|
|
|
|
|
An abode called a farm
There is something real outside the cities, something that feels fresh like the dew drops. Somewhere outside the cities lies the wilderness and in this 'middle of nowhere' are people who have created heavenly abodes! The modern language calls this abode a farmhouse.
Far from the din of the city, some people have resurrected their lives in the farmhouses by making them their first home, their permanent residence. Now they no longer plan a weekend visit to the farmhouse, they have moved in to the place for good and some have even worked for months to come up with an appropriate design for their farmhouse - their permanent residence. Home is where the heart lies - for these people, some of whom have made their home on the farmland right from the scratch while others who have renovated their farmhouses as the first residential abode - tell us why their heart yearned for a place like this, away from the city. But of course, you also get to know the challenges they face and how the have struck a chord with them. Amidst nature
Anuja Lath Gupta couldn't let the thought out of her mind. She had a vast chunk of land in front of her, away from the city, which forced her into exploring options. "My husband suggested that we could make a bamboo cottage on the farmland and visit it over the weekends. Somehow, the idea did not appeal to me. Something told me I wanted to make a house there," Anuja vividly remembers how the family shifted from their permanent residence in Chandigarh to their farmhouse on Siswan-Kurali Road. "I moved in here because I had designed the house in my mind and on paper for almost eight months," laughs Anuja. Anuja's persistence made her husband Atul Gupta finally give shape to her blueprint. Friends wondered about the bizarre idea of staying away from the city; the couples along with their daughters too were aware of the challenges. "Every morning I wake up to see the hills of Kasauli, the chirping of birds; the fresh whiff of air. I get to eat home-grown vegetables, fruits and honey," she cites the pleasure of staying on a farm. In addition to the fresh feeling, the half-an-hour drive to her workplace also works as a de-stressor but Anuja is also well-aware of the challenges. "I was skeptical about the security of the family. Everyday
I carry a long list of things to be purchased from the city; there is no market nearby, we all have to be more organised," she shrugs. "Everything is worth it though," she smiles. Looking at the vast expanse that has a swimming pool under the blue sky, a trampoline, a big creative room dedicated for work and the freshness of nature…you bet it is! Homing in Karan Wahi, a young hotelier from Chandigarh who is Punjabi by nature, found himself a misfit in the concrete jungle. "I had a farmhouse in Ludhiana, which I would visit off and on. Then one fine day I just decided to move in there," shares Karan, who made all the necessary changes in the farmhouse. "Now that I had decided to move, I had to reset the whole place as my abode; a place where I was going
to stay." Interiors were done and Karan moved into the place without giving it a second thought. "I didn't face any difficulty staying in this new house because I know the place in and out," he adds. The blessing of waking up to see the green fields, sitting in the open under the shade of the trees, filling his lungs with fresh oxygen is, "A blessing that I cherish each day." Karan doesn't feel lonely, friends drop by often. A help at home does all the cooking. "From the home-grown vegetables by the way," he laughs. Travelling the distance to his working place is a problem still. "I wish I could make a separate lane for myself. The thought of getting back to my lovely home in the fields after a hard day is rewarding though." Getting organic Parminder Dhaliwal got married in 1982 and for the first ten years stayed at a farmhouse at Jaiton. With time, her kids grew up and settled abroad. And then she decided to move back to her farmhouse, making it her permanent residence. Says Parminder, "I am glad, I could move back." Parminder rates this as the best lifestyle. "The Internet at our farm works faster than in Chandigarh. My kids come and download movies here," adds Parminder, who does her grocery once a month from Bathinda. "My residence is packed with all kinds of facilities. Bathinda is a 25-minute drive from the farmhouse. I grow all organic vegetables here, including organic dal. It is far better than any city house," says the homemaker. Peace calling Pawandeep Singh from Ludhiana moved to his farmhouse along with his family. "I wanted to be away from the rush. My wife and I worked out the logistics and everything fell into place." Pawandeep travels to the city for work, which is hardly an issue for him. "When I see my house, the lush green lawn where I can relax and enjoy with my family and relatives, I feel the decision was right." There are challenges, but Pawandeep and his family have sorted out things.
jasmine@tribunemail.com
|
|
CELEB POINT
I've come a long way wearing sarees. As a 6-year-old, I once climbed up to ma’s closet and with the confidence that ma’s beautiful sarees would look good on me too, I took out the prettiest one. But the problem was that I didn't know how to drape a saree. So, I draped it around without any pleats and the result was disastrous. I wore mom’s heels too. I tripped really badly, the bruises were there, but in the process I tore ma’s precious saree! In school too sarees intrigued me. Something so graceful and how it was worn differently by different people. I kept looking at my teachers in awe. My most favourite was the one who draped the saree so beautifully. I wanted to wear it exactly like her. In a school drama I got a role and was given a choice between wearing a suit or a saree. Of course I chose the saree! And my favourite teacher draped it for me. This time it was my granny’s saree I had chosen and yes, I tore that too! I was fine on stage but as soon I was pronounced the winner, I ran on the stage forgetting what I was wearing and yes there went another precious saree! So, if ever ma or nanny gave me a saree, they knew they were seeing it for the last time. As I became an actor, I got more opportunities to wear and tear sarees, literally! When I was shooting for Shyam Benegal’s Subhash Chandra Bose, where I played his niece Ila Bose, I had to wear sarees Bengali style and run in the muddy water bare feet. And it happened! I tore the continuity saree and this time got scolded by the designer. “When you wear a saree, you need to know how to carry it, she said. I was a newcomer that time, but what she said stayed in my mind. I needed to learn how to carry it! With a vengeance, I started wearing sarees. I tripped, I balanced and slowly I got the hang of this very graceful drape. I read a write-up on me today in various saree looks. And when people say three actresses we like to see in a saree are Rekha, Vidya Balan and Divya, I feel I've come a long way. May be now I can take my mom’s favourite saree. And know I won't tear it anymore. (Dutta is a Bollywood actress)
|
|
green thumb
Onion and tomato, the most basic vegetables to be used in the kitchen, are luxury items now. It happens to many vegetables at different times of the year. With the changing lifestyle, the use of fast food is taxing on our pockets. The use of exotic vegetables in diets is also getting impetus.
One cannot meet the daily needs by growing these vegetables in home gardens, but even a limited produce from your own garden gives you immense satisfaction. And if you have sufficient space, say 250 square mt, with a little planning, you can have a good supply of vegetables for a family of six, all through the year. This is the time to start for winter vegetables. So set out with the planning. It is important to take into consideration the location of the plots where vegetables are to be grown. The vegetables by and large need plenty of sun, especially during the winter months. If there are trees that cast their shadow on the plot, then prune some of the unwanted branches without affecting the balance and growth. In case the watering is done with a hose pipe then the beds should be made as per the availability of space but if the water has to come from one side then the beds should be made along the water channel so that irrigation can be proper and done only in those beds where it is required at a given point of time. In case of smaller space, it is better to grow those vegetables that find daily use. You can also go in for those vegetables that are liked by all in the family. It is advisable to first draw a plan on the paper marking the area available. Depending upon the vegetables required repeatedly or liked, bigger area should be demarcated in the plan. In case of area constraint, one could use wires on vertical trellis on the sides of the plot to train trailing type of vegetables. Low height horizontal wire structures could also be used to train vines. Below the vines, certain shade loving vegetables or spices could also be grown for the maximum utilisation of the limited area. The raised partitions in two beds or the edge of the channel could be used to grow root vegetables like radish, turnip, carrot, beet root, knol-khol, lettuce, mint etc. No separate beds should be devoted to such vegetables. In case of perennial vegetables, choose plots at the corners of the garden so that they don’t interfere with the other seasonal vegetables. (To be concluded) (Narula is senior PAU horticulturist)
|
|||||||||||
|
Healthy gesture
As part of its mission to touch the lives of thousands of under-privileged children across Punjab and spread health and happiness this Rakhi, Dabur India Limited has announced the launch of a mega initiative – Réal Dil se Dua.
Under this programme, Réal would launch a signature campaign across Punjab wherein against each signature collected from a consumer pledging against hunger and malnutrition, a pack of Réal fruit juice would be distributed to a underprivileged kid to meet their nutritional needs through India Food Banking Network managed by campaign partner Aidmatrix Foundation India. On the occasion, Dabur also introduced Réal Greetings, an exclusive range of special Rakhi gift packs of Réal fruit beverages. The special gift packs, priced between Rs 105 and Rs 260, have been designed to communicate the goodness of fruits and the concept of ‘Wishes of Good Health’. The brand will set up 25 special entry gates across different market places in Punjab wherein the visitors of the market could leave their signatures as a gesture to give Dil Se Dua to the underprivileged kids. — TNS
|
|||||||||||
|
Ring tone
Senco Gold Ltd presents stylish cocktail rings at 10 per cent discount on the auspicious occasion of
Rakhi. Wear this statement design alone, or with the matching outfit to make it your signature style. Price:
Rs 20,000 on wards — TNS
|
|||||||||||
Bebo impresses Jha
Kareena Kapoor is quite professional, even when she is on a holiday. Recently, while she was in Detroit, she rented out a studio just to re-dub one line for Prakash Jha's Satyagraha, before it was sent for screening to the Censor Board. "The film went for Censor certification on Thursday, and just before that, we found that one of her dialogues had gotten corrupt," says Jha. Knowing that the actor was travelling, Jha asked her to record the line on her phone and email it to him. But Kareena, knowing the quality of that clip wouldn't be satisfactory, preferred otherwise. "Her dedication and professionalism has surprised me. As soon as she reached Detroit, she found a studio herself and recorded the line before she checked into her hotel. This was amazing on her part," says the director.
Big B finds AbRam adorable
Ayushmann set to fly
After the huge success of Vidya Balan starrer The Dirty Picture, Irrfan Khan starrer Paan Singh Tomar and Farhan Akhtar starrer Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, another young actor is about to enter the league of biopics. If recent reports are to be believed then Reliance Entertainment has roped in Ayushmann Khurrana to play the lead role in their next film that will be a biopic. The film is tentatively titled Bombay Fairytale.
According to sources, the film is based on the life of the first Indian who made an airplane. News has it that as soon as Ayushmann heard the script, he agreed to play the lead role in the movie. The script was apparently narrated to the actor by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bansali's assistant Vibhu Puri, who in all likelihood will helm the film.
Bizarre demand
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has sent out a unique casting call for his upcoming film Paani. The buzz is that he is looking to cast extremely thin actors who do not have more than 5 per cent body fat. The film deals with the scarcity of water and apparently the makers want actors who are physically shrunken.
United front
Bollywood celebrities will run a seven-hour-marathon on Independence Day to raise funds for the Uttarakhand flood victims at the NSCI ground, Worli. Many celebrities from TV and Bollywood are going to perform there. It is also said that Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be present there too. We wonder if they will extend a hand of friendship.
Back to life
Mira’s manhunt
Filmmaker Mira Nair, who directed films like Salaam Bombay, Monsoon Wedding and The Reluctant Fundamentalist, is all set to direct a crime thriller for Fox Searchlight Picture's Bengali Detective. The 55-year-old director is now in India to hunt for the lead actor. While the film is going to be produced by Scott Free and Michael Costigan, Sabrina Dhawan, who wrote Monsoon Wedding, is writing the script. Bengali Detective is based on the documentary directed by Phil Cox.
Spicy treat
Happy New Year to SRK, Deepika
Riding high on the success of Chennai Express, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone will be seen again in Farah Khan's much-delayed film Happy New Year. Farah recently confirmed Deepika as the lead. The film will bring the trio back together after Om Shanti Om.
Waiting for the verdict
Actress Tanishaa Mukerji, who is best remembered for her roles in Neal N Nikki, Sarkar and Sarkar Raj, is all set to act in a play called The Verdict. She is also acting in a Marathi film, tentatively titled Adhantari. We catch up with her to talk about the same.
What made you agree to do this play? I believe in facing my fears head on. I have had a fear of performing in front of a live audience and this is something I want to overcome. I play a character with the shades of grey. She's a woman who will do anything for love. You're also acting in a Marathi film. Tell us about the film and your character? The character I play is a real one. It's like any intelligent Indian girl today influenced by the west but with strong Indian values. Bharti Achrekar plays my mom in the film and it's so much fun working with Bharti aunty because she shares a great relationship with my mom. My character is of a Marathi girl who has grown up in London and so to get the accent right, I took diction lessons. Are you fluent in Marathi? How are you preparing for the role? Marathi is my mother tongue and I've spoken it all my life. Though I am comfortable speaking the language, I had to hang out with my Marathi crew to get my diction right. My accent had to be that of an English girl, so I didn't need the typical Maharashtrian accent. Directors you would like to work with and why? I would love to work with Balki and Farhan Akhtar as they are very sensitive towards their female characters. Your dream role would be… My dream role would be to play Diana in the autobiography of Princess Diana. Which are the films that you would like to watch with your family again and again? I love to watch Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
|
|||||||||||
Comic caper
Film star Anil Kapoor, who is working hard to shoot for his TV acting debut, 24, apparently got so involved in an action scene for the show that he didn’t realise he had hurt himself while punching a stunt man. Not only was the actor hurt, but the stunt man as well.
Shruti steps in
Now, Atul Kulkarni on telly
Known for his powerful screen presence and versatility, the enigmatic Maharashtrian actor Atul Kulkarni is now set to debut on Indian television as the host of the Savdhaan India—Mumbai Fights Back series. This NSD graduate with a strong theatre background will be seen giving a reality check to the audiences.
Commenting on the series, Ajit Thakur, General Manager Life OK, says, “With a new season of Savdhaan India —Mumbai fights back, our aim is to spread awareness; urge the audiences to rise and fight back. Through the series we want to re-instate and re-establish the lost glory of Mumbai, the safest city, and encourage Mumbaikars to fight against crimes.” Atul Kulkarni, who is excited about his television debut with this series, says, “I am happy to be associated with a show like Savdhaan India. Being a Mumbaikar myself, I feel it is extremely important to make my fellow citizens aware of the crime rates in the city and how they can fight against them. I hope the audiences accept me in this role.”
Closing time
Film star Anil Kapoor, who is working hard to shoot for his TV acting debut, 24, apparently got so involved in an action scene for the show that he didn’t realise he had hurt himself while punching a stunt man. Not only was the actor hurt, but the stunt man as well.
Ruslaan’s all-agog
Sony’s new show Kehta Hai Dil Jee Le Zaara, starring Sangeeta Ghosh and Ruslaan Mumtaz, has already started creating a buzz in the industry. And what we hear is that the male lead in the show, Ruslaan Mumtaz, is really excited about his small screen debut and also about working with the popular actress Sangeeta Ghosh.
Ruslaan is on cloud nine and feels this was a special gift this Eid. This year he broke tradition and instead of asking for a gift or Eidi from his parents, gave his parents credit cards as a gift.
|
|||||||||||
|
Astro turf
ARIES: “The Emperor” gets you in touch with your leadership qualities. Today your best approach is not to confront people but to go about your own tasks with great dedication. Tarot message: Use your judgement and be firm in extracting a commitment. TAURUS: The third eye of “Lord Shiva” opens for an infinitesimal moment to instigate a major transformation. You have a renewed sense of enthusiasm about projects that carry a meaning for you. GEMINI: “The Moon” takes you through a difficult Karmic situation today. Important issues come to light before 4 pm. You must address them even though there is a dark underside to them. CANCER: You draw “The Ace of Cups” that brings beauty, pleasure and happiness. Subtle pressure within organisations or even on friends seems necessary to get things done. LEO: “The Lovers” inspire you to climb new heights and actualise creative ideas. There are shakeups in relationships today; the challenge is to control them so that they occur in positive ways. VIRGO: You make an impact and shine like “The Star”. You can take the lead today; set the pace and control the emotional agenda. You are likely to work closely with children or have much to do with pets. Tarot message: Work can pose some difficulties but don’t worry. Lucky colour: Green. LIBRA: “The wheel of fortune” spins in some good fortune. Today you are capable of handling more than two or three situations at the same time. A partner can be a stabilising influence.
Tarot message: Be sure before involving yourself in a new project. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Magic number: 58 SCORPIO: “The Priests” usher in a pure, exalted and gracious influence. You are in a confused situation today where what you want to do, but do not exactly agree with what you have been taught. Tarot message: Try to relax and put your cares to one side. SAGITTARIUS: Nine Golden Cups ushers in happiness. After an active night, you will appreciate a peaceful day. You're in a position to stir things up but be very careful about arousing a reaction against what you're doing. CAPRICORN: The Queen of Wands allows you to achieve professional success with calm authority. You can blend logic and intuition to come up with new, creative directions. AQUARIUS: “The Queen of Swords” brings mental clarity and perspective in a chaotic situation. You work best with people with a common vision. You focus on what you want and let those with different ideas go their way. PISCES: “Three Wands” representing the universal - Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh - greet you today. You are able to establish your business and expand in new directions. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Farm frolic
