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One of a kind
The easiest way of showing kindness is by caring for others. On World Kindness Day, we reach out to those who have touched numerous hearts and changed many lives.
As the world celebrates Kindness Day today, Lifestyle reaches out those whose endearing acts are touching numerous hearts and affecting many lives. People's persons
Servants of People's Society has been in the service since 1921.With an intention to help society to get rid of poverty, disease and intolerance, SOPS' healing touch comes in form of health care and educational facilities. "As part of community services, we run a library, drug counselling center, free health checkups and senior citizen meets in and around the city on regular basis," says SPOS secretary Gp Captain P.S Soni (retd). The society welcomes volunteers to help in the noble cause. Green guns
For them, caring for the Mother Earth comes first. "The things that come from the heart mean the most. The utter disrespect shown to nature and blatant disregard towards its resources pain me a lot. I decided to become a part of 'Greenpeace' to do my bit for the planet, whose sustenance is crucial
for our existence," quips Boboton Singh, a student. The organisation, which has branches in 40 countries, aims at generating climate sense among individuals. "We educate people about global issues and make them aware what can they do to make a difference to the environment," says Boboton. The idea is to find solutions to environmental problems, he adds. His green brigade also holds campaigns in public places, schools and colleges. The organisation is open to funds and volunteers. Tender hearts
Around a dozen members of Indra Social Welfare are striving to provide basic nutrition and education to children. The organisation provides help to those parents who do not have any caretakers or place to keep their kids when they are off to work. "Mostly women, who work as helps in various city households leave their children with us," says RL Kochar, a member. The organisation gets grant from the social welfare board and provides the service free of cost. On the job
"If you don't have a job or any qualification for work, you just have to come to us and we'll take care of the rest," says Arjun Kamboj, director of Jan Shikshan Sansthan. The government-run project provides education and training in carpentry, plumbing, soft-toy stitching and candle making to ensure livelihood. The organisation also offers courses for jail inmates, adds Kamboj. Paw pals
Love for the fauna binds this group of volunteers. People For Animals (PFA) is dedicated to preventing intentional or unintentional harm to all animals. "This is our way of expressing love and kindness to the creations of the Almighty. Any injured, sick or a homeless animal can be brought to us," says Urmila Nayak, chief manager, PFA. The local unit of the organisation runs a hospital and a gaushala. So next time you see a bunch of little puppies in your street, contact PFA. mona@tribunemail.com |
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Friday fears
Friday the 13th superstitions have some believers and non-believers among city folks
"It gives us an opportunity to laugh at the westerners because they always say that Indians are superstitious and this day is more of a western concept," says Malvika Lakhanpal, homemaker and resident of Manimajra. She adds, "I have been born and brought up in the hills and when we were studying, we had this story of headless man coming to the school premises on Friday the 13th. Scary though it was, now I see no meaning in it and believe there is even no written evidence for the superstition associated with this date." "Who says it's an unlucky day," says Anu Vala, director, Go Bananas kids club. "In fact, this is a lucky day for me. Though it's odd but it's very true." Ask her is there's any specific reason for that and she says, "Yes, Friday is my lucky day as I was born on a Friday and 13 happens to be my lucky number, so, I guess, I should look out for Friday the 13th as it is going to be doubly lucky for me." Well that surely be. "It's all about superstition," says Diksha. She adds, "There is no proven fact or a scientific finding about it. Some things happen by sheer coincidence and certain days are tagged as inauscpious though there are no proven facts about them. People follow them since something happened to someone. I would say it's more of personal experience." For Christina Singh from Bristish Library, this day doesn't even find mention in her calendar. "Friday the 13th, I don't even know there is something to be feared about on this day. It's a usual day for me just like any other." That's for the non-believers, but ask the ones who believe in the day and they can't stop swearing by the ill-luck that this day gets. In fact, a colleague twisted her foot on this day and she says, "I was walking on a smooth carpeted floor and suddenly, my foot sprained without rhyme or reason. Also, I got challaned for the first time on this date, that too on a flimsy pretext. There have been other happenings too on this day that're inexplicable." On the contrary, city-based numerologist Khetr Pal says, "If one adds the one and three of 13, it will result in number four, which is not a bad number, hence 13 is not a unlucky number." He further adds, "In numerology, all numbers are interlinked, one is the number of the sun and three of brahspathi so nothings is inauspicious about 13 as a number." What about Friday, "Friday the 13 is a western concept, for us Friday is a very auspicious day, Friday is the day of Venus, a day of love and fortune, hence a lucky day again." Well, for the people who have been anxious about the day don't worry, for this day is not bad for Indians! jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com |
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Reality recycled
Director Ajai Sinha was in the city to promote his latest Kesariya Balam
Ask him if the inspiration for the serial has come from Satyam Shivam Sundaram and he disagrees. “I was more interested in taking the story further from where the concept of the movie ended. It’s not an attempt to show the malpractices or constricted mindsets of the people, but the serial is from the perspective of a girl who suffers everyday rejection,’ he adds. Even the Rajasthan connection has a justification. “I have been researching for the concept from past three years. I have visited Rajasthan thrice, studying the music, the folk culture and the traditions minutely. I don’t believe in bhedh chaal, but just because everybody is taking a particular path doesn’t mean I don’t follow it,” he says. Well, as for the show is concerned, all we can say is that be ready to face another recycled reality. |
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Actor Dimple Kapadia shares her memories of sister Simple We were four siblings of our parents, Simple, my brother, our youngest sister, Rim and myself. Simple was just two years younger to me, closest to my heart and a darling in the true sense of the term. From her school days, she was of an independent mind, had a positive attitude towards life and was not the interfering type.We were more like comrades and used to engage ourselves in various activities like playing caroms and other household works. Simple and I fought like kids on umpteen occasions and later patched up. When I became a star overnight after Bobby, she was the most excited. She would publicly address herself as Bobby's sister. Her joy knew no bounds when I got married to Rajesh Khanna in 1973. Even after our marriage, she was my caring and affectionate little sister. She surprisingly shared an excellent rapport with her brother in law, Rajesh Khanna and he recommended her as his heroine to director Shakti Samanta for Anurodh in 1976. I still remember how nervous she was prior to the release of her debut film. Anurodh, though a well-made film, did not do well at the box office. Simple acted in Man Pasand and Lootmaar in significant characters on the request of evergreen Dev Anand. She was an ardent admirer of Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna. Unfortunately, her acting career did not make headway, as she was really not too interested in histrionics. She had a natural penchant for dress designing and after quitting acting; she fully concentrated on designing various costumes for me in my maximum films. From Aaj Ki Aurat to Drishti to Lekin and later also in Dil Chahta Hai, she designed brilliant costumes which suited my age, looks and figure. Simple just needed to be explained my character and within the twitch of a finger, she understood what costumes would suit me best. "Simple was of the exuberant nature and never believed in hiding her emotions be it happiness, sadness or anger. Those who were transparent in nature only appreciated this nature of her. Simple was never a hypocrite's favourite, very much like me. She cared for both my daughters, Twinkle and Rinki and was like an elderly companion to them. To me she was the joy of my heart. I never indulged in comparisons between ourselves in our looks and acting abilities. When our father, Chunibhai Kapadia and earlier our youngest sister, Rim passed away, she lent tremendous emotional support and help to the entire family. She was instrumental in encouraging me to start my second innings as an actor; a fresh after my marriage broke. For the past three years, she was suffering from deadly cancer and spent her last days with me. I am totally a broken soul after her sudden demise and I just cannot believe that my dear sister, my beloved doll is no more with me by my side. May Simple's soul rest in eternal peace. (As told to Ranjan Das Gupta)
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Char saal baad
Punjabi singer Malkit Singh hums a new tune for his latest album Billo Rani
The news in one line goes. Twenty-five years into the industry, Malkit Singh is back after four years, with his 22nd album, that has twelve songs. What else? There’s a contest, Idea cellular network, UTV and Universal Music, all a part of the win-win situation err…association. What an idea! The details—the legendary singer flagged off the Billo Rani Star Contest, talent hunt for the lead male and female in the next music video from his latest album Billo Rani.
As much as the album, inevitably the talks revolve around the singer’s commemoration, receiving MBE from the queen of England. “I’m the first Punjabi rather first Asian to have received it and it’s a matter of great pride and honour.” Back to the present and Billo Rani and he says, “Nine songs in this album are proper traditional style, we’ve already shot two songs and will be shooting for four more…one of which we’ll be shooting in December after scouting for talent, touring the cities, for the lead male and female.” It’s been good four years since he last came up with a solo from his stable. “Actually we had to release an album last year, but my mother passed away, I feel after you’ve had tragedy in the family, one doesn’t really feel like singing.” He adds, “It’s in our culture, you don’t celebrate and do anything associated with it for at least a year.” So isn’t it time, he followed the league, took to acting, Bollywood? “I acted in the movie Mehndi Shaganan Di, because I had this desire of seeing a sardar hero on screen, I’m not against acting, all the best to those who’re pursuing it but just like in music lyrics should be good, in films the script should be good. manpriya@trubunemail.com City connect For the beginners, Rajat Kakar, MD, Universal Music Group, is a thorough city guy. How city? Well, listen for yourself. “Well, I did my schooling from St. John’s, engineering from PEC and MBA from Panjab University.” This is as Chandigarh as it gets, he was here for the 25th SJOBA event. As of now, after being in the teams of Asian Paints, Proctor and Gamble, it’s selling music through Universal. “I’m happy to be contributing to the Punjabi music industry in whatever way I can. This is one of the last bastions where music is appreciated, also where a lot of people want to take up music as a career.” More than the music it’s the industry that has undergone a sea change, how is universal tapping the market? “It’s true that the music that used to sell earlier, now its’ nothing like it, but we’re tapping the market. Ring tones are a big chunk of the music.” |
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Surface realities
From relationship to family feuds, the actors of the serial Kesariya Balam… talk about their roles in the daily soap and more
If rare disorders are ruling the big screen, then rural damsels are the stars on the small screen. After Anandi and Laali, here's another village belle, Rukmini ready to share the tale of her scarred life with the Indian audience in Sahara One's new show Kesariya Balam Aavo Hamare Des. Set in the backdrop of Rajasthan, the story is about a girl who has faced rejection throughout her life due to a scarred face and her fight with her destiny to prove she has a lot more to her than a physical deformity. Hmm…did someone say Satyam Shivam Sundaram? Well, playing the small screen avtaar of Zeenat Aman is actor Jaya Binju. "There is no similarity with the movie except for the scarred face. The show has different plots running parallel, story of relationships, family feuds, struggle for survival and identity and an ironic love story," says Jaya.
Add to it the Rajput element, folk music, traditional Rajastani jewellery and the rustic flavour. "It emphasizes on the negativity surrounding Rukmini's life due to her scarred face. She has two sides to her, one of a beautiful girl and another her scar. The only positive in her life is her younger step sister, Rasal," adds Jaya. And so Toral Rasputra comes into picture. While every show brings in fresh faces, the two young actors are not new in the business. Jaya has had her experience with daily dramas with Ghar-Ek Sapna on Sahara One and Jasuben Jayantilal Ki Joint Family on NDTV Imagine, Toral has had her share with Dhoom MachaO Dhoom on Disney Channel and Yahaan Ke Hum Sikandar on Zee Next. But carrying a daily primetime drama on their shoulders means a huge responsibility. "It sure is. Both of us have been brought up in metros, so we have worked really hard from getting the correct dialect to understanding the Rajasthani culture. We attended workshops for 15-20 days and have been continuously shooting in Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Mumbai for the past two months," shares Jaya. And what about holding a firm ground against some tough competition in this category? "I guess, we are in a competition with ourselves. We just have to deliver our best," says Toral. But both agree that the current progression on television is a refreshing change for the actors. "The plastic drama phase on television had created a confusion for an actor which seems to be clearing thanks to performance based, close to reality shows," says Jaya. nehawalia@tribunemail.com |
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Their music might be traversing boundaries, but the name certainly needs a translation. Answers Kai Brueckner, the guitarist of the four-member band, "Well, tribe is as in tribe and Yakou is a Japanese word meaning night-time travel." In the city to perform under the Goethe-Zentrum, Chandigarh and the Department of German, Panjab University, Chandigarh, they talk what they do best, music, music and well, music. So, what would the almost 10-year-old, four-member-band be playing today? "All of us write and we'd be playing our own compositions." And, expectations of Chandigarh audience? They laugh, "We expect it to be very noisy, them to go crazy. Well, there are no expectations, let's see." For the most of the band members, it's the first time in India, the music is a both, 'passion and profession', since childhood." Chips in Jan Von Klewitz, "We've been playing for different bands as well, because you can't make enough money by just playing with one band." And what of the Indian music? Have they heard any? Says Johannes Gunkel, the bass player, "Yeah, we've heard of Indian classical music and their musicians, namely Ravi Shankar. A matter of seconds, the others chip in, one after the other, "Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Zakir Hussain." But no, no Bollywood. Laughs Kai, "We knew this would be the next question." No political correctness. They shrug in harmony, "No, not heard of any Bollywood music." Never mind, quite a refreshing change. —Manpriya Khurana
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A parental miracle It was July 1965. The war with Pakistan was on in full swing. The unborn child’s father was on the border along Sialkot. We worried about the safety of a man who was in the thick of battle. Inspite of many unsuccessful phone calls, we did not know if he had heard that the baby was finally making his first, worldly appearance. Dust and leaves swirled in the pre-monsoon storm as I felt the first tightening in my belly. My Bible was a book called, “Childbirth Without Fear.” I followed it to the letter, exercises, breathing, diet and all. The result was that pain was an unknown word. My mother was sick with worry and she had an upset tummy. The armyman’s aunt, a well known Gynae from Hissar, was monitoring every twinge and declared we had to rush to the hospital as the patient did not seem to have labour pains. Ma, Aunt, Baba and I, all piled into the black, second hand Fiat. The Sector 16 Hospital was just 500 metres away. Seeing Ma’s condition, and on the assumption that she was the patient, not I, a kindly nurse guided her into the labour room. I had a hard time convincing them to let her go and take me instead. The first-born arrived an hour later. Still attatched to the blue, swollen umbilical cord, the nurse gently placed him on my stomach. This was the child I had nurtured for nine months. He yawned and flexed his extraordinarily long fingers. He had a black, spikey mop of hair, huge eyes, curling lashes, long feet. Would he be a musician like my grandmother or a doctor like his father’s mother? I was already looking into the future of the miracle that lay on a suddenly emptied stomach. I felt an inexplicable twinge of regret and loss at having to give up something that was mine and mine alone for nine long months. After a night of sporadic, cooling showers, the father arrived, dashing in his battle fatigues, a sensation in the hospital. He held the child and checked all his parts to make sure he was normal. 44 years later, we look at the self assured, tall, slim doctor, our first born, with pride. He is everything a parent could ever wish for. The miracle is not beauty, wealth or talent but normality, intelligence and a human being with good values. This miracle is our creation. The miracle is of lives continued, heritages passed on, values set down and adopted, genes inherited through generations and worthwhile human beings created to walk tall through this world. We parents have a lot to be proud and thankful for.
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Kindness manifests itself in many forms. One of the easiest ways to be kind to people around us is to show them that we care for them. While lavish and exuberant gifts may evoke a smile or two, it's the small things that we do everyday that leave the lasting impression. Try remembering something that people have done to you that meant a lot to you. Quite often the things that stand out in our memory are not the ones, which are extravagant, but just the simple things. Extending a helping hand in times of need, lending a shoulder to cry on or perhaps a small gesture of 'just being there' can make a huge difference to someone.
It's Friday the 13th. Wondering, so what? Well this is a number and a day that is dreaded by some and considered inauspicious by many. Though it's a western concept, but as we've become global beings this too has become a day to look out for or be skeptic about! And how far does this skepticism go, we check with the believers and non-believers.
…When every body is talking about the changing face of Indian Television, here’s an old master who refuses to acknowledge it. “There’s no change happening. It’s recycling, the concept that was not a priority few years back has been updated to suit the tastes today.” That’s how Ajai Sinha describes the popularity of issues-based television. Back with his latest Kesariya Balam Aavo Hamare Des on Sahara One, the director who have given television some of the most talked about shows like Astitva- Ek Prem Kahani, Hasratein, Justujoo, Ghar- Ek Sapna, Dollar bahu and Gudgudee, says that there is nothing new on the small screen for the audience. “What we are watching now, Doordarshan showcased earlier. When I made Hasratein, it was something new for the audience at that time. But all I did was to present a story that was written 40 years back and staged 20 years back. Same is the case with Kesariya Balam… I came up with the concept five years back with Raghuveer Shekhawat, but then nobody was interested in the concept,” he shares.
You can make out a musician from a mile, can't you? What with their elaborate paraphernalia, instruments, troupe, the tribe et al. This one is a German jazz band Yakou Tribe.