V.S. Naipaul's An Area of Darkness sums it up. Perhaps, he had to pen down the travelogue detailing his acute sense of disillusionment that the author experienced on his first visit to his native land. Perhaps, the same for Alexander Frater, when he crosses through India during the monsoon and bares it all in the classic Chasing the Monsoon. Mark Twain too couldn't keep all to himself while writing Life on the Mississippi. Then there's Maximum City, the ultimate verdict on the megapolis seen through the eyes of an Indian American.Sooner or later, there comes a travelogue from the league of Pulitzer or Booker winners, yet the genre is not quite there. We talk to a few from near and not so near…

It's not easy to pen down out of the world experiences within the constraints of 26 alphabets. "A good travel writer is one can who capture and freeze the essence of the place. For example, if it's Golden Temple you're writing about, there has to be more feel to it than picking up a brochure," shares Inder Raj Ahluwalia, travel author. His book Meet Me at the Border, lists his escapes around 50 different countries.

Says Puneetinder Kaur Sidhu, freelance travel writer, "To be able to write well, one needs to travel, travel and travel. One certainly needs to know about life on the road and the dynamism that's infused into travel writing due to personal experiences far surpasses info culled from the web." She shares her exploits and escapades through several countries in Europe in a first person account Adrift: A Junket Junkie in Europe. As also narrates the organised car pool facility that had her exploring the country at dirt-cheap price.

Recently, Michael Bananav, American journalist, shares it all in The Caravan of White Gold, a 1600 kms odyssey through the Sahara desert. Benanav lived for weeks among the camel drivers as they traveled eighteen hours a day for nearly six weeks through sandstorms and searing heat. Needless to say, the genre is not quite there. So near, yet so far…"This genre is not very common because not everyone gets a chance to travel far and wide. I myself have been traveling for over 30 years now and in the process I've made a lot of sacrifices. I could have done some other work in the meantime and earned comparatively a lot more money," says Inder Raj Ahluwalia and further lists the reasons for paucity in the genre, "Also not everyone has a flair for both writing and traveling at the same time." Agrees Sumitra Senapaty, founder women's travel club, the Wow Club, "Not too many people get the opportunity to travel and write about their experiences."

All this while she plans to work on a journey through South India on the Golden Chariot.

Never mind hurdles, favorites abound. She adds, "My favourite authors in genre include Paul Theroux, Jan Morris and Jug Suraiya." For Puneetinder, it's all the titles by Bill Bryson she can't put down. She adds, "I have been romancing the Himalayas for sometime now so my next book is a natural outcome of that affair. Plus I feel, unless commissioned works, most travelogues are a result of an unforgettable experience that authors decide to share." Journeys, travels, destinations…the best things come unplanned.

manpriya@tribunemail.com 

In the entertainment industry, success is usually defined as what sells the most. So, we have dozens of Punjabi songs being released by the day with random faces dancing on tracks sung by unknown faces. Identity crisis, piracy, plagiarism, exploitation by Bollywood, the problems are plenty, solutions nowhere to be seen.

"Talented artistes are either being wasted or sidelined by the commercial priorities of the market," is Lehmber Hussainpuri's instant reply to the intended question. The singer was in the city to promote his latest album, Sher-e-Punjab, which has a team of Punjabi artistes compiling their best songs.

"A lot of fraud has been happening with new singers. The song might become a hit but no one recognises them outside the studio because the videos have someone else's face," he says.

Call it his own experience or an advice coming from someone who has been in this industry for the past decade now, "The artistes should act in their own music videos to avoid such instances." While this takes care of one of the issues, the others need time and effort from the industry insiders to get sorted out. "As an artiste, I feel responsible enough to take care of these things," he adds. Though he too feels one can't escape the market trends.

"I started with devotional songs, ghazals, qawalli, dhadi parampara and using instruments like dhol, chimta and baja were the only things used for solos performances. Now, I have over 350 songs being produced in the UK, all influenced and suited to fit into the current entertainment culture. You can't help but become accustomed, but should not completely compromise with creativity," says Lehmber.

Another cultural corruption that he fails to understand is the negative image promotion through songs. "Put Jatt, safari, dunalli, pistol, katl in one line and you have a popular Punjabi number. Again, the artiste feel helpless when that's what works for the market," he says.

But all's not bad with the industry. His respite comes by the fact that Punjabi artistes are exploring global opportunities and being recognised for their songs, and not just in one genre. Even Bollywood is coming with good offers." Akshay Kumar seems to be the brand ambassador for popularising Punjabi artistes in Bollywood and he has performed on two of Lehmber's hit songs, Kade Saddi Gali and Tere Roop Di Hogi Balle Balle live. More is expected Lehmber's way as he is in talks with Suniel Shetty to sing for his upcoming project.

But what about finding alternative career in acting in Punjabi movies, like most of his counterparts? "I don't know acting, I am happy singing and performing at live shows." Humility? Maybe. But for now, he is planning his solo album that is to be released shortly and another on devotional songs.

nehawalia@tribunemail.com

The record audience participation witnessed in the three-day 40th Bhaskar Rao Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan and the recent classical music concerts like “ Aei Basant Bahar, Rituraj Mehfil , Triveni Sabha or Baithak is certainly a tribute to the grandeur of Indian classical music. This genre, once eclipsed by the lighter folk and pop, is making strides to recapture its lost glory.

“Classical dance and music are here to stay,” feel connoisseurs like Pandit Yashpaul, Kamal Tewari, N Khosla and Shobha Koser. And in the success story Pracheen Kala Kendra is one institution which stands out for preserving and propagating the rich cultural heritage for over half a century. “As many as 42 top artistes had performed with brilliance for three days making the sammelan a memorable bonanza of classical music and we personally owe it to the intrusive audience,” says Shobha Koser, Registrar of the Kendra.

Santoor players Bhajan and Abhay Sopori and Odissi danseuse Meera Das who performed in the city for the first time were overwhelmed to see the large audience in the city. Similarly Misra Bandhus who has extensively performed in city too appreciates the tremendous rise in the number of audience, particularly youngsters. Station Director AIR Chandigarh MR Chandla has witnessed almost all Kendra sammelans and feels that all the three genres of classical music— vocal, instrumental and dance— are gaining popularity. 

Post Soch, Patchwork, Goonj, Jhankaar, Archo, it’s Cyanide! Yet another three-day fiesta from the stable of Panjab University, University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, to be precise. Enter day two, it’s early in the afternoon and the mood’s yet to pick up. There’s a huge pavilion, stage, with microphones in place, a couple of stalls are empty and action and events spread over.

The list of events runs endless and they’ve already run a marathon, saved a girl child through message writing, cut the crap in jam session, found out Mr and Ms Cyanide for the year, painted faces, played sudoku, had a mimicry competition, played dumbsherads, presented papers, tested friendship, flirted too!

Shares Sanat Bhardwaj, second year student, “Last year we had many more events. Since this time we had lot many other events to juggle with so we kept them less in number.” He adds, “We distributed the entire work, brainstormed over what all to include and for that we take feedback from our seniors, super seniors, super super seniors. As to how the event can be modified, it’s kind of a mock drill for the organisers and fun for the audience.”

No, the day two schedule’s yet to tick off. The colour of the day comes from mehndi and rangoli competition, then there’s a turban-tying competition, pag yar di, desi roadies, ball dancing, nail painting, rapster, Cyanide idol, with two of them titled Besura, Tashan Main. Eighteen, to be statistical.

“We’ve been preparing for it since the first week of February now,” shares another student.

“I like the area where they hold the events, not in the closed claustrophobic auditoriums like others, but out in the open, where everyone can see and we get a complete carnival or the school fete feel,” says Sharanjot, a student.

Of course, there’s a rock night fitted in between, with six bands scheduled to make everyone among the crowd go jamming or head banging.

manpriya@tribunemail.com

Wills Lifestyle, ITC's premium fashion brand, has announced that renowned jewellery designer and one of the most active celebrities on Twitter, Farah Khan Ali, is the 'Wills Twitter Face' at the forthcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, India's foremost fashion and trade event.Wills Lifestyle has initiated this association with @FarahKhanAli to explore the platform of new-age media to engage with the patrons of WIFW in an interesting fashion. It is an effort taken towards striking an instant connect with its patrons and followers of the fashion week.

Recognising the growing popularity of Twitter in India and especially of @FarahKhanAli on this platform, Wills Lifestyle decided to take on board @FarahKhanAli as the 'Wills Twitter Face' to cover the event for this medium.

Atul Chand, divisional chief executive, ITC's Lifestyle Retailing Business Division, said, "This season we are delighted to associate with Farah Khan Ali. She is a regular on twitter and enjoys a lot of support and fan following on the website. Through this association we will be able to reach out to a large fan following on Twitter and create excitement around WIFW."

Speaking on this association Farah said, "I am excited to be associated with Wills Lifestyle in this unique way. “—TNS

Myth: One must obtain big-sized fruit plants to get the crop early. It is not so. In fact, there are more chances of field mortality. More the size of the plant, more the time it has spent in the nursery. That also means there is more the development of feeder roots, most of which get severed when such plants are extracted from soil. The field success of such plants is drastically reduced. The plant should be medium in height with healthy look and with live growing central bud. There are government recognised and registered private nurseries too from where you can obtain plants. Here, the mother plants from where the plants are multiplied are of known pedigree. 

Nine days of fasting are back and so does the opportunity to make amends with your religious self. Prayers, observing fast, enjoying the selective platter, performing kanjacks and well, the status of being the ones who are doing so! For some, the Navratras may be a religious celebration and a ritual that our moms have been following with full dedication and devotion, but for most youngsters, the motivation changes from being religious to being diet conscious.

Keeping the fast seems to be the best possible way to solve two important issues in their life – pleasing the Almighty and keeping in shape. It’s a hit with young girls who otherwise have to bank heavily on sweating it out in the gym and keeping a watch on their food.

“It’s another festival that I celebrate, only here you fast, which is not difficult because it gives you one complete week to control what you eat. And, since you have to survive on a selected diet of fruits and milk, it helps you detox as well. So, its health with spiritual benefits,” says Manishtha Sharma, a UILS student at Panjab University.

“It’s fun observing the fast as you are allowed to eat, though in proportions. For someone like me, who usually keeps out of daily ritual and praying to god, the Navratras are one way to compensate for my keeping in touch with my spiritual side as well. I used to observe fast only for last two days but this time I am extending it to whole nine days,” shares Suruchi Yadav, a computer engineer working with a city call centre.

Now, reasons and logic aside, for some the Navratras are special this time with a significance attached to it. “These Navratras are being considered auspicious and its after 150 years that this I happening. If you fast all nine days then whatever you wish will come true,” says Mickey Sharma, pursuing MCA from PU. Well, who minds being a little selfish if God doesn’t mind?

But then isn’t eating the same food for over a week a bit too much? “Well, then try making it innovative by planning a different menu everyday,” she says. Like? “Skip a few things and add them to the other days menu, like, day one eat only fruits, day two take only rice and kheer, day three…it helps in easy digestion and doesn’t make it boring,” she gets things right.