News

The Hindu : When I asked for directions and the distance to Ayyanar Falls at the forest check-post near Rajapalayam, the locals vaguely pointedtowards a track runningless than two km.But let me warn you, that it’s a good eight km away and trekking isallowed only up to the halfway mark.Beyond that neither a route exists nor is it safe to go without permission and help from the Forest Department. Nevertheless, Ayyanar Falls offers an excellent opportunityfor mountain climbing. It took me a good three hours to trudge along the laid out track that cuts across the dense forest. I started early because I was serious about following at least one advice — that I should descend by 4 p.m.While no animals are sightedduring the day, as the sun setsone can spotIndian wild gaurs and elephants.Located on the Eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, it is during the North East monsoon that Ayyanar Falls is at its peak.The ideal time to visitis from September to January. The Ayyanar Falls gets its name froma small forest temple named after Ayyanar, at its base.A mild sun penetrates the canopy of deep and dark green forest trees. For the most part of it, the trekking route runs parallel to a beautiful jungle stream meandering its way over and between rocks.I am told the falls no longer originates from where it used to. It has shifted position and now drops from a height of 15 feet but continues to be the main source of water for drinking and irrigation purposes for the people of Rajapalayam.Geographically protected by verdant hills on all sides, the falls is located in the midst of scenic green vegetation and is off-limits for thepublic. But several spots on the way to the falls appear to be popular picnic locations. My walk through the forestturns out to be aclass in botany. Many rare and endemic varieties of flora and fauna…More

The Hindu : Line it with linenTo enhance the looks of your home youcould try linen, a fabric sturdier than cottonNeed a new look for your hone? Why not go back to the past carryingpresent day colours. Storing crisp white sheets or fresh linen in the cupboard is an unforgettable image of home and the comforts of being cared for by a loving mother.But nowadays, homes are designed in utmost contemporary fashion with a penchant for traditional decor where colourful soft furnishings have made its way home easily. Depending on the structure of your home along with the furniture placed, linen can be picked uon theme basis or can be played in contrast or the mix and match game.For all those young people who are designing their new homes, it’s time to celebrate your style, express oneself and make home a comfortable reflection of one’s style. If you miss the home mom created, well here is your chance to create your own. Pranab Mahajan, Director of Maspar helps to solve problems for new home makers, “Changing the interiors of a house into a contemporary living environment, full of vitality is a challenge. At Maspar we try to provide ready and well-designed solutions that people with little time in this fast paced world can easily pick up to transform a room as simply as mom makes a tasty dinner.The latest collection offered by Maspar is “Aqua Ride”. Aptly named as it comprises of wavy prints and shades of ocean blue and green, which suits the season well.Adding another dimension of play is by trying Yamini’s new line of 100 per cent fine linen/silk blends fabrics for upholstery and soft furnishings. Classic range of linen fabrics is available in both heavy and lightweight, making it suitable for various usages. Linen range has an array of unique textures to choose from in terms of design and weaves such as twill, basket,…More

The Hindu : I had read about Jilling two years back and it has remained in my memory.So when my friend asked me to accompany him to Jilling recently, I was more than excited. I was goingnot only to see the place but meet the legendary Steve Lall, the ownerof more than 45 acres of oak and rhododendronforest in the pristine Jilling Estate. Lall is responsible for makingJillingwhat it is today.We started our journey early morning from Delhi on my Enfield. We stopped en-route for breakfast and lunch and arrived at the majestic Bhimtal near Nainital.After a short break, we set out on the last leg of the journey up to village Matial just before Padampuri. The scenery on the waywas breathtaking. With the sun going down, the shadows being cast on theKumaon hills and the river flowing belowwere a sight to behold. Ram Lal was waiting with his pony for us at Matial, for the one-hour trek up to Jilling. We put our luggage on the pony and set outacross one of the most lush landscapes inKumaon,following a steep trail. We arrived at our cottage at nightfall. Daya, one of the caretakers at Jilling, served us hot tea, and a fire had been litin the old style fireplace.Morning brought one of the most glorious views of the Nanda Devi and Trishul ranges, which were magnificently perched facing the estate. We soon walked across to Steve’s cottage to be greeted by one ofhis many dogs. And there stoodthe legendary Steve. He welcomed us and soon we werecharmed by his infectious warmth and brilliance. We bombarded him with all kinds of question, and Steve was ever graciousin satisfying our inquisitiveness.Steve’s mother had bought the estate in 1942,andit meant not only a home but something that he had to protect. A veteran Air Force pilot, Steve went out of his way and has played a larger-than-life roleto protect flora and…More

The Hindu : When it comes to the literary focus of Indian writers living abroad, both William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale feel that there is place for everyone in writing. Director of Yatra books, Gokhale says: “I do always try to bring attention to realand valid voices out of India that may not always have the apparatus to be heard.” Historian Dalrymple feels: “There are many different Indias and many ways of writing about the country – the quality of a book is not decided by an author’s post code or home address.”He adds: “I think Indian writers living abroad are in an especially good position to mediate India to a western audience, but as Arundhati Roy shows, if you live here you can produce works of arguably greater authenticity that are no less popular and accessible to a foreign audience. In the end though, it’s the quality of the writing that is important – not where it was written, or the passport of the person who wrote it.”Gokhale and Dalrymple are both directors of the coming DS Constructions Jaipur Literature Festival 2008 to be held from January 23 to 27, which will see a plethora of artists across boundaries – from Gore Vidal to Kamila Shamsie.It’s the third edition of the literary festival and Gokhale says: “I have seen the Jaipur Literature Festival grow from an intimate community of engaged readers and writers into an incredible outreach of national and international writers and audiences, with huge support from the publishing industry.”Dalrymple finds there needs to be no contradiction between researching professionally, critically and exhaustively, and then writing up what one finds in good, clear and attractive English. He says: “In the UK and US, many historians in and out of academia are writing for the same sort of intelligent, general non-academic audience that might read a Rushdie or a Pamuk, but there is remarkably little of this…More

The Hindu : WorkshopLogos Theatre is presenting a one day introductory workshop on using theatrical techniques as a means of expression and conflict resolution. The workshop is on February 3. The participation fee is Rs. 750, which includes the cost of course materials.The workshop is of special interest to workers in the non-governmental sector and to educators, but is open to anyone interested in the areas being covered. It will be facilitated by Arka Mukhopadhyay and for details call 9880966313 orlogos.theword@gmail.com, before January 27.* * *Mishti, the Bengali sweets and savouries shop, has opened its new outlet in Indiranagar. The new outlet is on the Double Road and can be contacted on 65344287.Customers get 250 gms free with every one kilo sweet. The offer is for a limited period only….More

The Hindu : Everybody loves Sanjeev Kapoor. That is what gets him a room in an otherwise “accommodation-less”, physician’s conference-hit Kochi and some blessings in the bargain. He is the man, or at least one of the men who made cooking fashionable and made it look simple too.The food businessAsk him about the product (a sugar substitute) that he endorses, he talks with such confidence and conviction that he could convert anyone. As he talks about sugar and energy and how sugar gets converted to fat and what causes diabetes, it is clear that the man knows what he is talking about. He says: “In the last 15 years I have endorsed just about six to seven products, which means one in a couple of years. This in a place where celebrities endorse 10-15 products a year, I would never endorse something that I would not want anyone from my family to use. Prudence has to be exercised while endorsing a product.”As host of one of the longest running television shows on Indian television “and mind you it is not a serial,” Sanjeev is easily one of the most recognised faces of television. Fifteen years of cooking and he says he’s getting ready to launch a television channel devoted to food. The restaurant business was a logical step for him, he owns restaurant chains such as Yellow Chilli, Grain of Salt. He recently tied up with the Dubai-based Landmark group as franchisees.Quiz him on what got him into the kitchen, and he says: “When I was a kid I didn’t know this is what I wanted to do. Like there is Playdoh today, then too as kids we were given things such as dough to keep ourselves busy. Going by the time spent in the kitchen, my brother who is a management consultant should have been the chef.” A predilection for the “different” led him to the hotel…More

The Hindu : What would we know as the visible markers of a place that’s currently the most advertised hottest tourist location? An over-enthusiastic market and enterprising locals out to make their kill. These were my worst trepidations when I jumped on to the Langkawi bandwagon.It was anything but a mild surprise when I was shaken out of what I held was a time-tested stereotype about people and places.Despite the breathtaking place, if I am going to remember and celebrate something from this visit, and forever, it is the people; so shy and so gentle. From the gentleman who picked me up from the airport to the person who wished me a safe journey back home as he got my luggage off the jetty, I recall every face (can’t get their names right) when I think of my trip.It is, at once, a tribute to the breathtaking panorama and the wonderful islanders.Langkawi – located in the Southern Andaman sea near the border between Malaysia and Thailand — is awe-inspiringly beautiful. This main island is surrounded by 99 other islands of which only three are inhabited. My destination was Rebak, a close-by island, a 15-minute ferry ride from Port Langkasuka Jetty.Rebak Island is a privately owned 390-acre property, which has a resort that is now run by the Taj group. This ever so beautiful island with its magnificent view of the Straits of Senari, borders the Andaman sea. The huge, sprawling property is adorned with lush rainforests, mountains, turquoise waters, white sand and crimson sunsets. It’s one thing to visit an island, but for someone who’s always lived in the city and can boast of mere “bookish” knowledge about life by the sea, it was sheer speechlessness on unpacking into a room that opened into the blue expanse.Except for the occasional sound of a motor boat or an aircraft the place is marked bya complete silence,cut off completely from…More

The Hindu : This is the age of the information explosion and anything you want to know is just a click away. Well almost everything. What about the exact consistency of jaggery for that adirasam? You could google adirasam and you will get the basic recipe but that consistency still might elude you and your adirasam might well turn out to be harder than the Frisbee you take to the beach.However, “Follow the Hindu Moon” which tells you in painstaking detail all you need to know about South Indian festivals comes to the rescue. The handsomely produced two-part coffee table book is the brainchild of artist and writer Soumya Sitaraman. The Bangalore-based writer explained the genesis of the book.“When I was living in the US I realised there is no single resource for knowledge about our traditions. I found myself calling home for everything from rituals to recipes. That is when I decided I should do something about this.”In the course of her research, Soumya gleaned insights like, “Puja is not only about venerating the deity but also works as a ‘pause time’ when we are one with nature.” Soumya says festivals are a way of making abstract concepts accessible to the common man.The research process according to Soumya was “slow and painstaking. I spoke to octogenarians and priests.” Soumya put her science background to good use. “I merged particle physics with Vedic astronomy and nutrition with the reasons why certain foods are favoured for certain festivals depending on the time of year.” Soumya says she concentrated on the South for the book as she “comes from the South. I want to do a thorough job and for the level of detail I was looking at I could not have done justice if I included the whole of India.”Soumya says while her book is a guide to festivals, one’s “family is the ultimate resource.” Targeted at people like…More

The Hindu : Bid & Hammer Auctioneers (P) Ltd, the newest entrant in the Indian art auctioneering scenario will be hosting their first auction in Bangalore on January 24. The entire collection for this auction will be unveiled for at the opening preview on January 21 at the Orchid Room of The Oberoi Hotel, between 7 and 9 p.m. The preview will continue at the same venue on January 22, 23 (between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.) and 24 (between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) culminating with the auction the same evening, in front of an august gathering of art collectors and connoisseurs.On offer in the paintings category will be a mixed bag of 131 works with a lower estimate of Rs. 10 crores, with prices starting at Rs. 30,000 and going up to Rs. 50 lakhs. The sale will include rare and unavailable works of artists such as Jamini Roy, M.V. Dhurandhar, Gaitonde and F.N. Souza besides a host of other young contemporary artists. The other section, comprising 58 lots are works of art from the Rococo, art noveau, art deco and colonial periods and includes porcelain, silver, glass, frames and furniture from renowned makers such as R. Lalique and Faberge amongst others, with prices starting at Rs. 20,000 and going upto Rs. 35 lakhs.Call 9900226003 for more information….More

The Hindu : Beat streetGrant Green: I Want to Hold Your HandBlue Note/Virgin Records; CD,Rs. 295In his relatively brief life, Grant Green (1931-1979) established himself as one of the leading jazz guitarists of his time. On this album recorded in 1965, he leads a quartet in jazz versions of pop standards.While it has always been common for jazz musicians to interpret pop, the quartet doing so here is in a sense an unusual line-up. Hank Mobley contributes his beautiful sound on the tenor saxophone, Larry Young handles the (Hammond B-3 electric) organ, and Elvin Jones, who had achieved fame backing John Coltrane, is the outstanding drummer on this session.If Young had been the leader, this would have been a fairly common organ-led quartet, but with a guitarist in the lead it almost becomes unique.The difference lies chiefly in the subdued sound of the organ and the obviously stellar role of the guitar. This doesn’t mean that Young is a mere accompanist. In fact, Green, Mobley and Young regularly take turns to step into the spotlight for solo improvisations. For instance, on the medium-paced “Stella by Starlight”, Young and Green take turns to play the theme, after which Mobley, Green and Young improvise solos. Jones then raises the profile of his drum kit before Mobley and Green see the piece out with a series of exchanges.On the fastish-paced “Speak Low”, which actually starts with a solo by Jones, Green renders the theme with strong support from Jones. There follows a series of terrific solos by Mobley, Green, Jones and, after he reprises the theme, Green again.Green’s leadership is signalled in two ways. One, most often it is he who plays the theme.Two, he gets to take at least one solo on every track. But excellent performances by all four musicians, each in the spotlight in his turn, show that Green is only, so to speak, a first among equals.Together…More