|
|
|
|
|
Owner's pride
The houses where Kumar Vikal, Balwant Gargi and Mulk Raj Anand lived once upon a time, have become a status symbol for the present occupants
Outside Kumar Vikal's home there's nameplate to let know the outsiders that the great poet once lived here. Shares Dharaa Sharma, granddaughter, "Not just as his granddaughter, but as any other youngster, it is quite inspiring to be in the house in which he once lived." She adds, "He used to sit in the drawing room mainly. Whenever he'd have to write, he would shut the door, ask everyone to move out, be all alone and he'd write either for the poor or about patriotism or on realistic politics." We're talking of the Marxist poet of Hindi, Kumar Vikal. Shares Sudarshan Vikal, his wife, "The university gave us this house, even now a lot of students visit. We've also preserved all his awards." Likewise, it's pointing towards one another in the lane of red white brick houses. And this particular one, once upon a time, belonged to the iconic dramatist Balwant Gargi. Yes, the renowned Punjabi dramatist, novelist and short story writer. The man whose first play, Loha Kutt, became controversial for it's stark picture of the Punjab countryside. The founder director of the Department of Indian Theatre, PU, Chandigarh. It's the same man, the same house, where now resides lecturer, University School of Open Learning, Jatinder Grover. He shares, "It feels really good to be in the same house where he once stayed." No wonder, there's never a dearth of visitors, sightseers, known or unknown. Shares Jatinder, "Lots of people come here, some to take photographs also. Others come asking for the garage." For the uninitiated, the famous garage from The Naked Triangle where he spent some of the moments with his ladylove. He adds, "Generally students, senior students from the theatre department come. Surjit Pattar, the poet from Ludhiana and Punjabi film actor Rana Ranbir also have visited the house." Appreciations apart, there's a lot unsaid and undone. Shares Jatinder, "Though there's no written or official confirmation to this fact but the tailor whose father used to stitch clothes for Balwant Gargi says it's his house only. " The hit and trial research continues…running from post to pillar, going in circles. till someone informs about the Mulk Raj Anand's house, the Indian writer in English, notable for his depiction of the lives of the poorer castes in traditional Indian society. Of course, the red and white brick colour continues, as does the search, as does the occupants' opinions. Shares Prof Meena Sehgal, department of psychology, current resident, and "Now that I know once he used to stay here long ago, it feels really good." Sad, but our research findings point out at the stark contrast to the West, where it's just a matter of recognition, time and residences of litterateurs' turn monuments, museums, at least are preserved in the same condition. Opines, Dharaa, "People here don't value the literature or the writers much. No wonder, not many youngsters know about Kumar Vikal. Like they do it in the West, of course there should be museums turned out of residences of great littérateurs." Yeah, of course, but that's when that happens. Till then, it's unofficial confirmations, ask and find your way journeys, simply pointing fingers and blurting, "we guess, that's the house." manpriya@tribunemail.com
|
|
The right choice!
Director Neeraj Pathak and Deepal Shah are in the city to promote Right Yaaa Wrong
"The movie is a crime thriller with fabulous performances by Sunny Deol, Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen, Isha Koppikar, Deepal Shaw and Ali Haji," shares Pathak. Being the writer, director as well as producer of Right Yaaa Wrong was a challenging task, shares Pathak, "It was a huge responsibility to play three vital roles in the movie but Mr Ghai, with whom my association dates back to Pardes, gave me all possible support." Pathak, who considers himself lucky to have started his career with Pardes, that had superstar Shahrukh Khan as hero and master showman Subhash Ghai as the director wants to touch the audience's heart with his movies. "Though the competition in the industry is tough today, I believe if a filmmaker listens to the voice of his heart things can never go wrong," he shares. Pathak is busy writing for his next film which is going to be a political thriller with UP as its backdrop. As for Right Yaaa Wrong, due to release on March 12, he is expecting a good response from the region, "The audience from Punjab circle made Apne a super hit. The son of Punjab, Sunny, is back with this movie and I am looking for same reception as before. And trust me, your decision to go to the theatre will be the right one," signs off Pathak. Dusky dame
The critics appreciated her role as a porn star in the movie, which gave Deepal Shah the much-needed confident. "I am play the role of an inspector opposite Irrfan Khan in the movie Right Yaaa Wrong, and I am really excited about it," says Deepal, who likes to play hockey if and when given a chance. " I come from UP a nice hospitable place just like Chandigarh. The reason I like coming here."
|
|
BODY
wise
While many overweight people find it difficult to shed extra pounds, those who are underweight face their own challenges, as the task can be just as daunting. It is not easy for them to gain weight. There can be several reasons for their inability to gain weight. Genetics is an important factor, and can render the individual with a very high metabolic rate making it difficult to gain weight. Other causes may be inadequate nutrition or excessive athletic activity.
To achieve your weight gain goals, all you need is a little motivation, a healthy weight gain diet and a solid weight-training programme. Eating nourishing food is an integral part of weight gain. The key is, to shift the body weight equation so that you take in more calories than you burn. You need to eat calorie-dense, but healthy foods. A diet of high-fat junk foods, seemingly the most obvious way to gain weight is not recommended. Here are some healthy and practical tips to get started. Concentrate on calories: High daily caloric intake is the first and most important step in gaining weight. Firstly count the number of calories you consume on a regular day. From there, increase your daily calorie intake by about 300-500 calories until you start putting on weight. Maximize each mouthful: Incorporating extra calories into everyday meals can be a great way to gain weight. Try adding these nutritious, calorie-packed combinations to your meals. Use milk in place of water in hot cereal, soups, and sauces. Sprinkle powdered milk into casseroles and meatloaf for added calories, protein, and calcium. Add cheese and salad dressings to sandwiches. Have several meals a day: Eating 4 - 6 meals a day helps ensure you are always eating and getting plenty of calories. In addition to the traditional three square meals a day, add two or three substantial snacks between three moderate-size meals. Have a variety of food and snacks without feeling overstuffed. Let snacks work in your favor : Smart snacking plays an important role in gaining weight. Good choices include nuts, seeds and raisins, rice pudding, custard, cereal or cereal bars, biscuits, cheese and crackers, fruit plus small chocolate bars. Eat high carbohydrates & protein meals: This is the norm for all weight gain diets. However complex carbs should be the bulk of total calories, not protein. Increase your water intake: Water is the best way to supplement any diet. It ensures proper regulation of food, vitamins, and minerals. It also ensures you get the full benefit from protein and carb absorption. Eat late at night: Late night eating helps to keep the body from burning too many calories during sleep. Always try and eat calorie rich foods before going to bed. Ensure regular physical activity :Try to get maximum muscle out of your weight gain program and for doing this weight training is a must. Two or three one-hour workouts per week done with intensity will suffice. Concentrate on free weight exercises that work the large muscle groups. The best weight training exercises for building mass are squats, dead lifts, bench presses, barbell rows, pull-ups and bar dips. Use heavy weights and low reps taking ample rest, of about 3 minutes, between each set. Increase your protein intake: Eat high protein low fat foods like tuna fish (and other seafood), chicken breast and lean meats. Remember that without protein your body cannot build new muscle. Also proteins aid in muscle recovery after workouts. Take ample rest: Try to ensure that you get an adequate amount of rest and sleep every day. Gaining weight is a slow process, so don't expect overnight results. Set realistic goals for yourself and aim to gain gradually, say around 1kg to 2kgs a month. And once you've reached your target weight, maintain your healthier weight by keeping up the lifestyle changes you've made. kalrasachin@hotmail.com
|
|
The Grey Area
Dementia can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle, says Dr. R.K.Vasishta, Prof. In Histopathology dept, PGIBacchus lovers will not like this. The long list of diseases (which most happy-go-lucky drinkers presume will never hit them) has just got longer.While the most common disorders associated with excessive liquor consumption include vitamin deficiencies, alterations in sugar and fat levels in blood, hepatitis, fatty liver and abnormal heart rates and rhythms, that extra peg giving that extra high can cause long term loss too. Excessive alcohol consumption could lead to serious brain damage and cause memory deficits, which doctors in their medical jargons describe as dementia. Dr RK Vasishta, Professor in Histopathology department of PGI said that those who are heavy drinkers (more than two drinks a day) develop this problem earlier than others. Therefore, it is important to realise that simple lifestyle changes such as healthy diet , physical and mental exercises along with reduced alcohol intake can alter our risk of an incurable disease of the mind. Explaining the disease, he said, "There are two groups of factors that cause dementia. First is non-modifiable and comprises of age and family history. The second group consists of modifiable factors, which can be corrected to reduce the threat of dementia." In fact, the group two (modifiable factors) comprising nutrition, exposure to toxic substances like alcohol and cigarettes, intake of fatty diet and high blood pressure can be managed if rendered early and proper care. The brain should be exposed to new challenges so that it explores novel ways of survival. Studies have shown that regular mental activity reduces the risk of dementia by one-third. What is dementia? Dementia is a brain disorder characterised by a decline in several higher mental functions (eg memory, intellect, personality) that causes significant impairment in daily. Most types of dementia are progressive and irreversible. Upto 50 diseases affecting the brain can cause dementia, but the commonest causes are Alzheimer's disease (a degenerative illness in which brain cells become disconnected and die), vascular disease (atherosclerosis of brain arteries leading to strokes), mixed Alzheimer's disease and vascular disease and dementia associated with excessive consumption of alcohol. The chances of being afflicted with dementia rises with age, doubling every 5 years between the ages of 60 and 90. It involves negative change in the personality, behaviour and cognitive functions. Cognitive changes include loss of memory, thinking, judgment etc. Dementia -- an epidemic by 2040? It has been estimated that the number of dementia patients world over would be 59 million in 2030 and 104 million in 2050. There will be an increase between 200-500 percent in different regions of the world in the number of dementia patients. According to census 2001, in India population of dementia patients was 2.69 million. It is expected to grow to 10.7 million in India by the year 2040. Dementia occurs in 3-5 percent of elderly and the prevalence goes on increasing with advancing age. It is 0.5 percent at the age of 55 years which goes on doubling every 5 years, like 1 percent at 60 percent year of age, 2 percent at 65 years of age and so on and so forth. Dementia is 1.5 times more common in females than male. Thus, at this rate of increase, dementia is going to be an epidemic around mid 21st century. l
Precautions to be taken l l Avoiding addiction l
Good diet management if suffering from diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease etc. Also, the normal routine followed by the patient in his/her daily life should also not be changed because during the period of this disease, the patient's remote memory remains intact but the recent memory gets lost, therefore, no change in the daily lifestyle of the patient can largely affect him/her. anujaj@tribunemail.com
|
|
Balancing act
Educationist Amar Nath Dar, says we should not hesitate to bring technology into classrooms
Joining Dikshant Group of Schools as the director, Amar Nath Dar, is still chasing his dreams, through his students. "Treating your students as human beings makes your job easier because you don't have to preach them. Just allow them to evolve on their own. Allow them to communicate, bring in the fun element in teaching and do not over burden them with forced aspirations and superficial achievements," says Dar. Question him on the operational aspect of old school values working in the contemporary set up, and how it is has fueled the learning system, Dar suggests a balancing technique. "Contemporary scene of education should not be feared, but bring in technology too. Trust, and then teach the students to live without any intimidation." Debating over the role of a teacher that has changed over the years in definition and in conduct, Dar believes that it is still the toughest job ever. "It never had a definition. If you want a teacher to have multiple hands, then you need to know the challenges it brings in too. Very few dare to be a teacher because a teacher without self-respect is not a teacher." He adds, "I had the worst results when I had the best of teachers and best results when I had none. Connectivity is more important." And this is also a solution to many issues that the students deal with today. "We talk about counseling, peer pressure, group interaction, personality development, human resource management in the field of education, but we fail to regard them as human. Development is the last word that we consider. Give them the freedom to make their own choices and everything else will fail." No wonder his take on the recent moves taken by the education ministry to ease out the burden on students at the school level seem baseless, "All this is cosmetic, just gimmicks. How do you expect children in rural areas to study by abolishing examinations, which is the only purpose of studies? Give them conscience instead and trust them to take care of the rest." A thought worth consideration. Anybody?
|
|
Dance like us
Whether it were the little under 9 angels or the adult couples, they had the audience clapping as they went through the competition. And, emerging the dancing couple champions were Bandeep and Soma in salsa and Samdish and Prashansa in jive and cha cha cha. The two will make it to the National DanceSport Championship to be held later this year. Among the celebrity judges were the golden dance couple of India Preeti Gupta and Shanon Benjamin, who brushed the dancing skills of the dancers at a six-day workshop prior to the championship.
|
|
Tale of many cities
Legendary Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan launched a new local search engine www.lookmycity.com at a function in Sector 34 exhibition ground on Saturday night. He mesmerised the audience by his spectacular live performance Mahak Punjab Di. Famous personalities of Tricity were felicitated on this occasion, including creator of the Rock Garden Nek Chand, Indo-Pak war hero Brig. Chandpuri, music director Varinder Bachan and hockey player Pargat Singh.
In his address, Dev Chawla, group president, LookMyCity says, "The new web portal, LookMyCity.com will spread its wings all over India this year. It will have useful information about Indian cities, including the history of the city, local news, local people's search, picture gallery of the city, local events, information related to various institutions like hospitals and banks. The portal also has a feature to evaluate local companies, malls, hotels, eating joints and job consultants etc." Nav Saurav Singh, CEO and MD, LookMyCity, says the major attraction is that all the information about any city is available from one single number all over India that is 3535-3434. The unique feature of the portal is its cheaper and flexible rates, variety of products and services, communication with customers via e mail, sms and phone, and reduced transaction through online orders. —
TNS |
|
Jokes apart
Sudesh Lehri gives an insight to the laughter business The phenomenal increase in the number of singers and comedians surely surprises one. Are these the most lucrative professions of the day? Or, it is damn easy to twist and turn the vocal chord and play with the facial muscles? Whatever the reason, Sudesh Lehri, comedian has different take on the subject. "If I ask you to list out the names of singers out of the whole crop that you have, how many can you actually name? Only the best ones I believe. The same holds true for comedians as well. I know there are many comedians around, but only the good ones hold the chance of survival," shares Sudesh, in the city to perform at Chandikrit on Sunday. Sudesh knows that everything in life comes with a shelf life. "Survival is the key word. And, I don't think a comedian can survive on repetitive or stolen jokes or acts. Freshness is the key to survival," adds the comedian, a winner of Comedy 3 Ka Tadka. "If I have to be different then I have to invent and look for jokes which are different and at the same time true to life. My stand up act is a success if the audiences can relate to it." Now the question from where does he gets the ideas? "Life is an inspiration in itself," says Sudesh, to be soon seen in an upcoming Hindi film Muskuraa Key Dekh Zara. "My acts are based on real life incidents. The audience should be able to laugh their heart out and not start thinking about the joke." But, it is instant reaction from the audience, which motivates Sudesh Lehri. "I am like a child playing on stage, and I like when the audience enjoy my game and applaud in return." All the same, Sudesh doesn't wear his 'funny character' image on his sleeve. "I am not a joker. I am pretty much like any other normal person who sits and spends time with his family," chips in Sudesh Lehri. "I like meeting people and making them laugh, but I have more to me than a funny bone." What about having a comedy school? He laughs, "It is a god's gift, how can you teach someone how to crack jokes. It is okay to pick up tricks here and there, but comedy definitely can't be taught," adds the comedian.
|
|
Spice
up
Of course, there is an art to applying make-up, more so where men's make-up is concerned. Needless to say, it should be so subtle that it is difficult to know that the look is the result of make-up! It is essential to keep to cosmetics with a matte (non-shiny) finish. Gloss, shine and frosted make-up are not for men. But, first thing first. Regular skin care is so important. So, exfoliate regularly with facial scrubs. Of course, scrubs should not be applied on pimples or sensitive skin. But, regular exfoliation helps to remove dead cells and brighten the skin. Tone the skin daily with a rose or mint-based skin tonic. In fact, you can put the toner in a spray bottle. Keep it in the fridge and tone with a fine mist of the toner. It is most refreshing and improves blood circulation to the skin surface. If the skin is dry, apply moisturiser and nourish the skin regularly. And, get a close shave before applying make-up. Foundations or pressed powder help to achieve a smooth skin texture. In fact, foundations and concealers also help to cover blemishes, like pimples or dark patches. Take very little concealer on a fine brush and apply it on the blemish or pimple mark. Blend outwards. The foundation for the face should be the same shade as your normal skin tone. A water-base foundation would be more suitable, as it is lighter. In fact, add a drop of water to it for a lighter coverage. If you have a beard or moustache, avoid applying foundation on those areas. Or, you can leave out foundation totally and go for a tinted moisturiser with a matte effect. Pressed powder can also help, especially in humid weather and for oily skin. Leave out foundation and use the powder. It helps to reduce shine. It can be used on oily areas, like the forehead, nose and chin. Opt for a light matte powder in a beige tone. Avoid pinkish shades. Stray hair from eyebrows can always be plucked to give them a better shape. To make the eyes look brighter, a hint of shadow can do the trick. A dark grey or dark brown shadow can be used to line the eyes, just below the lashes. The aim should be to achieve a natural look. Blending helps. One coat of mascara can also be used to make the eyes look darker and brighter. Comb out the lashes after applying mascara, so that the lashes don't stick together. Look for lip balm to make the lips look smoother. They also add a hint of shine and are ideal for winter care. A neutral colour or transparent lip gloss would be best. |
|
Lofty Aspirations
Three films on the marquee this week and with no big film in sight it could have been a home run for all three. In fact none of the films have anything exciting in terms of story, narrative or technique. Film: Aakhari Decision Cast: Amar Sidhu, Sumona Chakravarti, Anant Jog, Navni Parihar, Nagesh Bhosle Director: Deepak Kumar Bandhu Aakhari Decision had the lofty goal of transforming an NRI physician(Amar Sidhu) into an action hero. As an actor Amar Sidhu is a dud for sure but one doesn't know what kind of a doctor he was. The film had an interesting premise-'what happens when a hitman falls in love and wants to make a commitment to his lady love.' But the manner in which helmer Deepak Kumar Bandhu tells it, it appears stale and extremely run-of-the-mill. Amar Sidhu who plays the lead role of hitman is quite an expressionless wonder with poor diction and even poorer voice modulation. Sumona Chakravarti is quite competent though. The stalwart Anant Jog is good but none of them have any inkling as to what track they were supposed to follow. The film has confusing plotlines and the narrative is a bit too passive to be mistaken for an actioner. The songs are also inserted without giving much thought to fluidity. They appear at intermittent intervals without rhyme nor reason. Staying away from this one would definitely be the best decision- for sure! Film: Click Cast: Shreyas Talpade, Sada, Sneha Ullal, Chunky Pandey
This film is a pitiable copy of a B-grade Hollywood adaptation (Shutter)of an original Thai film. Sangeeth Sivan's film has neither technique nor scares. It's a flaccid, non-aggressive attempted horror thriller that is without sting or bite. The story is quite uninteresting and there is neither atmosphere nor tension in the narration. Everything appears predictable. Rami's camerawork is extremely pedestrian. There is neither mood nor momentum in the narrative. The make-up and effects are also quite shoddy. The ghost walking upside down or clambering head first, down a ladder looks extremely cheesy. Even the performances are just standard issue. Frankly, this film really doesn't click as a genre representative-even a Ramsay film would provide more scares than this one. Film: Toh Baat Pakki Cast: Tabu, Sharman Joshi, Yuvika Choudhary, Ayub Khan, Vatsal Seth,
Director: Kedar Shinde Toh Baat Pakki is a film derived from one of the silly subplots of the typical 1970's issue family social. Convoluted, contrived and unpalatable twists from the second half on renders the entire film ineffectual and exasperating. The problem really lies in the script which is too small-minded and underachieving. The plot is driven by clichés, the dialogues are silly and ludicrous and the performances lack depth. Kedar Shinde's narrative technique is unimpressive. Tabu appears to have misjudged this one for sure.
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
It's about that 'little something', the 'X' factor, the psychological element or whatever they call all phenomenons unexplained. Not that the bricks or the ceiling change but the feeling of being amidst walls which once were the domain of someone so big, so famous, so great. This is the house…that is the room… once upon a time he lived here…the list of such residences at Panjab University campus galore. 
Neeraj
Pathak, the writer, with movies like Pardes, Deewanagee, Ghaat, Jurm and Apne to his credit, looked a confident man as he came to the city to promote Right Yaaa Wrong, his debut film as a director.
She made her debut in Mahesh Bhatt's Kalyug. Deepal Shah, the Baby Doll had turned into an actor. And well, there was no looking back. 
For someone who was born in the dormitory of Scindia School, joined the school as a five-year-old and later became the principal of the same institution, traditions and values become the way of life. A school master at Doon School, Dehradoon, head of the institution at Scindia and an eminent educationist in the country, Amar Nath Dar fits into the picture of a 'renaissance man' that every school would want. Call it an umbilical connection with the system or an experience of 31 years in the field of education, the fulfillment is clearly visible. "Well, most of the times, the experience is wrongly termed as wisdom, which I believe I still cannot claim to have achieved," says the man, born with the values of the 19th century, teaching the same to the 20th century, and is now ready to share his experience with the 21st century generation. 
As many as 27 couples put on their dancing shoes and kept a big gathering spellbound for two hours as they did intricate steps of the jive, cha cha cha and salsa at the second Chandigarh Dance Sport Championship held at the Skating Rink-10 on Sunday.
Beauty care is no longer only a woman's prerogative. Skin care, facials, manicure and yes, even make-up, have become very much a part of male grooming in recent times. Skin care products for men, ranging from facial scrubs and packs, to nourishing creams and moisturisers, adorn the shelves of most cosmetic stores. So, why should make-up be far behind? In fact, since male models started walking the ramp, make-up for men has steadily caught on. Why not take the help of foundations, concealers, or tinted moisturisers if they make you look and feel good, or help to cover up blemishes and highlight your good features?
Director: Sangeeth Sivan
Himani Shivpuri