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The shrinking world of Barbie
D for doll, that's what most of us would remember our mothers tutoring us. Bringing back fond memories of growing up, we all girls have had our share of crying, laughing, baby, long-leg and Barbie dolls. But a study by a market research company says, demand for latest gadgets and fashion-based entertainment by tech-savvy girls is steadily pushing dolls to their grave. Leaving us heartbroken and doubtful, we wonder is our girl's best friend (read doll) dying an untimely death? We check out.
Says Gurpreet Dhillon, a homemaker from Phase VII, Mohali, "I agree with the study. As parents, we are only pushing our kids towards more tech-savvy toys than the traditional ones. I have a three-year-old-daughter and whenever we go out to shop for toys, we pick things like a toy laptop or an electronic blackboard, tri-cycle or things that would make her savvy with the real world things. I guess, as parents we are somewhere responsible for drawing our kids' attention to toy gadgets than the usual toys." Well, that's some realisation. Going back to dolls, remember the frenzy that Barbie created. For your information, the world's best-selling doll, has been witnessing a shrinking fan base with a 15 per cent drop in sales, reports The Age. And, confirming it on the city front, Gulzar, manager, Rama Stores-22 says, "It's actually happening. In past few years, we have seen a dip in sales of dolls. Especially the traditional dolls like crying, angel, long legs, Barbie etc that were a rage once upon a time." Ask him what are the kids interested in? "More than kids, it's parents who make the choices. And it's educational toys that are selling the most these days," says Gulzar.
Educational toys? "These are things like electronic laptops, puzzles and games that would help them in their educational curriculum etc." What about dolls? "It's rarely that we see parents buying dolls for their children, it's usually picked for gifting purpose." What about Barbie, do we see an upward or downward trend in the sales of this toy? "There's a dip definitely, but what sells most in the dolls is the latest variety of dolls that come with a tattoo machine. The child can paint, rub and repaint whatever comes to her mind." We must say, quite creative! Graduating from traditional to contemporary toys, we wonder what are the kids actually looking for. Says Ritika Gupta, a personal banker with a private bank in Sector 8, "Gone are the days when children would play with plastic cars and kitchen sets. Kids these days are tech savvy and get bored easily. There's a large demand for interactive electronics, like Nintendo DS, PlayStation, ipod etc.'' Agreeing to the changing trend of toy choices, Moon Sandhu, teacher at Strawberry Fields, says, "Gone are the days of innocent toys, we see kids picking up things like iPod, toy mobile phones, laptops etc." iPod? "Yes, even a three-year-old is fascinated by this gadget and believe me has this as a personal accessory." So, what has got the change, "Parents are definitely the ones who influence the kids and for kids they imitate their parents and that is the only reason we see fascination for toys like mobile, laptop etc." That's not all. She adds, "Parents these days even practice phonetics on CDs. I must say we have graduated from traditional toys to more electronic things." jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com
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Real hero
Theatre, though considered to be a life-size art, has been a passion of the esoteric segment of society since ages. But now with the spurt of various mediums of entertainment, especially the electronic media, the meaningful theatre forms of folk and community theatre are virtually on the verge of extinction.
This is upsetting for genuine art lovers and practitioners but the Patna-based thespian Sanjay Upadhaya has a resolute resolve not only to revive the fading traditions but to accord them a new dimension too. One finds a testimony to his determination that after passing out from the National School of Drama, unlike other aspirant actors and directors who rush to Bollywood to realise their cherished dreams, Sanjay, the son of the soil, returned to serve the folk theatre in Bihar. In fact, Sanjay a pass out of 1990 batch had joined NSD in 1987 after doing theatre in Bihar where he was an established actor, director and promoter of this realm. As an activist of the IPTA theatre movement, Sanjay had invested his best efforts to revitalise the rich folk musical legacy of Bidesia, through a musical bonanza of folk traditional theatre of which over 500 shows had been performed. Also, an accomplished music director, he has composed music for plays by top directors. Back from Mumbai after staging five plays at Prithvi Theatres he is convinced that art lovers appreciated him. Now, credited with over 100 productions with over 5,000 shows in all genres of theatre, Sanjay stands tall as a custodian of the rural folk, literary and contemporary theatre. His latest directorial venture of directing Gagan Damama Vajyo for the Department of Television and Theatre, Punjabi University, and their repertoire has run into 50 successful shows, including one at Ninasan Fest in Karnataka. "The content and treatment of a play is relevant as the theatre has its own language," he claims. Instead of falling for the glamour of Bollywood, Sanjay, realising his responsibility of social change for which theatre stands for, involved himself fully with the juvenile delinquents in the slums of Nandnagar Colony in Patna. He disclosed that this was declared as the black spot area during the British, which he has transformed to a hub of theatre activities. Many actors from the area have graduated from the NSD while some are settled in Mumbai. By launching a mass cultural awareness in these slums, Sanjay has been successful in diverting the attention of children from planned crimes. He has also worked with the jail inmates in Bihar. He went straight for the literary documentations of this ancient Bihari folk tradition by the legendary Bikhari Thakur and lifted the form for classic adaptations on stage. This includes personality-based, theatre which he has been using to trace the genius of legends like Kabir, Tulsidas, Habba Khatoon, Vidyapati and the first Dalit poet Hiradom, to mention a few. His forthcoming project Tulsi Das is based on Amrit Lal Nagar's Manav ka Hans. Besides using theatre as a platform for discussing sensibilities, Sanjay has also employed it more productively in the slums of Bihar. He is determined to change the image of Bihar, which is a multilingual and multi-cultured state with Bhojpuri, Maithali, Avadhi, Angika and more. He agrees that Bhojpuri cinema has not come up of age in cultural context. After 20 years of free entertainment he has
ticketed his shows. A visiting professor of the NSD and Institutes at Patiala, Lucknow and Patna he is
shortly opening the Academy of Dramatic arts (ADA) near Patna. Sanjay is in the city to showcase his
production Harshingar at the ongoing TFT Festival. lifestyle@tribunemail.com
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Scaling the maternal wall
New mothers, who have a year or more off before returning to work, often hit a 'maternal wall', says a new study. The odds are heavily stacked against the neo-mums, who have to battle stereotypes that link motherhood with the lack of competence and commitment.
However, there are some successful city women, who have not only efficiently scaled the hurdle but also shown that the task of managing career with a newborn can be accomplished rather well. What's more, they are also proving to be a guiding force for their women staff. "I was back to work 40 days after my son's birth because I couldn't have let the work suffer," says Niyati Chitkara, principal of Chitkara International School. It gets a bit difficult to juggle both, but careful planning can bail you out, says the supermom. Niyati's experience taught her what more she can do for her staffers. "We already have maternity and paternity leave in place. Now, I am planning to set up a two-floor lounge where there would be a baby-feeding area. Daycare facilities with a trained nanny to look after the young ones would also be provided to the new mothers," quips Niyati. Anuja Lath, CEO, Red Alchemy, rubbishes talk of relating motherhood to incompetence. "It would be foolish for a corporate to expect its employee's to put their professional life before personal one. I have welcomed back my employees after motherhood. They were diligent workers, kept in touch during their break and we offered them flexible timings to work," says the entrepreneur, who was back on her chair in a week's time after becoming a mother. "Maternal wall hits harder in service industry more than anywhere else," says Punita Singh, a career counsellor. "Yet, there are ways through which you can tide over the difficult career period smoothly," she adds. "If you are serious about returning to the workplace after a long break, it's really worth sitting down and taking stock of your new skills which you have acquired as a parent - supervising, multitasking, working in stressful and demanding situation - and adding them to those you acquired from your job before you started a family. You might be surprised at just how many transferable skills you have. Don't forget to list them on your updated CV," advises Punita. In addition, she says, one can use the time at home to the utmost advantage. "Upgrade your skills, go in for certification, keep in touch with the latest in your area of specialisation. So that when you are back in the business you are fortified with a lot more," she adds. And if the employer is still hesitant, then it isn't a bad idea to take them to task," says the expert, who took a break from the career to start a family.
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Playing favourites
A new study on middle-aged parents helping out their grown up children has revealed that even at the later stage of life, they play favourites. The research, carried out by the Purdue University, found that parents are happier helping children who are more successful and settled in life.
Karen Fingerman, the Berner-Hanley Professor in Gerontology, Developmental and Family Studies, revealed that not all grown children get the same support. Most people expect parents to help their youngest child or one that is struggling, but the family studies expert found that parents are more eager to help the child they consider most successful. Parents are motivated to help their successful young-adult children because their achievements are a reflection on the parent. After 18 years, a parent has put a lot of time and energy into raising a child. When the child is successful, the parent feels like all that effort paid off, and the parent feels successful, too, in their role as a parent. "Another possibility is that these middle-aged parents expect the successful child will help them during old age," she said. "I don't think people are deliberately that strategic, but it is a reality that the adult-children who are better achieving will help their elderly parents more. "It's certainly a good investment for the parents, but it's also a good investment to rescue your children who are having problems. "While parents may want to spend more time with the successful child, they may be more likely to give financial assistance and practical support to a child who is having problems. "We found that middle-aged parents help each of their grown children with many types of support at least every few weeks. "This is a dramatic increase from 20 years ago, when young adults received much less support from their parents," she added. Fingerman and her team evaluated how more than 600 parents, ages 40-60, reported they supported their individual children and for what reasons. The forms of support included financial, helping with tasks, giving advice, emotional support, listening and participating in social activities. —ANI |
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Bond Wagon
Relationship: Mother-daughter
Times together: Three years three months Same to same: Chinese food, we love it Yet different: Very loud - Nysa Relatively quiet - Shweta Fondest memory: She so intuitive, she reads me all the time. Once there was a mishappening in the family, I tried to act normal, but she knew and comforted me in her own little ways - Shweta 1st birthday, I watch the video everyday - Nysa Eagerly await: Outings Special something: Nysa loves birthday parties…even if I am drop dead busy, I refuse a client but make sure she attends every single party she's invited to —
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Pet profit
Taking dogs to the park helps owners boost their social life, experts observed. According to Melbourne-based town planner Virginia Jackson, those who frequent dog parks form good relationships.
Jackson quizzed 150 dog owners and found that dogs were a conversation starter for almost 95 per cent of respondents while 38 per cent credited their pooches for helping them develop friendships that were stronger than an acquaintance. "It is inevitable (dog owners) will develop relationships of varying degrees," she said. "Some will be superficial, others deep, but it's not to say the superficial ones aren't as meaningful - for some people, it could be the only contact they have during the day," she added. "We find that even non-dog owners attend some parties as a way of catching up with friends and neighbours." —ANI
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Renee Writes
I am a 26 years old girl and I feel that I have had a very difficult life. I have two brothers older than me who were always given priority as we were growing up and my father has always lived with his girlfriend. My mother who felt she had been cheated all her life took out all her frustration on me. I found a great way of finding comfort and that was smoking cigarettes and over eating. Now once in a while I like to even try drugs although I know it is not good for me. I am extremely unhappy in my life and now don't like meeting people. I just like to sit in my room and listen to music. My mother screams at me whenever she thinks I am not doing the right thing. Please help me with some suggestion. What should I do now? Ritika Chandan You have been focusing on fear negativity and stress for far too long. You need to step out of this zone immediately. You have to learn and discipline yourself to change your pattern. I know it is not easy but self-discipline is the first step towards forward movement. Take some yoga classes to your mind and body into order. You cannot carry grudges against your parents and expect to feel relaxed and wonderful. Leave the past behind only then can you move forward to a beautiful future. Set half an hour for yourself morning and evening. Take 3 long deep breath first and then make a mental suggestion that "All is well and I am moving towards a wonderful life". Everything will work just your way. Look forward to life I am a 63 years old man and currently working in a private college in Himachal. I have been teaching all my life and have remained extremely happy. I never really thought of old. Now that suddenly I know that I don't have many more working years left. A strange kind of fear of aging is beginning to settle in within me. I have always enjoyed being with people and somehow I feel at home life will seem like a redundant thing. Can you suggest how I can feel more worthwhile and that life is really worth living even at this age. Shyam Tarneja I am amazed that being a teacher you should start having such negative views on life. It seems you are making yourself miserable just by your own attitude you must learn to live a life of love and joy. Do not fear the future. Step out of your limited belief system and look forward to life with a new perspective. It is up to you alone to enjoy every moment of your life. Life has much to offer at each and every stage. We have to allow the space. Try and look for ways in which you can contribute to society to make your life more interesting. Join a walkers group. Take panting classes on even do group tuitions to keep yourself with youngsters in a joyous mood. Look forward to life and it shall give you joy. Single parent I am 32-year-old-mother of two boisterous boys. I was married for a few years to a Swiss guy but have now returned to live with my parents in India. Although most of my friends did recommend that I continue to live in Europe but some how I felt that growing up in India with Indian values would be a much better deal for them. Now I am finding it difficult to deal with them as a single parent yet I feel that since they have their grandparents it would be better for them. My problem is that I am seeing a lot of aggression in my older boy who is 12 years. He turns to be a real bully. If I shout at him to discipline him he gets aggressive with me too. Can you suggest how to deal with this? Nitu I do appreciate your attitude and resilience's in the way. Life as a single mom to is not easy whether it is India or any other part of the world. Yes it is better here for you in your circumstances as your boys can have a home and family atmosphere more with your parents. Do not fret too much over your son's behavior as he is probably going through his own trauma of living without a father. Boys need this sense of identifying with the father far more than girls and their level of denial normally comes out in the form of unexplained aggression. Try and find someone who is much older than him, an uncle perhaps or your brother or any of the other male members in your family he can identify with and with whom he can do his man-to-man chat and find a general sense of identity. This will make him feel less aggressive and more relaxed. Don't worry, deal with the situation with a lot of patience and love and explain to him not to harm others. Once he has his male icon he will definitely settle down. |
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Palatable Art
In science, perception is about attaining awareness or understanding of sensory information. But in art, perception is your creativity. It is one of the oldest topics in psychology and at as well. If that can be an argument, then Emerging Palate - an exhibition at the Government Art Museum-10 looks to settle it by putting on display works of over 60 professional, non-professional artists from the tricity. Each with their own perception of palate, the main element in every painting mostly created through thick application of colours and texture.
"The aim of this exhibition is to play with each artist's perception of the theme element ie palate and then create a mix media of art. We have murals, oil on canvas with 3-D effects, installations and abstracts, all bringing out different effects of palate," says Ram Kumar Sharma, the in-charge and artist himself. The annual initiative of the Bama Academy, Panchkula, the main idea behind this exhibition is to encourage artists and promote latent talents. "We invite participation from five to 55 year olds. There is no selection-rejection mechanics, anybody who wants to display his creativity is welcome," he says. Most paintings are striking with their concepts, be it abstract or objective. From portraits of Micheal Jackson to Akshaye Kumar and Katrina shaking a leg, defining art with musical instruments or shadows, each work speaks for itself. And, that brings in the commercial factor, even when this exhibition is not about selling. "Last year, we sold six to seven paintings by the end of the show. Over 20 years of teaching, many of our students got recognition through this exhibition," says Kumar. But then there is another factor that he teaches and it has got nothing to do with money. "I believe in art therapy. When you feel overwhelmed by any emotion, art is the best way to let it out." Well, a look at the paintings and you know there are lots of emotions at display too. On till December 13 nehawalia@tribunemail.com
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Feel at home
Food is the spice of life; this adage is apt for Punjabis, as they can do without water but not spices and bahar ka khana. And, cashing on the trend of eating out, Voodoo's, Zaika is having their 10-day Punjabi food festival. Serving apna Punjabi khana, the USP of the fest is- food that is more like home-cooked rather than restaurant ka khana. Informing us about the fest, Brajesh Chandra Ghansiyal, executive chef, says, "Winter is the time when people like to eat out more and considering Punjabi's love for food we have started this 10-day Punjabi food festival."
Ask him why Punjabi food of all kinds (since people can have it at their homes) and he says, "Not everyone in the city is a Punjabi and more than that we wanted to have a food festival that is closer home."
Coming to the core issue-food we must say as promised by Ghansiyal it actually tastes like a homemade meal. The ingredients are roughly chopped and the food is definitely not high on spices. Here you can try from a variety of vegetables and meats. Well, the must tries are, sarsoon ka saag, bhaigan ka bharta, aloo gobhi, murg Punjabi masala and Beliram murg. Wondering what Beliram murg is? Informs Ghansiyal, "This is a famous Lahori dish that is named after the cook who dished it out." So, what's special about it? "It is first marinated in yoghurt and varied spices and then cooked in desi ghee." Available in a buffet and even Ala Carte, a lunch costs Rs 210 and for dinner you have to shell out Rs 250 for a veg meal and Rs 300 for a non-veg meal. The difference in lunch and dinner is not only the price, but serving of snacks. The dinner would include two veg or non-veg
nacks. jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com
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