, order or even download the issues from their website www.vimanika.com.

And there is more to come from Karanbir, who is actually a certified personality trainer and boasts of a city connection (he studied at St Joseph School-44)—A series on Dashavatar of Lord Vishnu and The Legend of Karna. Didn’t we tell you mythology could never go out of fashion. —TNS

I grew up in a city that made bandhs a household shibboleth. We thought it was very normal to be caught in a procession jam, watch endless people march on while chanting a multitude of anti-establishment, anti-government and anti-industry war cry. Every endeavour for enrichment was deplorable. Factory was an institution that deserved lock-outs, college principals deserved gheraos and any raised platform deserved an orator espousing anti-capitalist adage.

Last week we had our school bus strike. Parents were inconvenienced and papers were full of coverage. A few months ago we had our auto-strike and read with interest the details of arm-twisting. Although, I am not getting a good feeling about this new and growing phenomenon I would take an auto strike any day over a Chandigarh Bandh.

This is truly one area where “Been there – done that” would assume a nightmarish quality. Most of the residents of our city have no idea how harrowing a strike can be – disabling your daily life completely and sometimes putting you in life threatening peril. I am a repeat victim with a long string of ordeals. There are times when I have taken refuge in the airport since five in the morning for a 6 pm flight, for there was an impromptu Bangla Bandh. I have been stranded in airports at bizarre places because the airport ground staff decided to call a wildcat strike. As college students we have taken shelter in friends’ houses, because the streets resembled Bosnia when classes got over. We feared deeply – all the ugly things that strike brought with them – vandalism, rampage, mob fury and attacks on property and vehicles.

I cannot visualise a Chandigarh bandh. You mean no school and no college and no going to office? I don’t see us doing that gracefully. The new city buses are too pretty and necessary. Why would anyone burn them? Our mothers do not feel fearful about sending their kids to school, no bombs are hurled in front of school gates. We frown on traffic jams. No one would be willing to walk back miles and miles from work, that too trying to avoid rioting junta. We take for granted basic civic amenities and worry about car windshields being broken by errant stones thrown by neighbourhood urchins. We crib about low water pressure in summer and untimely rain in winter.

My brother-in-law shared a joke with me that might be well suited for Chandigarh. A South Indian girl who recently moved out from Calcutta was asked the meaning of hartal. She quickly raised her hand and said –“I know, I know, it is a festival in Bengal.” A Chandigarh child would be optimistically deluded about many things I learnt in my childhood – Molotov cocktails, Red Brigade, burnt buses, road blockades, prostrate bodies on rail tracks and the sound of pitched battle on the streets outside.

matkachowk@gmail.com

Maspar home fashion, a contemporary home furnishings brand also known as designs for living plays with the calming elements of dusky tones in its latest collection called “Dusky Destination”. 

For countless years, cycle of the Sun has been the same. Rising everyday and bringing new hopes, changing the dusky sky to a rosy pink and repeating the journey with its first rays every morning.

Has anyone ever thought of including these interspersed colours of the sun to your day- -to-day life? As we all know colour is a primary tool for creating a mood you want in your room.

Maspar brings these different moods of the sun in its latest collection called “Dusky Destination”.

Dusky tones create a calming environment with the fusion of elements such as Vanilla, Dirty Oyster, Moleskin, Dusk Yellow, Linen, Aero Brown, Brown Almond and French Roast.

The collection encompasses bedspreads, shams, duvet covers, pillow cases, cushion covers, bolsters, curtains, bed sheets, quilts, blankets, floor cushion and rugs. —TNS

Oscar-winning music maestro A.R. Rahman has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by a leading UK University for his outstanding contributions, a week after Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan was honoured by another prestigious British varsity.

The Vice Chancellor of the Middlesex University in Hendon in London, Professor Michael Driscoll presented the Honorary Degree on Rahman.

Rahman, who won two Academy Awards for the music of hit film Slumdog Millionaire, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between his K M Music Conservatory in Chennai and the University.

After receiving the honour, Rahman said, "It is an enormous honour to belong to this great seat of learning. My journey as a musician started at the age of nine and I see music as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it. Music touches people and breaks down barriers, creating harmony in troubled times. This has always been my philosophy," Rahman said.

A spokeswoman of the Middlesex University said today that the MoU focused on educational collaboration between India and the UK. The two organisations have agreed to explore the possibilities for collaboration in music and education and to support one of Rahman's 'pet projects', that of the blending of Asian and Western musical styles. — PTI

Having tickled the funny bone of the audience with his comedies, Bollywood director David Dhawan is mulling an offer to direct the remake to 1981 cult hit Chashme Buddoor.

"I have been approached by Studio 18, who have the rights to the movie. Though nothing has been finalised yet, we are working on it," Dhawan said in an interview.

"Even if I agree to do this project, the movie will have a contemporary feel to it. I have to keep today's audience in mind. I am still thinking about this offer," he added.

One of the best remembered comedies of Hindi cinema, Chashme Buddoor was originally directed by multiple-award winning writer-director Sai Paranjpye.

Starring Farooq Shaikh, Deepti Naval, Saeed Jaffrey, Rakesh Bedi and Ravi Baswani, the 145-minute comedy etched itself in people's minds with its witty dialogues and characters.

Asked about his character preferences for the remake, Dhawan laughed off the matter in his trademark style.

The director also revealed that he has been approached to make a remake of veteran filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherji's Chupke Chupke, which is also "under talks though nothing has been finalised yet". — IANS

She is one of the leading actresses in tinsel town and turns 27 on Saturday. But Priyanka Chopra says she is not a party animal and would like to just have a quiet birthday with her near and dear ones.

"I'm not a big party person and I don't like throwing parties at all. So this time a lot of my family members have decided to fly down to be with me," Priyanka told IANS over e-mail from Mumbai.

"It's likely to be a day spent doing nothing in particular… just hanging out with the people who love me and want to be around me to make my day special. That's all," she added.

Priyanka has had a fulfilling year with two hits Fashion and Dostana, which fetched her lots of awards. She is entering a new year in her life, but hasn't set any goals for herself. — IANS

What interests actress Amrita Rao besides acting is the art of editing. The actress says she would like to take it up in future.

"I have always been quite fascinated with editing. Later in life, when I feel I have done my share of acting and want to do something else, I might do a course in editing and take it up professionally. But nothing is planned as of now," the 28-year-old said.

Amrita, who has done films like Ishq Vishk, Masti, Main Hoon Na, Vivah and Welcome To Sajjanpur among others, was recently seen in a glam doll role in Short Kut - The Con Is On.

The one thing that Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor couldn't resist as a child was playing video games - he was so addicted that he used to spend all his pocket money on them.

"As a kid growing up in Delhi, Shahid used to spend the maximum time inside video game parlours, playing video games incessantly. All his pocket money was spent on playing video games. There were times when he would sit for hours glued to the game," said a source. The 28-year-old, who owns PSP and X Box, feels if he starts playing again, he won't be able to concentrate on his work.

"If I start gaming again I will not be able to read scripts and concentrate on my work. It's best if I stay away from this old addiction.”

Actresss Asin, who made a splash in Bollywood with Ghajini opposite Aamir Khan is an ace at word power. Scrabble is Asin's favourite game. She said she loves to dabble with words.

"Scrabble is my favourite indoor game. If I have time on hand and am at home you see me busy playing Scrabble. The game has made me a master at new words," the 24-year-old actress said.The actress is well-versed with not only the South Indian languages but also French, English, Hindi and Sanskrit. Asin said she was good at languages right since her school days. Asin, who will be next seen in Vipul Shah's London Dreams opposite Salman Khan, dubs for all her movies herself and does not depend on a dubbing artiste. — PTI