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Nature’s own
Ever imagined going to office each day and contributing to the cause of ‘Mother Nature’ while dispatching files and rounding up figures? Or how about moving your workstation to the middle of the Amazon rainforest?
Pass it off as our desperation to break through the straight-lined structure called office and cubicles called workstations, but the picture isn’t entirely a figment of our imagination. Instead, contemporary architecture and creativity born out of elements of nature is best exemplified in the Forest Complex in Sector-68, Mohali. Everything that we mentioned in the first two lines becomes a reality then! Smart architecture that cuts down your heat emissions by 75 per cent, reduces electricity load by 50 per cent, brings down the temperature by 4-5 degrees in this sweltering heat and also has an in-built forest along with a waterfall! The Forest Complex, state-of-the-art official headquarters of the Punjab forest department spread over an area of 1,51000 sq ft, merges the principles of modern architecture and green building design into one. And the person behind this eco-friendly venture is city-based architect and interior designer Renu Khanna, who came up with the idea of ‘Solar Passive Architecture’ for the complex. “The main objective here was energy conservation and using natural resources. We have implemented the basic elements of light, wind and water in the interiors,” she says. The skeleton of the building appears like a tortoise from an aerial view and the five pillars have organic shapes like trees. “The tortoise has a long life and is symbolic of the fauna. The five pillars represent Punj-ab,” explains Renu. The façade of the building has energy efficient double glass, “DGUs allow 85 per cent light and only 15 per cent heat to pass through. This reduces the load on the ACs. In addition to this we have an in-built forest area in the central courtyard that has plants, a water body with submerged bridge and a 40 ft waterfall made of ferocrete that helps in reducing temperature by at least five degrees,” says Renu. The building has landscaping done on every floor, has a large terrace garden on the first and the third floor, and an open air theatre to add the cultural aspect to the design. The entrance is cave-like with fountains on both sides. “The ceiling tiles used are green rated, paints used are low emission and the window-wall ratio is high for maximising natural light. There are sensors to control luminaries and water taps, so the moment the rooms are empty everything shuts down automatically.” In addition, rainwater-harvesting systems have been installed to conserve water. “We have not blindly put things together but studied the areas worth investing, and the result is a solid practical saving for lifetime. The initial cost may be five per cent more than the usual, but that will be recovered in no time and it is easy to maintain as well.” With over 25 years of experience, Renu is satisfied after doing her bit for nature. “Concern for the environment is growing and such designs are an attempt to bring the required change. The building offers a healthy environment to employees and saves cost as well as energy,” says Renu. Well, having won a national award for her ‘Solar Passive’ concept and the Forest Complex being in the list of the five best buildings in the country, she indeed has done her bit! nehawalia@tribunemail.com
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Creative spree
Turning a 6x6 area into a canvas where you can play around with your thoughts and put together elements of modern designing to create a space distinct in its style…involves creativity as well as a lot of hard work. But Siddharth and Aman Aggarwal of ‘Charged Voids’ at Mansa Devi Complex don’t mind the effort. Having won awards set up by the Indian Institute of Interior Designers in the ‘best workplace design’ and ‘young interior designers’ of the year category, both are focused on breaking fixed ideas about working in straight lines. “Chandigarh is a city known for its architecture. But after Le Corbusier there has been no effort to create good creative spaces without compromising on the character of the city. When we started practicing in 2006, the basic ideas was to be different in the given space,” says Siddharth. Contemporary in their approach, the two architects and interior designers have won recognition for their concept-based designs. And that for Bamboo Groove-35, a jewellery showroom in Manimajra, and their award-winning design for a workplace in Sector 32 speak for themselves. “We try to work with few elements, one being the highlight of the design. Like we used a film developed with numbers overlapping as the basic element for the Sector 32 office. Similarly, for the jewellery showroom the highlighting element was the spiral space enclosed in a golden box.” Both of them believe that the market is opening up to new ideas like never before. “The clients are accepting new trends, showing their interest in greener concepts such as recycled stuff, but it will take some time to develop,” suggests Siddharth. Till then, the two are busy creating happy spaces!
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Manto-Ismat Hazir Hain
Someone in some corner of the earth suddenly wakes up to find that his or her religious, moral, spiritual, ethical, (just about all kinds) sentiments are hurt. A narrative, a picture, or an ideology pierced right inside their heart, puncturing set notions. This, we bet happens to all artists.
It happened to MF Husain, Taslima Nasreen, Paash, Salman Rushdie. And it also happened to Saadat Hasaan Manto, Urdu short story writer and Ismat Chughtai, another Urdu writer known for her fierce feminist ideology. Result: The two writers faced trial on charges of obscenity. If Manto was acquitted, Chughtai was criticised for her story wherein a begum develops relations with her maid, something not acceptable in those times. And one man witnessed the drama unfold in a Lahore court during the 1940s. Ninety-five-year-old legal luminary, Hira Lal Sibal, father of union minister Kapil Sibal, vividly recalls how he defended the two writers. “They could have gone to anyone else, but they knew that I was quite concerned about the literary circle,” he recollects. On Friday, writer-journalist Nirupama Dutt captured the memories in a camera interview for a documentary being made on the initiative of Namita Gokhale, co-director, Jaipur Literature Festival. As he shares vivid details of the case, missing out just a few names of the witnesses he produced in his clients’ favour, we see Hira Lal conjure up the scene for us. “It was indeed one of the most discussed cases in Lahore and indeed an interesting one,” he smiles. His eyes lighten up with each detail he divulges. “Manto was an interesting person and very handsome too. He was acquitted for his stories Kali Salwar and March Ki Ek Raat that dealt with extra-marital sex, but Ismat was fined Rs 50 or so for Lihaaf, a story about a lesbian encounter.” Hira Lal Sibal studied Manto’s case and found nothing obscene in his writings. The prosecution then came up with a word in his writing ‘aashiq’, which they found objectionable. “I asked the judge what was so wrong with the word,” Sibal smiles, the creases on his face spring into action. “Then I asked whether they can suggest any alternative for it. I jokingly suggested if not ‘aashiq’ can we replace it with ‘yaar’ and everyone laughed.” The case was interesting and so were the witnesses produced - Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Nadim Qazmi, Rajinder Singh Bedi, Kanhaiya Lal Kapoor among others. “Writers like Faiz supported Manto for they too portrayed the real picture of society,” says Sibal, who got this case when he was just 30 or so. “I knew Manto before the case. I discovered more about his personality while I was fighting the case. Manto was handsome and Ismat was an elegant lady. The two progressive writers depicted the real picture of society without trying to conceal or layer it up with frills.” On the literary scene at that time, Sibal says, “Mushaira and symposiums were held at colleges. I got interested in Urdu when I was in my BA,” he smiles faintly. Adds VK Sibal, son of the lawyer, who happened to spend some time at Ismat’s home in Mumbai with her husband and daughter. “She was an elegant and affectionate lady. She made me feel quiet at home. Ismat also gave me the screenplay of a movie ‘Sheesha’ to read,” he chips in. This documentary will record the struggle of writers and artists who are often charged for obscenity by self-styled guardians of public morality. jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Power packed
You don't need to seek inspiration to highlight evil that is so prevalent in society. For evil today is not only part of the system but the system itself. "Inspiration is needed to convey something that's less prevalent. Corruption, red-tapism, injustice to the common man is the nature of our society," says Rakesh Singh Bhaduriya. Rakesh, director of the play Ek Aur Durghatna, didn't have to shortlist options for his first play at the Department of Indian Theatre. "These social evils affect all of us, as we are not part of the power realm. Hence observation and not inspiration was required." With over 30 stage plays and 5,000 street plays to his credit, this play, a satire on social evils, was thus a natural choice. The play is about a common man caught in the police net for a crime he has never committed. "He is a railway employee accused for planting bombs in a train. The police frames charges against him, subjects him to third degree torture, due to which he dies," he says. Then they go on to claim that the accused had committed suicide due to fear of a harsh sentence from the court. "Here 'begins' the actual plot. A judge, who is also a communist 'begins' to enquire about the case, the police 'begin' to come up with excuses to shield themselves. And the case 'begins' to unveil." Ek Aur Durghatna is an adaptation from an Italian play Accidental Death of an Anarchist written by Dario Fo. Besides the Hindi translation, the play has been adapted as per the Indian society and its issues. As Niresh Kumar, who will be playing the character of the superintendent of police, says, "The political and social ills prevalent in the Indian society have been highlighted well." There are other five actors who are part of the team; duration of the play is one hour 15 minutes and songs have been written by Piyush Mishra. Rakesh prefers to deal with serious issues through satire rather than heavy dialogues. "Comedy is in fact the most serious tool that theatre uses to highlight various issues. With so much of stress in daily life, we don't think people will appreciate sermons." He offers another reason. "It suits realistic theatre best, where we need to expose the wrongs in the system. It assures that people will understand their mistakes without taking an offence to the facts stated," adds Niresh. The play will be staged at the Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, on April 24. ashima@tribunemail.com
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First for the cause
Beauty pageants and tinsel town share a strong connection. Call it industry interdependency or the glamour quotient, both have, with time, grown in their contribution towards introducing fresh faces on screen, be it Bollywood or regional cinema.
And, so we have another beauty queen following her cult ritual and trying her luck at the box-office. City-based Mohit Inder Bawa, who won Miss Punjaban 2008, is debuting opposite singer-actor Babbu Mann in his latest Ekum-Son of Soil. The 23-year-old newcomer plays the female lead in the movie, which is a social drama based on the problems faced by farmers in Punjab. "I play a PhD scholar who works towards helping the farmers deal with problems like water pollution, generation drain, debt and suicide. It feels good to have started a movie that comes with a message. Since I come from a small village near Barnala, I was able to relate to the character instantly," she says. Her only tryst in front of the camera before Ekum…was shooting commercials for Mahindra and Bajaj Allianz. But acting, she says, is a God's gift. "After winning Miss Panjaban, I took up small projects and commercials. Then the auditions for Ekum… happened where Mandeep Benipal, who is the director of the film, selected me and within six months the movie is ready for release on April 23. "And it was her confidence as well as encouragement from her mother that she was able to do justice to the role, "I didn't prepare much before facing the camera. While shooting for the film, I learnt the on-camera techniques and both Babbu Mann and Mandeep were very helpful." More than just that, Mohit shares more on Babbu Mann. "He is very grounded despite being 'big' in the industry. He is very encouraging; understands the social problems that people in Punjab villages face. The movie was shot in his village and he feels for the cause of farmers. The younger generation is getting detached from their roots and blindly aping the West," she says. While understanding these issues deeply through her character, she hopes that the younger lot is inspired to take things in their own hands. As for the future, acquiring an MBA degree is on her agenda. "I want to see the response this movie gets, depending on that I'll plan my future projects." nehawalia@tribunemail.com |
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Hollywood actor Kristen Stewart is being lined up to replace Angelina Jolie as the main lead in comic book adaptation Wanted 2. Timur Bekmambetov, director of the series, wants Kristen to play a new young assassin in the adaptation, about a brotherhood of secret assassins who have control over secret superhuman abilities alongside James McAvoy. Angelina's character, Fox, was killed off at the end of the first film but Bekmambetov had previously told of his plans to bring her back in the second installment. "We know how to do this, but it's still tough to do, because there is a bullet inside her head. But there has to be a reason for her (Angelina's character) to come back and we know the reason. I think we found the reason for her to come back." — IANS
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Green biker!
Eighteen-year-old Sarabpreet Singh Ahuja is on a mission, to complete which he cycles for two hours each day. Sitting casually on his Firefox Bad Attitude, Sarabpreet is busy imparting his message to the little crowd that has gathered watching him perform stunts in Sector 10. And the message: "Contribute in your own little way to stop global warming." "We read about global warming in school and now we are actually facing it. Winters are getting shorter and summers are becoming worse. And people are making matters worse by using more cars and motorbikes," he shares. Sarabpreet dons his t-shirt bearing a 'stop global warming' logo and cycles everyday for at least two hours. "I want to reach out to my age group and share with them our responsibility towards the environment." Sarabpreet's experience has taught him that elders are not ready to listen, "Their attitude is 'why me?' I ask why not?" And he is very cautious while performing the stunts. "I only perform stunts to catch the attention of people and always wear a helmet while doing so. I am not looking for admiration, all I want is people should get serious about our environment." Son of an artiste who teaches in school, Sarabpreet has taken his parent's teaching to heart. "My parents want me to be a good person and earn fame." And this teenager has plans for a world tour on his cycle to spread his message. We wish him luck! mona@tribunemail.com
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Get booked
British Library organised series of events from April 22 to April 24 to celebrate World Book Day 2010. This day is celebrated throughout the world to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property. The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on April 23, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. It is a symbolic date for world literature. UNSECO has declared April 23 (Shakespeare's birthday) as the annual World Book Day. The idea has spread across the world. It has become a festival of reading, a day to celebrate the pleasures of reading and writing." A fancy dress competition titled Shakespeare Characters was organised on April 22, followed by a bookmark design competition as a part of the celebrations. There were almost 70 students from various schools in and around Chandigarh who took part in various contests. Results will be announced in prize distribution ceremony on Saturday. The library also organises an exhibition of children books ranging from fiction to non-fiction and general reading. The exhibition will conclude on April 30.
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No laughing stock this
To make summers stress free, Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts (CIPA) has taken the initiative of starting a unique Laughter Club. "Laughter is the best medicine. Laughter yoga is fun and an easy way to exercise as well as reduce stress," says Shyam Juneja, director, CIPA and the man behind the move. Juneja happened to get initiated to laughter yoga in 1989 during a Theatre Directors Course in Berlin, Germany. "I came across Barb Fischer, an exponent of laughter yoga in Europe. It was great fun. It occurred to me only recently that I should start such a course here," says Juneja. Thorough research on the subject and Juneja has come up with many practical laughter exercises, "I have created a few unique exercises that combine breathing, clapping and stretching with laughter." CIPA Laughter Club plans to hold workshops in various schools, colleges, corporate offices and also for morning walkers for a fee of Rs 250 annually. The first such workshop is scheduled at Government Senior Secondary School-7, Panchkula, from April 26th.mona@tribunemail.com Laughing helps
nIn reducing stress
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