|
|
|
|
|
Reviving the roots
In a restaurant a quotation displayed at the far end of the wall freezes your attention. 'Change your opinion, keep your principles, change your leaves, keep intact your roots—Victor Hugo' it says. And this is where it all starts and pretty much ends as well — the roots. It gives an identity, a reason, a shape to each one's individuality. It gives a reason, a reason that drives you to your goal.
He talks about innovative ideas, he talks about enthusiastic youngsters who have the desire to know about their culture, and he also talks about how back in Punjab, youngsters lack the same zest and eagerness. From the scratch Simran is eager to talk about the initiative, which was started almost eight years ago by Amandeep Singh. "Amandeep Singh wanted to connect young Sikhs living to New York with one another and provide them education about their tradition and origin." The Surat Initiative came into being to provide innovative educational materials and educational advocacy on key issues pertaining to the Sikh community. "The organisation is managed by a team of trained and committed people. We have almost 70 core people across the country in the age group of 18-35 who handle various projects." The group has managed to generate a lot of interest in the Sikh community, with just about every conference receiving entries in about 24 hours of their opening. The education initiative is taken up by Gunisha Kaur and Simran Jeet Singh. The team does a thorough research. In fact, all the core team members have an expertise in sikhi in one form or the other. "Oh yes, there is quite a bit of research that we also have to before we share it with others," adds Simran. The
old & new Simran Jeet Singh doesn't deny western influences, and he understands that teaching can be boring. "It can make you yawn," his voice crackles but then he gets back to his 'serious' talking. "We believe that abroad, there are very limited resources to learn sikhi, so we brought in the western model of education that would help us understand our traditions. For the same reason, we are doing interactive workshops and discussions and conferences." So, you could see a project leader helping youngsters to paint various shabads or even write poetry or organising the first Turban Day at Union Square in New York City. Happy parents The always-worried-about-passing-their-traditional values-parents are all praise for the Surat Initiative, "The youngsters are learning sikhi values, being educated on their culture, isn't this good?" With workshops being organised regularly and a conference once a year, The Surat Initiative educates the Sikh community on all fronts, inspiring people to make tangible, real world contributions. "We get a lot of young professionals. Many of our programmes are open to young kids, and people in the age group of 75-80 also take part in it." Support system The Initiative finds support from various Sikh organisations who are working on the same lines. "We haven't got any support from the state department other than a grant once for the running club inspired by Fauja Singh." Home turf Says Simran, "We have not yet got in touch with the SGPC. It is relatively early; we are still on the primary stage. At the same time, I still feel back in Punjab, there is a growing disinterest in religion. On the contrary, abroad, the youngsters are keener to learn about their religion more than their parents." jasmine@tribunemail.com
|
|
Winners take it all!
To be known as a regular at the Raid De Himalaya is very different from getting popular as the winner of the rally. He has been participating in the competition for the past six years but Jagmeet Gill only realised this time what was lacking all this while.
"Winning the rally has a different feel altogether. Not that I don't enjoy the thrill of driving over the rocky terrain and completing the rally distance before but this time the perseverance and efforts bore fruit," says Jagmeet Gill, whose phone hasn't stopped ringing after the results were announced. Congratulatory messages are flooding in from all over, helping him absorb how it feels to be a winner. At the 15th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya, Jagmeet defeated 61 other participants from the Raid adventure category. This is his biggest accomplishment so far, given the fact that he stood second last year in this rally and the Desert Storm. "Don't I have all the reasons to party?" Celebrating with him is Harpreet Bawa who scored the third position in the Raid Extreme category. "We drive on Khardung La and Wari la, the highest mountain passes in the world. Winning matters but what is more important is to be able to complete the rally, which a lot of co-participants are unable to do. Competing at such unbelievable altitudes is a feat in itself," adds Harpeet and Jagmeet agrees. "Once you get stung by the rallying bug, it's difficult to let go off the practice." Another Chandigarh participant, Baljeet Singh, a biker has ranked second in the Raid Extreme category. It's a different deal, when you not just have to navigate, but also balance the bike on the rough terrain. It was his debut run at the rally, and he is more than pleased with the results. "I didn't know that the rally is so mammoth a task. Weather is another challenge." So for a first timer, coming second is not bad a deal at all. ashima@tribunemail.com
|
|
Say Syria!
Never mind when we last placed Syria on the physical map, it doesn't take long for the flavours and the food to find their true fan flowing. It's exploring cuisines in the true sense of the word. Ten Towns, the Mediterranean restaurant, rolls its second edition of the food festival. The Syrian food festival lasts a month and a half and promises to bring in the true flavours of the place.
As for Syria, at times the unusual is the obvious. Nods Gaurav Sogi, the owner, "We have a lot of familiar food festivals coming to Chandigarh. Syrian food festival has never been brought to the city before and somebody has to make a start, take the risk and the get the populace introduced to a new cuisine." He adds, "Moreover, before this we held a Turkish-Greek food festival as we believe in reinventing our menu periodically." The dishes lining the table inspire conversation on the place, its culture and of course the food. He adds, "This cuisine is a fine dining experience and it can be served in five courses. Even if you quit after the second course, you'll have had consumed nothing unhealthy." While they couldn't have gone overboard with authenticity, it's an attempt at keeping things near reflective. "The cuisine is mildly spicy. We have tried getting authentic ingredients and kept it 95 per cent original. The five per cent of localisation is also in terms of local flavours and not local spices," he draws the line, while serving a platter of tabouli salad, that tasted just perfect and comprised, apart from pomegranates and sumac and zatar, cracked wheat. "There are about fifteen to twenty dishes on the menu, which we'll keep changing as well." Among the things that are really recommended is dawud basha, which is meatballs that are flavoured and cooked in tomato-herb sauce and served with rice. He adds, "There's also dolme gojeh farangi in veg and non-veg variations, which is tomatoes stuffed with minced lamb/bell pepper and flavoured with Syrian spices and served with BBQ sauces and fattouch salad." Sounds good enough. On till November 31 at
Ten Towns-26, Chandigarh manpriya@tribunemail.com
|
||
|
Beyond classrooms
When number crunching in office cabins appeared too repetitive to make sense, they quit to play the modern day Pied Pipers. Only the children came following their mentors into rock climbing, mountain biking, white water rafting. Adventure was more like it! "We were tired of doing the same thing again and again and all of us were a bunch of outdoor adventure enthusiasts," Puneet Palaha briefs on behalf of the five that quit their jobs with multinational companies in favour of starting Inme, an outdoor and adventure-based learning company. "We also had a lot of parents and even CEOs of companies coming to us wishing that their children had more social skills."
It's an initiative to provide specially crafted outdoor programmes for children. "We help the child build essential life skills through a mix of team and individual challenges beside activities in a new environment, outside their comfort zone," chips in Saurabh N. Saklani, an Insead graduate. He adds, "We have a tie-up with schools, where in we provide customised and structured outdoor programmes for children. We have already tied up with Strawberry Fields and are looking at other schools as well." Just when the schools fail to teach you beyond physics and mathematics or beyond the chemistry labs, they claim to step in to take care of the necessary gaps. "A school will take you on a trek at the most. We believe in using that trek as an opportunity to teach life skills. Our programmes are structured at enhancing the learning values." Adds Saurabh, "When children stay under such a challenging environment, that's when the true personalities emerge." From among the various remote sites that the bunch has zeroed in, are Tirthan in Himachal, Coorg in Karnataka and Rishikesh. The outdoor programmes claim to impart holistic growth of students between seven and 19 years. As for the stereotypical parental apprehensions, there's an assurance. "We have instructors that are certified and operators that are regulated." After all, thrill need not mean risky and adventure can be safe too. Curriculum-based outdoor learning is what they take pride in because power point can't teach you rock climbing and let's admit it, at times, the fights in the football field could impart wisdom unparalleled. manpriya@tribunemail.com
|
||
|
Actor prepares
Deepila Padukone got inspired by the way the female characters have always been portrayed in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films. She was mesmerised by Nandini's character in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and by Paro and Chandramukhi's character in Devdas.
She noticed that Bhansali always gives an altogether new life and journey to his female characters, so she gave her 100 per cent to her role and wishes that the audiences love Leela the same way that they love the other female characters from all of Bhansali's films. Commenting on this, Deepika stated, "I've watched all of Sanjays films and each one of his characters have been special and memorable. Having said that, every character has its own life and journey and I hope Leela is as loved and remembered as Nandini, Paro or Chandramukhi."
|
||
|
An experience of Life
After winning accolades across the globe, filmmaker Anup Singh's Qissa is finally going to be screened in India at the 15th Mumbai Film Festival. The film tells the story of Umber Singh, a Sikh who is forced to flee his village at the time of partition in 1947.
In a candid interview, director Anup Singh talks about the film and more… What inspired you to make this film? It has a lot to do with stories. Why have we been telling each other stories since time immemorial? My grandfather, for instance, all that had been left to him, all that he could call his own, were his stories. He was a refugee at the age of three, parceled out from what later became the Pakistan to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. For people like him, for those who were displaced, for their children and grandchildren, stories are a link to lost forefathers, lost homes and countries. These stories were everywhere in my childhood. Because of my grandfather, I was surrounded by refugees. But amongst all the stories, there is one that stayed with me and has a lot to do with this film. It was told to me by a very old man. Many women, as you know, would jump into wells rather than risk rape when their village was attacked during the partition. His daughter, hardly a teenager, had jumped into the well too and, sixty years later, he still dreamt about her. He told me that in his dream he saw her in the well, waiting for him, her father, to come for her. This story was one of the starting points of Qissa. As you can see, the strange thing with these stories is that they start as very real tales, traumatic memories, but often veer off into the imaginary, as if to affirm that something else could have happened, that, perhaps, somehow their lost daughters, sisters, brothers were still living some other life. I really wanted this quality of a fable for Qissa, but without directly telling you that this is a fable. How was it working with Irrfan Khan and Tisca Chopra? It was the most intense experience of my life. The kind of almost absolute trust that they had in me; the sheer courage with which they dropped all their guards; the tremendous openness with which they allowed me a free access into their deepest creative secrets — is something that I'll cherish all my life. Umber Singh, the character that Irrfan plays, is to a large extent inspired by my grandfather. A man poisoned by his sense of loss, determined to avenge himself on history and his fate. In this world of flimflam, the inner truth of emotion and unruffled imagination that Irrfan brings to his performances makes me cherish him. Tisca Chopra has the kind of serene beauty that one sees in the films of the 40s and 50s. She reminded me of my mother as I remember her from my childhood. Tisca Chopra's role in Qissa complements Irrfan's character. What's next for you? Well, I'm trying to start Lasya, The Gentle Dance, a film set in the streets of Mumbai with three beggar women of different generations. The project has already won the Prins Claus award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and the CNC award at the Locarno International Film Festival. The film is to be in Marathi and is homage to our grand and frightening city, Mumbai!
|
||
|
Flop films haven't affected my career: Kangana
Kangana, who hails from a small town of Himachal Pradesh, is known for her performances in Gangster, Fashion, Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, Raaz 2, Tanu Weds Manu, Shootout at Wadala and has also won a National award. However, her few films like Kites, No Problem, Double Dhamaal, Rascals and others did not do well. "It is not that I regret doing any film. We are independent women who run their own houses and it is not necessary that you can always get the kind of work you want to do. So sitting ideal and jobless at home is not the option. —PTI
|
||
|
Date clash
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput will not star in his Kai Po Che director Abhishek Kapoor's next film
Fitoor. The 27-year-old actorhas dropped out of Fitoor due to date problems.
"As the shooting of Fitoor was posponed, it now clashes with the schedule for Paani so he had to let it go. He hopes to collaborate with Abhishek Kapoor on some project in the future," his statement read. — PTI
|
||
|
A dialogue with the past
Famous comedian Jagdeep is anguished over the rise in vulgarity in cinema and blames films for the spurt in rape cases in society. "Cinema which was considered as the mirror of society has suffered moral and social degradation. Cinema has lost its soul," feels Jagdeep.
Working in a comedy film, based on rapes and blackmailing, with co-stars Om Puri and Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Jagdeep says the film is shot in Lucknow but the title of the movie is yet to be finalised. Jagdeep compares the old film Satyug with today's Kalyug and dubs today's cinema as "hippocratic, mechanical and repetitive'. Quoting examples of old time classics like Mother India and Do Ankhen Barah Hath, he says movies earlier had a healthy subject, a good script and soothing lyrics. Jagdeep who started his film career as a child artiste at the age of nine, acted as a hero, comedian, villain, side actor in over 300 films but never used 'double meaning dialogues'. Nostalgic about the past he recalls how the lyrics were penned by poets and the actors and actresses were elegant but today is the era of item numbers and actresses are always willing to give bold scenes for the promotion of their films. Jagdeep who was in Karnal to promote Haryana Talent Hunt organised by a NGO Rao Chand Singh Memorial Trust, says that the auditions will start from October 26 at 10 places and the grand finale would be on November 14 in Gurgaon. With Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bacchan as his favourite stars, Sholay's Surma Bhopali is impressed with the Comedy Nights with Kapil. "Kapil is a very good artiste, stand-up comedian and his show is one serial that a family can watch together and I am quite fond of the show, which it different from "cheap comedy" using double meaning words," he says.
|
||
|
The spirit of pink
It was a scene of total 'joy d vivre and a pink expo at the Zumbathon charity event with over a hundred of women who wore the colour pink and danced to the beats of Zumba at the Raddison Blue. Pink was the colour of the day as the pink ribbon is the international symbol of breast cancer awareness.
Supporting the struggle against breast cancer, it was organised by FICCI (Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and Ecstasy, a dance studio. With energy exploding in the hall, zumba dancers gave it their best shot. Komal Aggarwal, president FICCI Ludhiana, said, "Instead of the usual walks or displaying placards, we thought that this is a more interesting way to get our message across." A short film giving details of detection of breast cancer formulated by gynecologist Dr Suman Puri was shown and pamphlets were distributed. It was three years ago that Zumba Fitness launched the 'party in pink' charity campaign to fight against breast cancer. The funds thus generated will go to Zumba Global Research grant for breast cancer prevention. The next level is working on the prevention of breast cancer before it starts .The ultimate goal is to generate $ 1 million in 2013. The officers of the National FICCI came down specially from Delhi to attend the Zumbathon. As the president Malvika Rai shared with us, "I am quite happy and rather amazed at the enthusiastic response of the womenfolk here. We have 30 chapters and we work for the empowerment of women especially from the grass-roots level, to convince the women belonging to the lower socio-economic levels that they too can be achievers."
|
||
|
Leading all the way
Discovery Channel, goes on a global hunt for the ultimate engineering geniuses. It brings on screen the greatest man-made machines, from super plane and trains to factories built on an unimaginable scale. World's top five will pit these super machines against each other, measuring them in five major categories, to declare the best. With the help of scientific experts from across the world, audiences are treated to spectacular visuals and unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to these life-changing technological titans.
Find out how a train without wheels reaches record beating speeds, or what powers the world's fastest cars. A panel of expert judges tests, analyses and rates each machine in five categories. Find out who takes the lead on World's top 5 starting Monday on Discovery Channel.
|
||
|
Step up & dance
Star Plus's most popular celebrity dance reality show Nach Baliye 6 has been filled with television's most popular faces this season.
And to make it even grander, one of the couples - Kiku Sharda and wife Priyanka were revealed to the audiences on the auspicious occasion of Maha Saptami at a special Durga Pooja in Bandra. People have seen him ably play diverse roles from a comic cop to dressing like a lady… and tickle the funny bones of millions of viewers. Kiku is now set to put on his dancing shoes with wife Priyanka by his side for the most celebrated dance reality show Nach Baliye that is soon slated to go on air.As the crowds gathered to see them, Kiku and Priyanka took to the stage - danced and were seen enthralling the audiences with their moves.
|
||
|
Bring on the biriyani!
Kandla Nijhowne Vegetarian food is the happening thing. Most of my friends are resorting to light vegetarian meals, keeping in mind the festive season ahead! Some degree of self-control now would create a balance when we feast on shaadi-grub later. Satvik is serenaded for its cooling qualities, leading to equilibrium and clarity of mind and body. Milk, cereal, fruit and vegetables, ghee, butter, yogurt, cheese, daals, nuts and honey come under the satvik umbrella. Though I'm not a vegetarian, I enjoy a well-cooked vegetarian dish so long as it's not cooked to death. Overcooking implies that you have destroyed all the goodness within the raw food, resulting in a colourless mess, lacking nutrition, taste or texture. A biriyaani with seasonal veggies can be a delight when prepared by the dum-pukht method. Here, the pot is sealed off with dough along the edges of the lid, resulting in a sauna effect. No steam is allowed to escape. The food simmers in its own juices. A biriyani shovelled out of a pressure cooker dear reader, is not a biriyani! Go the long route sometimes. Do a slow cooked option and savour the flavour!
Ingredients
* 1 cup basmati rice *
¼ cup desi ghee * ¼ cup oil *
¼ cup yogurt * ½ tsp jeera *
¼ tsp haldi (optional) * 2 green chillies (sliced lengthwise) *
1 tsp dhaniya powder * ¼ tsp red chilly powder *
1½ tsp salt * 1 tsp freshly ground garam masaala *
15 strands saffron * 2 tbsp cashew nuts *
2 tbsp raisins * ½ inch piece cinnamon *
2-3 black cardamom * 1/8th tsp nutmeg (jaiphal) *
2 bay leaves * 4-5 cloves *
3 green cardamom * 10 peppercorns *
2½-3 cups sliced veggies (cauliflower, capsicum, carrots,beans) *
2 potatoes * ¼ cup chopped mint leaves *
1 onion, sliced * Oil for frying onions.
Method
* Wash and soak the rice in water for 30-40 minutes *
Boil plenty of water with the whole masaalas in it. Add ½ tsp salt and tip in the rice. *
Cook till ¾th done. Drain. * Soak saffron in 2-3 tbsp warm water. Keep aside. *
Heat up oil in a karhaai. Briefly fry the raisins and cashews, then remove and drain. In the same oil, fry sliced onions till well browned and crisp. Drain similarly and lay out on kitchen paper. *
Cut potatoes into fingers. Fry till golden and remove from pan. *
Add a little more oil and fry the chopped veggies in the same pan. Tenderise them but keep them crunchy. *
Add a little more oil and splutter the jeera. Add ginger paste, then green chillies, dhaniya powder and salt. *
Add haldi (I don't like to use it in this recipe) and garam masaala. *
Beat the yogurt till smooth. Add to the pan and keep stirring on a slow fire till somewhat thickened. *
Tip the veggies into the pot. Add salt and stir to combine. Don't be tempted to cook any further because they will be cooked further anyway. *
Take a wide, heavy pan. Smear it with minimal ghee. Add half the semi-cooked rice to it, them spread all the veggies evenly over it. Add the rest of the rice and spread over the veggies. *
Now melt the ghee and sprinkle over the top. Scatter most of the nuts and pour the saffron infused water over the surface. Scatter mint leaves and ¾th of the fried onions on top of the arrangement! *
Take a stiff dough (atta) and roll out into a rope. Use this "snake" to seal a tight fitting lid on to the pan. Press well to secure. *
Set up the vessel over a low fire for giving dum. About 15-20 minutes. *
Remove from fire. Peel away the dough, stir gently to mix the contents, garnish with nuts and onions and serve with raita. (Nijhowne is a Chandigarh-based
culinary expert)
|
||
|
New twists to old shows
To keep up the momentum and ratings, at times makers give TV shows an overhaul. We take a look at few makeovers in recent times
Actress Pooja Kanwal, who has been on a hiatus post her delivery, is all to make a comeback. After bagging the role opposite Anurag (Meer Ali) in Life OK's Hum Ne Li Hai Shapath. She is most likely to join the cast of Sanskaar - Dharohar Apnon Ki 2. The buzz is that she is presently in talks for the parallel lead role. She is slated to play a sister to Ketki (Divya Bhatnagar), the elder bahu of the Vaishnav family. Her character will be extremely positive, and she will have a track opposite Kishan (Jay Soni). Pooja was earlier part of the first season of Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha on Colors. Let's see if Pooja bags this role!
Punar Vivah Ek Nayi Umeed
After introducing the show with a whole new cast, the makers realised it wasn't working for them and revamped the show. Punar Vivah Ek Nayi Umeed now is a quadrangle with Karan V Grover, Shrishty Rode, Ejaz Khan and Parul Chawla. And it is working much better than before.
It was working well as audiences enjoyed Ronit Roy put criminals behind bars but this courtroom dramas too needed some change. So after two years, the makers went and added a supernatural touch. Khauff Ki Adalat was a good change and worked for the show as it also got new characters.
Suvreen Guggal-Topper Of The Year has been an unexpected winner in new TV shows and even after Suvreen (Smriti Kalra) moved from college to the real world, it has managed to capture the minds of the audiences.
This was perhaps the most unexpected change as no one thought Kavita Kaushik would return to her six-year-old hit show. After the leap the show didn't work for the audiences and so the makers then brought back the golden girl.
|
||
|
The year ahead
If your birthday is October 18...
Positive colours: Yellow, cream, sea green, purple and red
|
||
|
Astro Turf
ARIES: Couples spend a delightful time in each other's company, appreciating all the strengths of their relationship and sharing intimate moments. Domestic servant can be a cause of worry.
Tarot message: If you are tempted to travel overseas don't waste money.
TAURUS: Early hours are definitely the best to finish work. Good company relieves the heaviness of pending duties and responsibilities on your plate for days to come. Tarot message: Empty promises are certain, therefore try to put your terms in writing. Lucky colour: Rust.
GEMINI: Put on your thinking cap! Changes made today would certainly be for the best. Does your name start with alphabet A or M? Love stars blaze. Engagement or marriage may be on the cards.
CANCER: You will be free to operate as you feel is right. Relatives will do all they can to help. Speculation in property is not favoured. Tarot message: You have to realise that even difficult ideas can be put into practice if you have sufficient common sense.
LEO: The atmosphere will not be conducive to achieve good results. Coming to angry words over personal differences will only be regretted. Steer clear of trouble and don't react to provocation.
VIRGO: The pendulum of luck will not stop today. Health wise, rest is needed. Leave stress, worries and cares behind and enjoy yourself.
LIBRA: The Knight of Wands promises you a high profile day. You will receive kindness from those who genuinely like and appreciate you. This is not a period for risking cash.
SCORPIO: Lots of secrets will be revealed. Stimulating and thought provoking ideas will be in abundance. Your partner might take you for a vacation. Business will be smooth enough.
SAGITTARIUS: You may have to check your plans. Improve your health by paying more attention to diet. Today you should be able to surprise the boss by showing the adaptable side of your nature.
CAPRICORN: Today money may come from unexpected sources. Parents may find that this is a good time for dealing with youngsters. There is sure to be a reason for caution or delay.
AQUARIUS: Deal with all pending work as certain people are sure to be waiting to hear from you. Clear the mail box and respond to all the calls. Detachment does not mean indifference.
PISCES: Today fear of loss of reputation or slander could grip you. Be courageous about a new investment opportunity. Housewives may develop interest in social activities. |
|
| 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 | |
Based in New York City, Simarn Jeet Singh, who is currently pursuing his Ph D in Sikh History from Columbia University, along with a few like-minded people, provide innovative educational materials and educational advocacy on key issues pertaining to the Sikh community to the Punjabis staying abroad through the Surat Initiative,
Simran, 29, serves as the senior religion fellow for the Sikh Coalition, the education director for the Surat Initiative, the executive director for the Sikh Spirit Foundation and the Interfaith Committee Chair for the World Sikh Council. He also serves on the National Advisory Board of the Sikh Coalition as well as the Advisory Board of the International Center of Advocates Against Discrimination. This young fellow is always thinking of new ways wherein he can teach youngsters to connect to sikhi. 
Acknowledging that she has made it on her own in Bollywood, actress Kangana Ranuat says a few flop films do not have much of an impact on her career.
Pooja to make a comeback?
Adaalat
Suvreen Guggal
F.I.R.
Om Puri (October 18, 1950, Ambala) has appeared in both mainstream Indian cinema as well as art films. The strong number 9 will take Om Puri to a great height in his career. He will always have to deal with some controversies whether it is in film, serials, politics or married life.