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The Hindu : Want to lie on your bed like a badshah? Then it’s time to sleep the Raghavendra Rathore way. The ace Jodhupuri fashion designer has now stepped in to the furnishing world, keeping the Indian market and the changing lifestyles in mind. Rathore has designed 32 exclusive home linen lines for Carmichael House that comprises cushion covers, candle holders, bed spreads, quilts etc.Speaking of the new trend of designer home furnishings, Rathore says, “People are not used to designer wear in this category.”After several months of studying homes and the Indian market, Rathore has configured three kinds of consumers in this field. Newly married couples are one category that prefer a simple collection with a sleek look, while the second kind of consumer is that which just shop for particular requirements. Generally the mothers or women of the house would be most comfortable shopping under this category. Lastly are those consumers who buy linen for gifting or for a special occasion. “Luxurious fabrics like velvet, cotton-satin and lush materials are used to create home furnishings. Gold has been a vital part in designing. Since the Gold collection has been inspired from the Mysore Palace, it has gelled in easily with the heavy zari embroidery and ethnic designs that are borrowed from the bride’s lehengas, which act as rich embellishments giving it a very glossy and lavish look,” is how Rathore details his collection. The motifs depict contemporary modern India. Such embellishments enhance the rich look of the linen.The designs display the bygone eras of Pushkar, Rajasthan, Jodhpur. The whole collection is devised in a range of dark and bright hues that allows easy maintenance and also caters to varied tastes. Originally created bold prints on linen are also a special feature in this collection. “Designing clothes or home furnishings must be empowering,” believes Rathore. “Every design must tell a story and must also leave a footprint…More

The Hindu : The Forum Mall in Koramangala turned four this year. The mall is decorated with hearts, coloured paper, bright lights – the works. There are plenty of discounts for the entire family and prizes to be won. And then there are artistes from Europeperforming at the Central Atrium of the mall as an added attraction.Watching these artistes perform in a mall was a unique experience. The loud music with busy people running around you made you realise that you had reached the stage. The excitement dies down when you realise that the show will start a good half hour late. The Central Atrium is sealed off with a few chairs placed for media persons.Finally, the artistes make a grand entry. They are dancers from Prok Productions, Hungary, who are into Club Dancing.Three women dressed in bright red short skirts, showing off their never ending legs and flat tummies groove away to the fast beats, completely unaware of the reaction they are getting from the crowd.The naughty crowd had all the fun, whistling and screaming as though they were in a rock show.Realising that it is not an event to be serious about but just to let go and have fun, you give the audience full marks for the enthusiasm they brought out in the artistes.Dance wise, one was totally disappointed for there was nothing new to see. In fact, the movement resembled Bollywood moves.With plenty of bust and hip moves, the dancers got the crowd into a complete frenzy. Especially when they moved to the popular Kannada song, “Hodi magaa, hodi magaa”. Then they danced to a blend of Hungarian and Hindi film songs.The dancers, led by Christa, say that this is the first time they have danced in a mall and enjoyed the experience. So what was the style of their dance? “We do not stick to any particular style but use every imaginable style…More

The Hindu : Canadian flautist Catherine Potter does not want to call her music Indian. Says the bansuri-player, who performed as part of the Duniya Project at the Eleventh East West Dance and Music Encounter by the Bangalore School of Music: “I would prefer to call it contemporary Canadian music as it reflects the inter-culturalism of where I come from – Montreal.”A student of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Catherine is trained in Western classical music, jazz, Persian, Arabian, West-African, Balinese in the Gamelan orchestra and Hindustani classical music. She was eight years old when she started off on her grandmother’s grand piano. “I was just punching around keys before I started formal training and moved on to a simple flute.”An M.A. in Ethnomusicology and a B.F.A. in Jazz Studies, Catherine always felt drawn towards India. “I had the intention of coming to India when I was in my 20s, and started with South East Asia, before India became my destination.”She learnt the basics of Indian classical music in Benares before she met Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. “It was in Amsterdam that I met him and asked him to help me find a teacher. He asked me to meet him the next day and volunteered to be my teacher!”She discovered that Hindustani classic music has a rich oral tradition. “It was all about imbibing the music, which is a long process. I learnt a great deal when I accompanied him on concerts and performed with him on the stage.” “Indian classical music is never-ending. It is about getting a good grasp and not grabbing what you need.” She finds that each performance is in itself an improvement, an artistic expression of who she is. “It is a complete and a very high art form.”If Western classical music has evolved greatly over time, Hindustani is more individual – about personal expressions.“Western classical music is like museum pieces, but the Indian classical music…More

The Hindu : Metro MailA suggestionIn Dulcet Duet (MetroPlus, February 2) eulogies have been showered on Shubha Mudgal and Jeyashree by Deepa Ganesh. In the two-hour concert, there was Carnatic music only during the first and the second items. The raga mala that was rendered subsequently was in Hindustani style from both the singers. My suggestion to the duo would be to explore a ragamala like “Bhavayami Raghuramam” in the Carnatic style with a corresponding one in Hindustani Classical style.M.M. Ram Athreya( email)Age mattersThe article Seniors Vs Juniors (MetroPlus, January 24), the generation gap is explored. I think this has always been an issue. In the present scenario we have to remember Gen y is used to be told everything, like the clothes to wear to school, time table for the day, exam schedule and so on. In fact they are used to writing so many exams and getting the results, feedback, evaluation and so on. Hence when they start working they are at a loss to manage and plan their work for lack of feedback.Probably the probation period should prepare them not only for their work but also other soft skills. Eventually the onus lies on the elders to help youngsters for a smooth transition into the adult world from that of students.Nirmala Narayanan(email)MisleadingThe article Remedies to Reduce (MetroPlus January 22) did not meet the usual standards of articles that features in this supplement. Mentioning the Atkin’s Diet immediately after mentioning quacks was misleading.Anju(email)…More

The Hindu : Minglebox.com, a campus networking site for Indian college communities, has introduced services for its members in view of Valentine’s Day. Members can blog interesting topics on their love life, tips to guide lovers to make their Valentine’s Day more special and upload videos in the site.Five lucky members will see their videos and blogs published on Minglebox Times on February 14 and win minglebox.com gift hampers. Users can also customise their profile to special Valentine’s Day settings and listen to Indian and international romantic numbers from the exclusive Valentine’s Day radio on the newly launched minglebox radio and more. Log on towww.minglebox.comHouse of Ishatvam is unveiling photo frames made of soft wood with gold and silver leaf layering at 5/9, Primrose Road, Magrath Road.Appleofmyi is presenting 18 karat gold jewellery including pendants and earrings studded with certified stones, available at No. 2985, 12th Main, Indiranagar, HAL II Stage. Call 41154031.Tata Teleservices Limited is hosting a Valentine’s Day contest till February 29 for all its prepaid and postpaid subscribers.To participate, a caller can dial 12800 and follow a set of instructions and answer a question to win a single point along with a free welcome tune or opt for the second question to win 10 points and a paid welcome tune.As the caller correctly answers the series of questions, he accumulates points, which can be further redeemed for various daily, weekly and grand prizes. The weekly winner takes home a cash prize of Rs. 1,000 while the grand prize winner gets a trip with his Valentine to a surprise city with shopping, a Mercedes pick-up, flight tickets, movie and dinner arranged.There is also a list of messages for your lover from a list of romantic and charming ones from the message library. You may download these romantic messages by sending ‘Love’ to 58282 at the cost of Rs. 3 per SMS. Tata Indicom customers can also…More

The Hindu : On the lookoutGayathri Bakthavasalu, a reader from Glasgow, says we have forgotten the meaning of lifeThe purpose of leading a life today is unknown. The new era lives on money. It seems money makes a man.There are people who really live in castles, eat, speak and breath rich, just to find later the ugliest of their hearts.In our daily life, every morning we wake up to read of uncontrolled violence, easy blood and deaths, torture against women and children in all forms, stories of cruel human beings.Yet, we manage to think about it all and go to sleep.There is a lot of improvement in science and technology today and the modern world needs to be proud of it. But these very same developments have induced immense stress in working people, who hardly notice the days passing by.On the other hand, there are a great number of people in India who have totally devoted their life to take care of the poor and needy. They are living gods. Though we need less definition for what life is, let us remind ourselves of what we have forgotten and lead a life we would cherish. This is the world we live in and the life we are living.Do you have anything to say? About the state of the world, the city, your angst?Pen it stylishly and you might get it published.And dash off your piece with your photograph.Email it tobangaloremetro@thehindu.co.in or post it to MetroPlus, The Hindu, 19 & 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road (Infantry Road), Bangalore 1….More

The Hindu : India’s first zero emission, environment friendly Electric Vehicle the REVA participated in the Kala Ghoda festival. The fest, in Mumbai, featured a silent auction for four eco-friendly REVA cars, each of them painted by eminent artists led byBangalore’s artist and designer Pavitra Rajaram. Pavitra has also painted her REVA car in graffiti art.The other artists whose works featured on the remaining three REVAs are Bose Krishnamachari, Hafeez Contractor and Ratan Batliboi, each who painted the REVA cars in the environment theme. The proceeds of the auction will go towards the Earth Care Initiative. This initiative is by JSW and REVA’s Maini’ group, shaped for creating awareness and addressing environmental issues., say the organisers.Every year, the Kala Ghoda Association hosts the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in the month of February. The fest is a nine-day event which also organises varied shows ranging from exhibitions and performances to walks.For details log on towww.revaindia.com…More

The Hindu : Video watchThis fortnight at seventymm.comFrom Here to EternityCast: Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed, Frank SinatraDirected by Frank ZinnemannScreenplay by Daniel Taradash from a novel by James JonesDVDThis is Valentine week and to go with balloons, roses and the blood-red hearts, here is a movie of love and war that features a kiss that effortlessly makes it to all those “most memorable kisses” list. The movie is “From Here to Eternity” and the lip lock is, of course, the one between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr on the beach with the waves crashing around them.The film, based on a novel by James Jones, tells the story of soldiers on a base in Hawaii in the months preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor. There are three main players in the drama — Robert E. Lee Prewitt, Milton Warden and Angelo Maggio. Prewitt is an excellent boxer and bugler who does not pursue either passion much to the dismay of his commanding officer Capt. Dana Holmes. Prewitt does not bugle because he has been passed up for a lesser talent and does not step into the ring after he accidentally blinded his sparring partner.Holmes and others in the barracks give Prewitt the “treatment” to break him into an acceptable frame of mind. Prewitt is however stubborn and no amount back-breaking penalties can make him change his mind. Prewitt falls in love with Lorene, a hostess at the New Congress Club.Sgt Milton Warden is the ultimate Mr. Fix it who sees to the smooth running of the squadron despite Holmes’ philandering. Warden, however, takes a walk on the wild side when he starts an affair with Holmes’ wife, Karen.There is also the free spirited Angelo Maggio from the mean streets of New York whose rebellion against regimental Army life expectedly ends in grief. The bombing of Pearl Harbor makes for a fitting climax to the braided…More

The Hindu : The next time your spouse says, “What you can do, I can do better”, pay attention. It could be true. A team of international researchers has found that spouses often mirror each other’s health habits, the Science Dailyreported. From its data involving 6,072 individuals observed over several decades, the research concludes: when one spouse improves health behaviour, it is very likely that the other will mimic it.The study found “spouse pressure” most apparent in habits such assmoking and drinking. If one partner quit smoking, the healthy decision might influence the other. “Why, it could happen in other health areas,” said Shankar, married for more than 30 years. “Geetha and I have put together a tennis–temple fitness programme.” They leave home at 5 a.m., he for tennis at the Besant Nagar Club, she to the nearby temple. He plays his few games, picks her up for a 45-minute workout at the club gym. “We pedal away at an exercise bike at home,” said Shankar. “I am her personal trainer.” It isn’t a one-sided affair, said Geetha. “And who makes him visit temples? I also got him to do tharpanam and pujas regularly. There’s a lot of discipline in his life now.”Abstract theory, says artist Ilango, tongue firmly in cheek. Chandra’s excellent dinner he’s just had is instantly forgotten. “Wives bully the husband to stay healthy. What he can’t digest is wives don’t eat what they recommend for the husband. “My brother-in-law is a health nut, lives on bland, boiled food. His wife refuses to touch it. She cooks for the ‘children’ and eats the ‘leftovers’. “Family” influence on health practices doesn’t really need recording. Spouses may not go for cholesterol screening if the ‘other’ does, but they certainly tie up their shoes to go for a brisk morning walk together.Over a period of time, the convenience of cooking common meals determines the kind of food on…More

The Hindu : In a recent interview, Krishna Kumar, Director, NCERT said, “… focus on reading because it is the heart of every subject, and the children’s overall progress depends on their ability to read and derive joy from reading.”He was speaking of how an old fashioned and outdated approach to the practice of teaching reading in schools, especially in the primary levels, led to serious deficiency in communication skills.Early startEverybody is talking about lack of communication skills in young graduates, which is why so many don’t make the grade in interviews and placements. Slap dash and last ditch efforts to train them in ‘soft skills’ rarely succeed. It is an effort that has to start much earlier, at the primary level.And, the responsibility lies squarely on teachers and parents to encourage ‘reading’ as much as they possibly can.Reading is a way of tapping into the child’s creative and emotional intelligence. It is like organic farming — unsullied, untainted, pure and natural. That is why Nalini Shanmugham, teacher, secretary, and resource head of Vivekalaya Matriculation School describes it as ‘Organic Reading’She says: “We make the child own his words,” and explains how. “I asked the children to think of a food word they associated with playing. Some said it made them think of sweets, a plum, an ice cream. One child said ‘pop corn’ and said she ‘popped’ up when she played!” Then, Nalini wrote down the words they have used. “The children quickly learn to read what they have said.”A lot of talking and praise goes into making a reader, she says. At her behest, six-year-old, Sambhavi Rajkumar reads without a falter, a letter Abraham Lincoln wrote to his son’s teacher! In this school, the librarian is not just “any free teacher”, but one who fosters book-love in her young wards.A chart in the library directs students to pick a book, read it and record their observations…More