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FOCUS on society
Our first reaction after knowing the subjects of the short films was – what’s new? And it wasn’t even unjustified as enough has been written and printed about these subjects. Everyone knows almost everything about the Institute for the Blind in Sector 26 and its students.
Everyone also knows about the NGO Theatre Age, which supports slum children and how funds are raised by selling old newspapers. Still, Indu Bala Singh, a lecturer by profession, chose the two as themes for her two short films. “Students at the institute do much more than just learning braille. They are taught how to live life like us.” As for the accomplishments of Theatre Age shoeshine students, she says one update would do the talking, “A boy who grew up polishing shoes is now employed with a local news channel as a make-up artist. My subjects for the films have been life-changing experiences for some.” Indu recalls that she got the inspiration to film the functioning of the Theatre Age after a bitter experience. “I shared my experiences of teaching shoeshine boys with my colleagues in the college, who expressed interest in working for the NGO. But Zulfiqar never believed. He used to say that people make such promises, but never fulfil them. I soon realised that he wasn’t wrong.” It was then that Indu decided to make the film titled Ray of Light from Raddi, which was about the NGO. It features success stories of students and how much funds can be raised if half of the city’s population starts donating old papers. “The least that we can do is educate them so that they can support their families. I want them to realise that City Beautiful is rightly called so.” The films have been shot in a way that they highlight the strengths of the institutes. “Please don’t pity children. All they need is empathy and support. They are as capable as us, only if they had the resources.” Watching the film Seeing Through Eyes is like a journey inside the Institute for the Blind. Indu, besides shooting the obvious Braille classes, has also captured how the children are taught to eat food, play cricket and operate computers. “It was surprising to see children eat food without dropping a morsel from the plate. While they entered their classrooms in the morning, not once did any child push another. I am sure people would like to see these pleasing facts about the lives of these children.” Indu plans to take these films to various educational institutes across the country. She has already received an amazing response from colleges in Ludhiana where the films have already been screened. “We can’t run from the fact that our society lacks substance. Had that not been the case, there would not have been such appalling economic disparity.” She adds that only the youth can make a difference, a reason why she’ll take the films to schools and colleges. “I want to sensitise the youth. I want them to know that their little contribution to the blind school and donation of old newspapers can bring a change in lives of those who are not as privileged as us.” Game for it?
ashima@tribunemail.com |
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NET crusade
No one killed Jessica – everybody, including Rani Mukherjee and Vidya Balan, is waiting for release of the movie. As the fearless Vidya Balan and Rani Mukherjee take on the system in the film, a quiet, reserved man Gaurav Bakshi while sitting in his house checks out the comments on Facebook page Choosna Bandh campaign, scribbles a few notes on a notepad, fixes his gaze on a new report, ‘No One Killed Jessica releasing first week of January.’ “Things are moving,” says Gaurav Bakshi, an Indian representative for US company Witamix Corporation. He is also an actor who worked with theatre houses in the US and has now started an active campaign called Choosna Bandh against the corrupt practices of government employees. Ironically, it was only after he had to go through unsavoury incident in personal life that he decided to take the step. “I might have not come up with this campaign had I not faced this incident,” says Gaurav who confronted some government officials for taking bribe for the adoption process. “All hell broke loose when I told them that I had recorded everything and would show the clips to the police. They assaulted my father, a senior Air Force officer and me, snatched the camera and removed the memory stick. The sad part is nobody from the public came forward to help us. We do not have any witnesses also,” adds Gaurav. Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches. “I can’t say I can completely understand what Jessica’s family went through, the entire ordeal. Today, I can relate to the family, the running around in court, witnesses turning hostile.” Immediately after the incident, Gaurav launched the campaign on the social networking site. “Each one of us is busy in our lives, and it is sometimes not possible to support a cause for which we strongly feel about. Facebook is a meeting point of people.” Gaurav’s Choosna Bandh page on Facebook www.facebook.com/ChoosnaBandh registered 3,000 comments on the first day. Gaurav wants to make the public aware of the practices that are corroding the government system as well as justice for himself. And his campaign is being supported by Arvind Kejriwal - the man behind the RTI (Right to Information) Act. “I am looking forward to the release of ‘No One Killed Jessica’. It will make people see that it is not difficult to stand up for your own self. The exercise can be taxing, as sometimes no one is in your favour. In the end though, it is all about investing effort and not giving it up. Social networking site is a great platform to bring about awareness, and it should be utilised aptly.” He has also been approached by a documentary-maker who wants to highlight this issue through a short film. “We cannot push any social message down people’s throat, but if it is served in a light-hearted manner like a film or documentary the idea reaches across fast,” adds Gaurav. jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Rear view
Coming to what was in - flip-flops, the colourful, carefree footwear, assumed an altogether different role and made way to the campus, even classrooms. Pink, blue, green, yellow…take your pick, but to be seen in one was as essential as the uniform. While at footwear, owning a pair of gladiators was just as mandatory; something that made its way to canteen halls and lecture corridors. Last year’s Katrina Kaif’s style statement (read colourful head bands, check pants) gave way to upstreet high label fashion. Sonam Kapoor displaced one and all as the latest icon.
Last quarter of the year, lens brand Bausch and Lomb came up with its study to understand youth preferences on what looks popular on the campus. Once again, out of the glamorous, the casual or studious look…casual stood out. In between the year, jeggings too made their ‘me too’ presence felt. For this still clueless, the cross between jeans and leggings, cashed in on the comfort and the fit factor. There isn’t much that the year added to fashion archives. Period. As of now, it’s cheers to a new set of fashion rules!
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A new study has suggested that kids with no friends can become social outcasts who risk spiralling into depression by adolescence. The study by researchers at Concordia University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Vermont also suggested that for most shy and withdrawn children, friends could be a form of protection against sadness. “The long-term effects of being a withdrawn child are enduringly negative. Over time, we found that withdrawn kids showed increasing levels of sadness and higher levels of depressive feelings,” said lead author William M Bukowski, a psychologist at the Concordia Centre for Research in Human Development. A total of 130 girls and 101 boys in the third through fifth school grades, took part in the three-year study. Participants were asked to rate whether they felt shy or preferred solitude. Compared with friendless children, those who had friends were less likely to report depressed feelings. “Friendship disrupts the negative and long-term effects of withdrawal. Friendship promotes resilience and protects at-risk kids from internalizing problems such as feeling depressed and anxious,” said Bukowski. He added that, “Being isolated and excluded from the peer group can increase levels of depressed feelings in children and those negative feelings can escalate throughout adolescence. The key to avoid peer rejection is to make at least one friend. “Having one friend can be protective for withdrawn or shy kids. Our study confirms the value of having friends, which are like a shield against negative social experiences,” the psychologist concluded. The study is appears in the journal Development and Psychopathology. — ANI
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Santa comes calling
Decking up
The DLF shopping mall has loads to offer. Says Caroline, marketing head of DLF, “The mall is replete with Christmas gifts like mistletoes, hollies and wreaths. Santa Claus would be visiting the mall and distributing goodies to all the children.” And if you shop for Rs 2,500 and above, the mall will offer a goods bag that will have cinema tickets, discount vouchers etc. A wide range of trees, some as high as 10ft, are available on city stores. The white Christmas tree is a huge hit. Says Raminder Pal, Archies-22, “We have a special pine tree, which is very durable. The best thing is that we can dismantle it and pack it in a small box. One can get this tree for Rs 1,400, which is very economical.” Cake break
It’s always the signature plum cake that is preferred by people for Christmas. Says Priya, director of Oven Fresh, “Christmas is all about plum cakes with dry fruits and orange peels. We also have decorative cakes with Christmas themes.” While Nikhil Mittal, director of Nik Bakers, says, “We focus on making cakes with traditional recipes. We have come up with liquor-based mousse cakes and brownies.” |
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The magical time of the year that brings cheer and joy to members of all communities is just around the corner. Raffles Millenium International brought the Christmas fun in the festive season by celebrating with underprivileged children at the Institute’s Chandigarh Campus. The faculty of Raffles Millenium International shared special moments with the kids. Special X-mas gift packs were also gifted to all these kids. Raffles Millenium International’s whole team, including institute trainers, students, and faculty, along with campus director Sim Keng Lim, head of faculties, Mar Benitez and Maija Berzina, spent quality time with the children. There was also a Christmas tree decoration competition for the kids, which proved to be the highlight. The kids were divided in small groups and provided with Christmas tree and decoration material. They were allowed to sprinkle their creativity on the Christmas trees. The group with the best decorated tree was given a special prize by the campus director Sim Keng Lim. Speaking on the occasion, Sim Keng Lim, campus director, Raffles Millenium International said, “This festive season, we wished to add joy to these special moments, not only for ourselves, but also for those who are less fortunate than ourselves, transforming them into delightful memories for everyone. It is a special pleasure that we celebrated this special Christmas with these kids. It is a unique experience not only for the kids but also for our team. This is a special opportunity for them to learn the value of interacting with and sharing their joy with others.” — TNS
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Add a dramatic touch to your night-out with Edc’s party range which boasts of feminine texture and ultra modern shapes and offers a wide range of feminine tops, white silk shirts, skinny jeans, patterned blouses, fishnets, fake furs and silky knee-highs in grey and black. Reinterpret signature styles this season with soft, flowery dresses in red, yellow and black. Combine Edc jackets with leggings. Esprit women casual party collection has a wide range of leather jackets in suede and lambskin effects. Single blazers in materials such as tweed, herringbone, glen check, and hounds-tooth check is the treasure trove of classic casuals by Esprit. Esprit women’s collection party collection is all about keeping it crisp. Sharp clean lines and silhouettes define this range. Esprit men’s casual possesses a quirky-cool sensibility. White shirts, washed jean shirt and lamb’s-wool cardigans in relaxed styles are this season’s pick for a party. Casual sophistication is defined with Esprit casual blazers that come in washed-wool styles. Look good and steal the show because this holiday season Esprit guarantees to surprise you with exciting gifts and guaranteed compliments for your wardrobe. Esprit collection starts from Rs 590 onwards. — TNS
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In all there are 80-85 displays, each on an isolated theme. To begin with, there are photographs of a reservoir against the varying backdrop of nature. Against the clouds, the sunset, the twilight. “I wanted to display how the same objects taken with differing backgrounds makes all the difference,” he says. Among the paintings, there’s one called Behind the Door, involving a pair of eyes, a 3D lock and handle; a huge wall with the only hint of life being a man trying to climb it, a picture of a lady staring into the sea. “I painted the lady during my college days. I wanted to emphasise on the natural beauty of a female in a traditional sari.” Moving over to the less popular art, the topiary drawings and there are pictures of every conceivable animal. For the uninitiated, the horticultural art involves galvanised iron used to make huge animal forms. “In Europe it’s a really popular art but that’s not the case here. I am the sole artist from Asia to be a part of EBTS, a European topiary society.” There are flower bedecked dinosaurs, camels, crocodiles, cow, tiger, kangaroos, love birds, adorning the gardens around the city and outside. “Some of the forms are as huge as six feet and it takes around 10 days to complete one structure.” He adds, “I’ve often displayed these at flower shows and especially chrysanthemum shows in the city.” — Manpriya Khurana On till 24th December at Government Museum and Art Gallery-10
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Classroom fashion, like each year, remained more individualistic. By default, casual statements stood out amid the crowd and were perhaps the only thing carried forward from the last year. For the rest, out went the check pants, the stretch bands, harem pants…needless to say, what was out was more evident than what was in!
While the self-acclaimed fashion bibles across the shelves may have announced the return of the 60s charm, the bowstring, the pigtails, et al, nothing really translated onto the real life student or street fashion. If at all, one-piece dresses made their way only into a minority of wardrobes. Is anybody prompting boyfriend shirts? They may have not exactly set the varsity grounds on fire, but made a fleeting appearance. 
Santa Claus, Christmas tree, carols and delectable delicacies…is what Christmas is all about. And city malls, shops and bakeries are having a tough time dealing with the rush of people. From small bells to high mounted trees, a wide variety is on offer.
Similarly, Jewels-11, is offering a cartload. Says the owner, Chetan, “Apart from the décor items, we have Santa dresses for one and all. The ceramic and crystal candlestands are a hit with customers. So are the Christmas fairies.”
Esprit, the international lifestyle brand, has launched its latest winter party line inspired predominantly by red-hot, progressive fashion with a minimalistic approach.
It’s an assortment of themes, mediums, art forms and even the inspiration! The exhibition of photographs, paintings, sculptures and topiary drawings by Narinder Kumar Sharma is as varied as it gets. “This is my first exhibition and includes works done over a span of 25 years. Though most of the paintings are recent, some of them go way back to my college days,” he shares the introductory notes.